“None of us do,” John said, “but your combined powers are stronger than one man alone. We have a better chance of success as a group, and everything your mother has read says these stones actually belong to the Seers. That’s us, and yes, I am including myself in this.” His gaze touched on each of them in turn. “It may take years or even lifetimes to recover all three stones. We all have to make the commitment now to find the Stones of Ekhia and stop these people from doing some serious damage to the world.”
Rafe hesitated. “I’m in,” he said finally. “I’m not real comfortable with amateurs putting themselves in danger, but I want this to end. And you’re going to need my expertise.”
“Amateurs?” Darius growled.
“I spent the past few years tracking fugitives,” Rafe told Darius. “That trumps your lab experiments.”
“We welcome your experience,” his father said before Darius could respond. “Now we need to lay out the plan to find Cara’s brother and retrieve the first stone. That should stop these people for now.”
“Why’s that?” Rafe asked. “What good is just one?”
His mother answered. “Because all three are needed to trigger the power. By capturing one, we keep these men from doing that much.”
“I know I don’t have the same powers as the rest of you,” John said, “but my business is security and troubleshooting. Between our two skill sets, I believe we can do this. As your father—and husband”—he looked from one face to the other—“I will protect you with every resource I have.”
Before anyone could respond, the doorbell chimed.
“That’s probably Mendez,” John said. “We’ll need his team.”
“I gave Lupe the day off,” Maria said, scooting her chair back.
“I’ll get it, Mom.” Tessa jumped from her seat and jogged from the room.
Darius frowned. “Doesn’t feel like Mendez.”
Cara’s eyes widened. “Could they have found us here?”
“It has to be Mendez,” John said. “He’s the only one besides us with the security code to the gate.”
“I said it doesn’t feel like Mendez. It’s someone else.” Darius shoved his chair back and reached for his cane just as Tessa’s cry of alarm echoed through the house … and was abruptly silenced.
Rafe leaped to his feet, dragging Cara from her chair. “Mom, Cara, into the kitchen.”
“But—” Cara protested.
Rafe leaned close. “I want you safe. Grab a weapon—a knife, a frying pan, something. And don’t come out until one of us comes for you.” He pushed her toward the kitchen. “Dar, go with them.”
“You’re not sending me off with the women,” Darius snapped.
“They need someone to protect them.” As his mother grabbed Cara’s hand and raced for the kitchen, Rafe reached for the Hunter. His crystal responded with unusual speed, warming and pouring power through his veins in seconds. “They won’t be expecting you, Dar, and Dad and I need to move fast.”
“Do it,” their father said, pulling a handgun from the small of his back and clicking off the safety. “It’s a good plan.”
“Fine.” Darius swung around toward the kitchen. “But I don’t like it.”
“Noted,” John said.
“Let’s go.” Rafe opened up to half throttle and pivoted toward the front hall. He skidded to a halt as a figure filled the doorway, one arm locked around Tessa’s waist, and the other hand clamped over her mouth.
“I’d like to point out,” Adrian Gray said, shuffling into the room with Rafe’s struggling sister, “that I did ring the doorbell.”
“Damn it, Gray,” Rafe said. “Couldn’t you have just called?”
“Rafe, you know this man?” His father had not lowered his weapon.
“Yeah, he helped me and Cara get away from the men trying to kill us. John Montana, meet Adrian Gray.”
“Pleasure,” Adrian said. “I’d shake hands, but I’m afraid to let go of this one.” He contemplated Tessa. “She bites.”
“Get your hands off my daughter,” John demanded.
“As long as she promises to be a good girl. I like my fingers right where they are.”
“Tessa, when he lets go, you come here to me, understand?” John said.
Tessa nodded. Gray released her, and she ran to her father, who pushed her behind him with one hand, still aiming the gun with the other.
“Why didn’t you call?” Rafe asked again.
“Criten’s gone,” Gray said.
“Gone? When? Where’d he go?”
