“What took you so long?” Niail spoke in a hoarse voice.
“We had to rescue your mate first.” Partlan eased his hold on Niail. “She is safe.”
“Good.” Niail shook off the hands of Gur, Turlo, and Malac. “I heard your voices. It caused discomfort, but it is the first I have connected since my accident.”
Partlan grunted. “You will heal fully. Now we must finish this. Here is another weapon.”
Niail grabbed the assault rifle and checked the magazine. It was half full. Just then, an SUV with its headlights turned off, shot past them. He raised the rifle to shoot the tires, but Partlan motioned him to stop.
“We finish here first.” Partlan threw a set of keys at Gur. “Follow him and wait for us to join you.”
Partlan motioned to Turlo and Malac. “Niail, stay and shoot those who try to run. We’re going at them from behind. We will move them to you.”
Niail nodded. It was a familiar tactic for him. As the unit’s sharpshooter he often stayed in place while his targets were driven within range. They would make short work of it here, and then move on to the SUV.
He balanced his rifle and popped up the front sight housing. He moved his neck and shoulders around to loosen them and then he settled behind the gun. He stared down the barrel and waited.
It took a few minutes, but eventually five men ran toward him. Each was firing a weapon. Niail took careful aim and hit all of his targets. He continued to hold his position until an ‘all clear’ sounded in his head.
Malac reached him first. “Your aim was true as usual. You had already killed ten before we reached them.”
“By Cygnus and Warrior, it is hard to kill a Hunter.” Niail stood with his rifle resting on his folded arms.
“Now we follow their leader.” Partlan started walking toward the road. The rest followed. The first truck they reached had no driver in sight. The keys were in the ignition and it was still running.
“This is the one that went after Kimi.” Partlan climbed into the driver’s seat. “He is dead now.”
A surge of gratitude flooded Niail. Words were not needed to express his feelings. Turlo and Malac each slapped him on the back as they all climbed into the box of the truck.
They drove for several miles and then turned onto a paved road. Niail raised an eyebrow at Malac. “Has Gur found the other SUV?”
“Yes.” Malac leaned forward. “It is Kowal. He has gone back to his warehouse.”
Niail closed his eyes and tried to focus on mind connecting with Partlan, but it was useless. He had heard Partlan earlier, but his head was not fully healed. He tried to link with Kimi. He was more successful here. He could feel her as if she were right beside him. She was anxious, her heart was pounding, and her breathing was shallow.
He sent her a wave of calm. He sent her love and reassurance. Within seconds he felt her ease. He leaned back and savored the connection. The bond with his mate was growing stronger. Despite being unable to connect fully with his brothers, he could reach Kimi. She was safe.
They stopped on the road when they reached Kowal’s warehouse. They each carried weapons as they walked to the building. Gur joined them in the parking lot.
“Another vehicle just came.” Gur kept his voice low. “Ranon and the police officer went inside.”
Partlan nodded. “Anybody else?”
“A group on motorcycles arrived five minutes earlier.”
“They were inside before Ranon went in?” Partlan’s voice was clipped.
“Yes.” Gur motioned to the rear of the building. “There is an unlocked entrance there.”
Partlan divided them. Gur, Turlo, and Malac went to the back of the warehouse. He and Partlan would go through the front entrance. Stealth was their main tool. Niail knew the mission. He crept alongside the building and waited for Partlan’s command. They waited until the others were in the building before attempting the door.
It wasn’t locked.
He followed Partlan inside. There were stairs on the side and Partlan motioned him up.
“Find a location to aim from. You will have our backs in case we need it.” Partlan moved toward a set of closed double doors. “If you can mind connect, great. If not, follow the standard operating procedure.”
Niail nodded and crept up the stairs. At each stair he paused to make sure the slight creak of the wood had not been heard. When he reached the top, he edged to the loft railing. He had a view of the whole warehouse from here.
