FRACTURE: Hearts of Stone Book Six

by Woodward, Kaya

  “I hate trains,” she murmurs.

  When she’s finished, she gets up, and I can see her dress through the crack in the doorframe. I try to make myself small and pray she doesn’t see me or at least recognize me.

  Olivia leaves the restroom.

  Tears, of relief this time, slide down my cheeks. At least we weren’t wrong.

  When I finish, shaking, I peek out the door.

  I am alone.

  I turn to go back to our car, when Evan materializes in front of me, come to look for me.

  “Leigha…” he starts to say.

  There is still plenty of distance between us, but now that we are alone, for the most part, I can’t help myself. I tried to stay calm and relaxed in front of Vic.

  Now?

  All bets are off.

  I run to him and throw myself into his arms. Evan grabs me roughly, pulling me against him for comfort. I back him up against the window and take his face into my hands, kissing him thoroughly so that my mind goes completely blank, and all I can hear is the sound of our lips meeting over and over again in hurried desperation to make up for all the time apart.

  With Evan’s warmth and his scent back in my nostrils, I can finally breathe again.

  I hesitate to pull away, but eventually, I do. There’s so much I want to say to him; I feel so stupid for blindly following Merc’s instructions right now.

  When he finally can breathe again, he looks at me with stunned surprise and happiness.

  “Leigha?” he asks.

  “I’ve two things to tell you... One, I will always love you! Forever! Nothing is going to change that no matter what happens,” I start.

  “And?” Evan asks with a dopey grin on his face.

  “And two, Olivia just walked out of that restroom, and went down the corridor that way!” I say, still holding onto him for dear life before I point the way Olivia went with a nod of my head.

  My body is thrumming at his touch!

  I know I’ve found my home!

  Fuck Merc! Fuck Noah!

  Fuck anyone who’d try to keep us apart!

  I want Evan, always!

  Just Evan, no matter what.

  * * *

  Evan takes my hand, and slowly, we walk down the corridor towards where I last saw Olivia.

  He signals for me to stop by squeezing my hand, and a thrill runs through me. He lets it go, for just a moment, and peers around a corner then motions for me to move back towards the restrooms.

  He puts his finger to his lips, but I'm extra quiet already.

  I can taste him on my lips, and I am savoring the sensation and smell of him, so close, so in love. It’s like a renewed feeling, and I regret everything I’ve done to keep us apart. My biggest regret is listening to Merc when I should’ve told him to go fuck himself and gone straight back to my husband.

  Evan’s eyes don’t lie: I don’t see anything of feeling in them for Vic or anyone but me.

  I’m happy yet terrified!

  What if I lose him now when we are so close?

  What if Olivia’s goons kill him?

  I am sure I would die, as well.

  I want to disappear and let the others find Noah.

  It’s cowardly but...

  All I want is to be with Evan.

  * * *

  “Olivia’s on the train!” Evan says as we enter the private car.

  “Are you okay, Leigha?” Merc asks.

  Evan protectively puts a hand around my waist before I can respond.

  “Ahh,” Merc says.

  Vic sees it as well, but she’s got an odd smirk on her face, and I watch as her eyes move over to Levi.

  A woman knows another woman’s intent, at times.

  I smirk back.

  Poor Levi! He won’t know what hit him!

  With that, Vic and I nod slightly, each acknowledging that we both have our prizes.

  Inwardly, I thank God that we’ve finally resolved that issue.

  Now, to the more pressing matter of finding Noah!

  * * *

  Isaac takes a peek out into the corridor.

  “Clear, left, clear, right,” he says.

  He comes back into the room, pulling out his Glock. He checks it and nods to Levi, then Merc. Levi and Merc pat their sides.

  “Flip six three-hole, gentlemen?” Levi asks.

  The other two nod.

  I have no idea what is going on.

  “Evan, do you have a gun?” Levi asks.

  Evan shakes his head no.

  “I do,” I reply, and find my purse.

  “What’s the plan?” Evan asks.

  He reaches out to take my gun, but I demure.

  He raises his eyebrows.

  “We’re going to go down to Olivia’s car and find out where Noah is being kept. He’s on this train. She’s going to lead us to him. If she’s lucky, she’ll just be arrested at the next stop. If not, there may be…trouble,” Levi says.

  Isaac grins.

  “My kind of trouble,” he says.

  Merc nods.

  “Leigha, I think you and Evan should stay here, while we go fetch Noah,” he says.

  “Give Evan your pistol,” he orders.

  Bristling, I hand my Glock to Evan. He press-checks it and then nods to Merc.

  He hands it back to me.

  “Hold this, would you?” he asks, then whirls on Merc.

  “I owe you a punch, asshole!” he growls.

  “Not now, Evan,” Merc warns, fending him off almost effortlessly.

  But Evan is full of confidence; the man I’ve always loved.

  He steps in front of me.

  “First, you pretend to be dead! Then, you break Leigha’s heart! You broke my heart, you fucking son of a bitch! All you care about is your fucking mission! People don’t matter, and you don’t love anyone but ‘Queen and Country,’ you goddamned James Bond wannabe!” Evan snarls.

  He gets close to Merc, who coolly stands with his back against the wall.

  “You want to do this now, Ev?” he says.

  His voice sounds sad, but I can’t discern why.

  “Do you want to know the full of it?” Merc says.

  “Merc, stand down! This isn’t the time!” Levi says, evenly.

  Merc shoots him a glance, and he looks disgusted.

  “Don’t suddenly side with family, Levi. You’re in this almost as deep as Noah, and certainly more than I,” Merc replies, disdainfully.