“Last night. And as for where, according to my sources”—Gray glanced at the gun still pointed at him—“here.”
“Here?” John demanded. “To this house?”
“To Sedona. He chartered a private plane.”
Rafe swore.
“Sir?” Gray addressed John. “I’d appreciate it if you lowered the gun.”
“Too bad.”
“You might as well do as he says,” Rafe said. “He could have taken it from you whenever he wanted. He’s a Warrior.”
“A what?”
“A Warrior. Adrian here is Atlantean, just like us. Some kind of superpowered fighting machine.”
Gray winced. “A simplified but fairly accurate description.”
Tessa poked her head from behind her father. “I don’t care if he’s the Terminator. That doesn’t give him permission to barge into our house.”
“Might I remind you again that I did ring the bell?” Gray said. “You’re the one who screamed.”
“Only because you tried to push past me.”
“Because you wouldn’t let me in, and I have important information for Rafe. I’m sorry if I scared you.”
“You don’t scare me.”
Gray gave her a slow smile. “Are you sure about that?”
“Hey, hey.” John’s protest drew Gray’s attention. “How did you get past my security system?”
Gray shrugged. “Lucky.”
“That’s the most sophisticated system in the country,” John said. “I know because I developed it. You’d need more than luck.”
“It is impressive,” Adrian agreed, “but it’s not hard for someone like me to get past it.” He glanced at Rafe. “Criten’s men might be able to get in eventually, but it would take them a bit longer.”
“That’s comforting.”
“No, it’s not.” Tessa stepped out from behind her father, fists clenched at her sides. “I don’t like any of this. And I don’t like you.”
Gray shrugged, not seeming the least bit disturbed. “I grow on people.”
“Like mold, I bet,” Tessa muttered.
“Okay, cut it out,” Rafe said.
“I know you don’t trust me.” Adrian looked from father to son, ignoring Tessa. “But I can be an asset against Criten. He surrounds himself with Warriors. I’m your best bet at taking them out.”
John shook his head, clearly about to protest.
“I believe him.” The voice came from the kitchen doorway. Darius leaned against the doorjamb, arm lowered to his side and a gun clutched in his fist. “I can feel his sincerity.”
“Dar…?” Rafe gestured at the gun, raising his brows.
“We keep guns secured around the house,” Darius said, never looking away from Adrian. “Comes from having a paranoid father.”
“Security conscious,” John corrected.
“The legs aren’t so hot, but the hand-eye coordination is perfect,” Darius added.
“He’s an amazing shot,” Tessa said to Gray. “So don’t move too suddenly.”
“Look, this man did help us get away from those guys yesterday.” Cara stepped past Darius into the dining room. “When the chips were down, he saved our lives. And he did have some kind of power over Criten’s men.”
“Completely neutralized them,” Rafe said. “That’s his car we drove here. He took the other guys back to Vegas in their vehicle.” He looked at Gray. “I would have returned the car, you
know. You didn’t have to come all the way out here.”
“Where Criten goes, I go. He checked out of the hotel before dawn and headed to this area on a private plane. I followed as soon as I could, but he had a few hours’ lead on me.” Gray looked from one to the other. “I’m here to help.”
“You have an agenda,” Darius said.
“Of course,” Gray agreed. “Doesn’t everyone? Luckily, my agenda is the same as yours.”
“And that would be…?” Maria came out of the kitchen, fixing Adrian Gray with her aristocratic look.
Adrian bobbed his head in what could only be described as reverence. “To see the Stones of Ekhia successfully returned to the Seers, Prestulana. To put an end to Mendeku.”
His mother sucked in a breath. “Mendeku?”
“What’s ‘Mendeku’?” John asked.
“Blood vengeance,” Maria whispered, her face pale.
“Sworn upon the Seers by the descendents of Selak and all who follow him,” Gray confirmed. “Including Criten.”
“Selak?” Rafe repeated. “Prestulana?”