There was an open half wall for about one third of the area. The rest was office space with windows that reached the rafters. The office area would make the best vantage point to shoot from. He eased a desk close to one of the open windows. Once his rifle was in position, he waited.
There were several men below. Jake and Ranon were two of them. Ten men in motorcycle gear stood off to the side. They wore the orange colors of the FD Warriors. Their arms were crossed. Their eyes narrowed as they watched the other occupants of the warehouse. They were not pleased.
“This is a minor setback.” A large man with a sagging midsection was saying from the center of a barricade of crates. “I’ll have it taken care of now.”
“You plan on killing every policeman that finds out about your dealings Kowal?” Jake was standing beside Ranon. “It can’t be done.”
“I don’t have to kill them. Everybody has a price.” The large man answered. Niail moved his rifle so that Kowal was in his scope.
“That’s what you thought when you hired Hunters. All you did was anger them.” Jake sounded as if he believed that Hunters existed. “Your only chance of survival is to be arrested.”
A grunt of approval went up from the bikers at the side. “He’s not wrong. We’re out of this deal. There’s no way we’re taking on Hunters again.”
The bikers started to move for the exit, but Kowal’s voice stopped them. “You can’t walk out. You’re the reason that I hired them to begin with.”
“You lied.” The lead biker shook his head. “You have to deal with the consequences. If Hunters are protecting this reservation, then we won’t do business here.”
“There is no protection in place.” Kowal cajoled. “I never took you guys for cowards.”
“We’re not fools.” The lead biker pointed his finger at Kowal. “You’ve caused your own demise. You should have come to us before seeking out Hunters. We would have taken your territory, but you would have had your life. We have nothing further to discuss.”
“Make sure I don’t see you anywhere near this state,” Jake yelled after them. “Otherwise, I’ll haul your asses to jail too.”
The group left. Niail watched them go with mixed feelings. They had not done any harm and they were leaving without a fight. The only honorable thing was to let them go. As long as they did not threaten the people here, there was no reason to pursue them.
Quiet descended on the warehouse. Ranon stepped forward. “The only one we have an argument with is Kowal. The rest of you have a chance to leave with your lives.”
“I’m still arresting you.” Jake frowned at Ranon. “This is a police investigation.”
“We are not concerned with that.” Ranon crossed his arms over his chest. “This is your last chance.”
“Shoot them.” Kowal barked the order.
Two of his guards raised their weapons and aimed. Before they could fire Niail had shot them both. They fell forward on the cement floor.
All hell broke loose then. Kowal ran for the exit and Niail took aim. Kowal ducked behind a crate before he could get a shot off. He focused on the rest of the men, but they had thrown their weapons away, and were lying face down on the hard floor.
That left Kowal.
There was no respite for him. Death was the justice that they would demand. He had broken his word and contract. He had tried to besmirch the honor of a Hunter. He would die for that.
“Come out.” Jake walked toward where Kowal was hiding. “You will be protected by the police.”
“I cannot promise that.” Partlan came into the warehouse. “He has broken our code.”
“That’s all well and good for you guys, but here we follow the law.” Jake kept moving toward Kowal. “You will have to let this one go.”
Just then Kowal stood up. He had a gun in his hand and it was aimed at Jake. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Jake hesitated a second, and that gave Kowal the opportunity he needed. From Niail’s vantage point, he could see Kowal pull the trigger back. He took aim and shot the gun out of the man’s hand. It went flying into the air. Niail’s next shot was between Kowal’s eyes.
The man fell down dead.
Jake shook his head and looked behind him. His eyes scanned the upper offices until he found Niail. He stared at him for a second and then turned back to the other men on the floor. He took a cellphone out of his pocket and began dialing.
“I’ll have reinforcements here in a few minutes.” Jake threw some handcuffs onto the ground. “If you guys wouldn’t mind cuffing these ones, that’ll make it easier for me to watch them while I wait. That is of course, if you don’t have plans to kill them?”