“Selak, he who destroyed the great city of Atlantis,” Adrian said. “Criten is his many times over great-grandson. And Prestulana—”
“Great Lady,” Maria translated, her voice soft. “I have not heard that in many years, not since my grandmother was alive.”
“So you’re here to help.” John glanced at his sons. When both nodded, he lowered the gun. “Guess we can use all the help we can get.”
“We’re going after the stones,” Rafe said. “Starting with the one Danny has.”
The doorbell rang again.
“That’s Mendez,” Darius announced.
“I’ll let him in,” Tessa said. She sent Adrian a glare that had him moving from the doorway. “I’m sure he knows how to act around a woman.”
The corner of Adrian’s mouth lifted in a half smile as he held Tessa’s gaze for a moment, clearly speaking telepathically. She gasped and darted from the room.
Rafe frowned. “Do I want to know what you said to my sister just now?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gray answered.
Rafe narrowed his eyes.
“Rafe, you’re vouching for this guy?” John asked.
Rafe hesitated, but finally nodded. “Yeah.”
“All right, that’s good enough for me.” John jerked his head at the table. “Everyone sit down. We need to get a solid plan in place before we go chasing after Cara’s brother.”
Rafe’s mother sat down next to Adrian. “You have knowledge of our history that we lack,” she murmured.
“I can say the same of you,” Gray replied. “Perhaps we can fill in the blanks for each other.”
“I look forward to that.” She pursed her lips. “My daughter doesn’t like you.”
“She’ll get over it.”
A mysterious smile curved her lips. “Well, you certainly have your work cut out for you.”
Even as Rafe puzzled over the cryptic conversation, Tessa came back with Rodrigo Mendez. The leader of the Mountain Security troubleshooting team was in his late thirties with a military buzz cut and a don’t-screw-with-me expression. Rafe didn’t move a muscle as the guy’s dark-as-hell stare fell on him. His father had told them he’d involved the Team when someone had tried to shoot his mother. Mike Hennessy, the guy who’d died during Rafe’s little stunt five years ago, had been under Mendez’s command.
He still blames you. He doesn’t want you here.
He didn’t even need the universe to confirm the assessment. It was written in every molecule of Mendez’s body, shining like a beacon from his eyes. Note to self: try not to piss off the ex-Marine this time around.
“Mendez, thanks for coming.” John shook the team leader’s hand.
“Certainly, sir. What’s the op?”
“We’re searching for a fugitive.” He indicated Cara. “This lady’s stepbrother jumped bail and is hiding somewhere in the area.”
“Is that why he’s here?” Mendez indicated Rafe with a jerk of his head. “Heard he was a bounty hunter now.”
“Yes, my son brought Ms. McGaffigan to us.” John ignored the attitude. “We believe her stepbrother is in possession of an item that has interested a very dangerous group of people—the same group that took a shot at my wife a few days ago.”
Mendez looked at Cara. “Have you been in contact with your stepbrother, ma’am?”
“He called once,” Cara said. “That was a couple of days ago. I lost my cell phone for a while and just got a new one, so I don’t know if he’s tried to get in touch with me again.”
“We might be able to trace the phone if it has GPS or trace the signal to the nearest tower,” Mendez said. “I’ll put Weatherly on it.”
“Sounds good,” John said.
“I’ll get my team assembled.” Mendez left the room.
“How much does he know about us?” Rafe asked.
“I haven’t told him anything,” their father said, “but he doesn’t ask questions, either.”
“Let’s keep it that way,” Gray said.
“I was planning to.”
A few minutes later, Mendez came back into the room, three armed, black-clad men following him. “This is Weatherly.” He indicated the thin young guy right behind him who carried a laptop bag over his shoulder and two silver cases that looked like electronic equipment. “Ms. McGaffigan, let’s see if we can find your stepbrother.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Jain Criten sat outside on the balcony, sipping his mimosa over the remains of a five-star breakfast, and watched the world awaken. The spa in Sedona boasted individual luxury villas, and the view from his included the pool, a meditation garden, and more green trees than he’d ever expected to see in the desert. In the distance, beyond the lush tree line, rose two majestic mesas of red stone, lines of white and gray threading through them, capturing the glow of the rising sun.
Gadi had done well.
There was something about this place that energized him, something that ignited the power within him and sent it racing through his veins, intoxicating him like hard liquor. Was it the sun, so strong in this part of the world? Or maybe it was Sedona’s famous vortex energy. The so-called power of the vortexes had attracted all types of New Age people to the area, many of them setting up shop in town. Given the way his power sparked and shimmered along his skin, practically visible, he had to believe the stories that vortex energy thrived in this area.
He wondered if he could tap it. Use it to enhance his own powers.
A sparrow fluttered to a landing on the back of the empty chair across from him. He watched as it considered the scraps of food on the table, turning its head from side to side as if gauging the risk.
With a half smile, he ripped off a piece of croissant and threw it on the ground. The bird leaped into flight and followed, landing inches away, then hopped closer to the bread, always cautious. Just as it got near its goal, Criten flicked his fingers. The food jumped a foot away.
The sparrow hesitated, then hopped toward the bread again. Criten flicked his fingers again. Red sparks trailed in the wake of his hand as the bread jumped again. Power hummed beneath his skin, rushing to his head. He could feel the vortex energy nearby, strong and masculine, sweeping through him, stealing his breath and leaving his flesh tingling. Closing his eyes, he reached for it.
It surged into him like a dam that burst, saturating his senses with glorious power. The bird chirped, and he opened his eyes, grinning as he aimed his hand at the piece of bread and let go.
Energy gushed from his hand, red as blood and just as draining. He tried to control the flood, but it poured from him, blasting the bread into cinders, leaping to the bird. The sparrow let out a peep of alarm, leaped into flight. Sparks ignited its feathers, the flames overtaking it with a soft whoosh, snuffing its life in seconds. The carcass hurtled to the ground, blackened and smoking.
He tried to stem the flow, but
still it bled from him, using him as a conduit and burning a deep groove into the tiles of the balcony.
Would he die here, victim of his own power? He’d come so close to finding the stone, to tracking the girl—
A vision exploded in his mind. The girl. The house. The men. The plan. Never before had he seen so clearly. Information flooded his mind. Overwhelmed his nerve endings. Blurred his vision.
“Baku,” he whispered, closing his hand into a fist. “Enough.”
Gradually he managed to slow the flow of energy, from a river to a stream to a trickle. By the time he’d stopped it completely, he’d slid to the floor, curled into a ball, his palms burned and blistered as he tried to breathe.
The vortex energy had run rampant through his system, sublimating his power pathways for its own. But even as it had warped his Channeling abilities, it had somehow enhanced his small, often intermittent gift of Seeing—at least while the energy held him in its grasp. He’d seen Cara McGaffigan and the Montana house, the men who worked for the Montanas and the plans they made even now to recover the stone. He’d seen the vault of treasures in the house and Cara McGaffigan opening that vault for him.
He’d seen enough to know he’d be triumphant today.
He was not blind to the irony that, even as Mendeku demanded the death of Seers, the only other being who could use the Stones of Ekhia was a Channeler with a minor Seeing gift. That family secret, passed through the generations, was the reason why only his ancestor Selak had been able to use the stones. It took the exact combination of the two gifts at particular strength for a non-Seer to even activate the stones. For anyone else, even their strongest Channelers and Warriors, such action would result in death.
It had taken these many generations for another like Selak to be born—himself—to at last bring to fruition the possibility of claiming the power that should belong to all Atlanteans, not just Seers.
Cradling his injured hands to his chest, he called to Gadi telepathically for help. He would take back the stone today. He’d seen it.
And the universe never lied.
* * *
“Got him.” Weatherly turned to look at Mendez. “Cangialosi activated the phone, made a call, then turned it off. But I got a ping.”
Prodigal Son Page 28