“They did not contact us directly.” Ranon picked up a set of cuffs and put them on the first man. “They’re only guilty of obeying. I would suggest that they will continue to make poor choices despite your legal system.”
“Are you joking?” Jake raised an eyebrow as Gur, Turlo and Malac entered from the back. “I never really stood a chance of getting Kowal alive?”
“It was a matter of honor.” Partlan motioned Niail down from the loft. “We have to make certain Niail’s mate is safe. She and the children were almost killed by Kowal’s men tonight.”
“What?” Jake pulled the phone from his ear. “Why didn’t I hear about this?”
“You were more concerned in keeping the perpetrator alive.” Partlan’s gaze didn’t leave Jake. “You would make a good warrior, but you need to understand a Hunter does not rest until he is finished.”
Jake glared back at Niail. “Where were you when all this was happening?”
Niail’s chest tightened. He understood Jake’s anger. He had tried to keep Kimi safe and failed. The children had been exposed to a monster, and she had been forced to flee for their lives. They were alive, but at what cost. The only consolation he had was that Kowal would never threaten her or the children again.
“He protected his mate.” Partlan’s voice was harsh. “He sacrificed himself, so that she could escape.”
Jake’s shoulders seemed to sag. Niail hefted his rifle against his shoulder. He waited until Jake was finished with his phone call before approaching him.
“I did my best to protect Kimi and the children.”
Jake nodded. “You also stopped Kowal from killing me.”
“It is what we do.” Niail looked over at Kowal’s body. “He would never have stopped. A man like that can reach across any barrier.”
“I believe that the law works.” Jake’s tone was defensive. “Otherwise, we would have everyone killing each other over some stupid argument.”
“Perhaps.” Niail sighed. “All I know is that even in the most enlightened society of our homeland, we were necessary.”
Partlan came up to them. “We leave now.”
Chapter 22
Kimi pulled up to her house. She shut the engine off and then dropped her head on the steering wheel. She had made it. She didn’t know how, but somehow they were home.
Ann who had been silent shifted in the rear seat. Wil and Peta had been huddled together on the floor the whole way. A blanket still covered them. Ann pulled the blanket off.
“We’re home.” Kimi didn’t recognize her voice it was so hoarse.
“Is it safe?” Peta peered over the front seat.
“Yes.” Ann opened the back door. “The sooner we’re inside the better we’ll feel.”
Kimi hoped so. Right now she didn’t feel anything. Her body and brain were numb. Too much had happened in the last few days. All she could do was feel, and even that was hard to do.
The door of her house swung open.
Her heart started pounding.
Someone was there before them. Kowal had known all along that she would return home and had waited for her. She moved to turn the car back on, but Ann’s hand on her shoulder stopped her.
“Look.” Ann’s voice was calm. “It’s your grandfather.”
Her shoulders sagged and she leaned her head against the back of the seat. A smile twisted her lips. Grandfather would know what was best. Kimi eased out of the car. Ann and the children scrambled into the house. Kimi followed them, giving her grandfather a hug on the way in.
“What happened?”
Kimi waited until the door was shut before speaking. “Kowal kidnapped Wil and Peta.”
“He’s a mean man.” Wil tugged at Grandfather’s shirt. “He threatened to hit us if we weren’t quiet. It’s okay now. Niail came.”
A sob rose in Kimi’s throat and she choked it back. Partlan had said she would know if Niail was safe. She felt nothing. It didn’t seem possible that he would have been able to live through the barrage of bullets she had heard as she drove away from the clearing.
“Sit down Mommy.” Peta took her hand and led her to a chair.
“How did you get here Grandfather?” Kimi tried to keep her voice calm. “You were with Jake.”
“Your brother was determined to arrest Kowal.” Grandfather sat beside her and took her hand in his. “The other Hunter went with him.”
Kimi nodded. “Ranon. They must have gone into town. Kowal contacted us about a meeting place after you had left.”
“When will Niail come back?” Wil asked.
“Soon.” Ann hugged Wil. “I think we’ve had enough excitement for one night. It’s bedtime.”
Kimi came out of her reverie. She still had the children to consider, no matter what happened to Niail. She pushed back from the table and together she and Ann got the children to bed. When she was tucking Wil in a sensation of love surrounded her. She almost fell over with the surge of adoration that hit her. She inhaled and then she knew.
Niail was alive.
Tears pricked her eyes. She didn’t understand how it was possible, but just as Partlan had said, Niail had contacted her.
“Will Niail be here in the morning?” Wil’s voice was hopeful. “I know he’s a superhero, but even superheroes have to say goodbye.”
Kimi kissed him on the forehead. “He’ll be here when you wake up.”
“I want to see him.”
“When he gets here, I’ll have him come and talk to you.” Kimi placed Wil’s teddy bear close to his cheek. “How would you like Grandfather to tell you a story?”
Wil nodded. “He will send any bad spirits away so I can sleep.”
Kimi smiled. Wil trusted in her grandfather’s medicine completely. The night’s ordeal would fade for him once Wil had made certain that Niail was safe. Peta was another story.
Peta was huddled up at the top of her bed. Kimi almost cried at the look of fear in her daughter’s eyes. She was only a year older than Wil, but it would take a long time before she healed from the night’s terrors.
Kimi went up and sat beside her. She brushed her dark brown hair from her forehead. “Are you still frightened?”
“Is Niail dead?” Peta’s voice trembled.
Kimi shook her head. “He is alive.”
“You’re certain?” Peta started to unfold her arms. “Those men were scary. They said that they wanted to kill Niail.”
“Niail promised to protect us, and he did.” Kimi folded Peta into her arms. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
Peta relaxed into Kimi’s embrace. Kimi rocked and soothed her with a soft lullaby until she heard Peta’s soft even breathing. She had fallen asleep.
Kimi eased Peta back onto her pillows and pulled the covers up. Her daughter was exhausted. Later, they would deal with the trauma of the kidnap
ping. They would all need healing and that would take time. Her grandfather would know what to do.
She had felt Ann’s eyes on her as she had settled the children for bed. She knew her friend disagreed with how she was dealing with the situation, but thankfully Ann waited until they had left the room before saying anything.
“How could you promise that?” Ann’s voice was a harsh whisper. “There is no way Niail survived.”
“I know he’s alive.” Kimi smiled. “Somehow, he is in my head and heart. He has sent me love and comfort.”
Ann shook her head. “I hope so, or you’re going to have hell to pay in the morning.”
“He will be here.” Kimi went into the kitchen and put the kettle on the stove. “Coffee?”
For the next half hour Kimi felt Niail’s presence strengthen. It was almost as if his arms surrounded her. She hugged herself with the joy of knowing that he had been right. They had a bond that would only grow stronger.
They were just finishing their drinks when they heard vehicles pull up at the house. Every muscle in Kimi tensed. Then a wave of love and anticipation embraced her. It was Niail. She ran for the door.
It swung open before she could reach it. Partlan and the other Hunters walked in first. Then Niail stepped into the house. She threw herself into his arms. It took a second to realize he was covered in dried blood.
She pulled back and started to feel along his chest. “Are you hurt?”
“It is the blood of my enemy.” His voice was gentle. “I did what was necessary to keep my promise to return to you.”
He pulled her close and kissed her.
The world spun away.
All that existed was Niail. She gave herself to him heart and soul. She let him know by her kiss that she was his. She had always been his; she just hadn’t known it until tonight. When the kiss ended she stared up at him. Her eyes devoured every precious inch of his face.
“I was so worried.” Kimi’s hands framed his face. “There were so many of them.”
“I told you it was not easy to kill me.”
Partlan cleared his throat. “I would also say that we arrived at the right time.”
aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) Page 19