  Isaac moves between Evan and Merc.

  “Gentlemen? Noah? Perhaps we can discuss this private matter later?” he says.

  Merc stares at Isaac, then Evan, and comes to a decision.

  “Lauren’s dead, Evan,” he says.

  Evan goes white.

  “Yeah, I know! Leigha hit her with a pipe…” he begins.

  “That wasn’t Lauren, Evan,” Merc says.

  Levi puts his hand over his face.

  “Oh, fuck…” he murmurs.

  “What…what do you mean?” Evan says, standing back, stunned.

  “I saw…we all saw the coroner’s report!” he cries.

  Merc gives him a sardonic grin.

  Isaac is suddenly thrust aside as Evan grabs Merc and slams him against the wall.

  Vic, Grace and I back away, towards the window, putting the table between the two men and us.

  Evan shoves Merc onto the table, where the server had placed all manner of delightful dishes when I was in the restroom.

  They go flying onto the floor, shattering.

  “What the fuck are you saying, you bastard? Who was it that Leigha…” Evan whispers, his face almost touching Merc’s.

  “An agent shot Lauren in the temple with a forty-caliber round, Evan. Her brains splattered against the wall, and she looked surprised and then died. I was there,” Merc said.

  There isn’t a trace of emotion in his voice.

  I’d never seen him looking so dangerous. He’d as easily kill Evan as anyone, at that moment.


  “The woman who attacked Leigha was…” he begins.

  Isaac senses it as well, but Levi gets there first and pulls Evan from Merc.

  He whirls Evan into the wall, hard.

  “Dammit! I said, we do this later!” he roars.

  He almost sounds like Noah. He snaps on Merc so fast that even Merc is surprised. Merc looks about to punch Evan, but Levi grabs Merc’s forearm in a firm grip.

  He pushes Merc’s arm away and steps away from both men.

  “Torelli, you know the drill. Don’t fuck with me!” he growls. Merc stands, brushing bits of food from his turtleneck and pants.

  “This isn’t over, Evan, not by a long shot,” he promises.

  Then, Merc’s penetrating gaze turns on me.

  “You’re not worth it, Leigha, you never were,” he said, and then he storms out into the corridor, moving towards Olivia’s car.

  “Fuck! Torelli! Wait for us!” Isaac yells after him.

  “Take Leigha’s gun, protect them!” Levi orders.

  Evan watches as the others leave.

  He turns to me, and I hand him my Glock.

  He shakes with rage and sadness.

  “Give me a minute,” Evan says, and puts hands over his face, wiping them down.

  “Vic, Grace, maybe we should move to more defensible positions?” I ask.

  “Here,” I say, handing them sterling silver steak knives.

  “I know it’s just cutlery, but it’s better than nothing. If someone comes after you, stab them in the eyes, and don’t stop until they are dead,” I instruct.

  The two of them look at me as if I’ve gone mad.

  Perhaps I have.

  But my man is here with me.

  God help whoever tries to take him away again!

  29

  Evan

  January 28, 2019

  When Merc spoke to Leigha like that, I wanted to rip his lungs out!

  How dare he presume to pretend to love her as much as I do!

  My anger is getting the better of me, so I rummage around on the wreckage of the table until I find an unopened bottle of Perrier. I twist off the cap and drink it down until it’s empty.

  I turn to the women.

  “You all need to stay back from the door, to give me room, okay?” I ask, retrieving the Glock from Leigha. I press-check it. It’s got a round in the chamber. Feels like a full mag, but I pop it out and make sure. Yep, seventeen 9mm bullets.

  I give Leigha a look, but she shrugs and flips her hair. It’s damned sexy…but I have to concentrate on the task at hand.

  I slap the mag back in and aim at the doorway. The sights seem fine. I push the Glock into my waistband, closing my jacket over it for cover.

  I peer out into the corridor, first left, then right.

  It’s all clear.

  “What are they doing, Evan?” Grace asks.

  I feel a bit sorry for her. I don’t think she has ever been in a situation like this and is probably scared out of her mind.

  “I think flip six three hole is a tactical plan for invading Olivia’s section. At least, it sounds like one of the things I trained for in the military. Maybe a modification of one…” I offer.

  “What do we do?” Vic asks.

  “Let’s stay ready to bolt if we need. Gather your things, and put them over there,” I point.

  Leigha comes over with a look of concern on her face. She’s scared, maybe, and that’s all I care about this second. Fuck Merc, and Lauren, and whoever else he’s probably murdered.

  I was seriously afraid that Leigha was leaving me, that she didn’t care for me anymore; that I was going to lose her. But she’s in front of me, looking confused as ever, wondering if I am okay.

  “I love you,” I whisper, lifting a hand to her cheek.

  Leigha nods, looking teary, and I can’t help myself. I give her a solid kiss, one that electrifies me down to my toes.

  Leigha clings to me for dear life like so many kisses before this. When she pulls away first, I realize there’s something I have to tell her.

  But now is not the time.

  “I’m so confused about Lauren, Evan,” she says.

  A single tear rolls down her cheek.

  But, I’m not sure if it’s because of us being together or what.

  “We’re together, babe. That’s all that matters, now!” I reassure her.

  She smiles, and I want to drown in her eyes.

  I step back from the doorway again and pull the Glock out.

  I look out.

  Still nothing.

  I take a deep breath, rechecking the Glock. It’s still loaded, same as last time.

  Shit.

  I’m too nervous.

  I do one of the exercises I learned in the RAF, to calm down. I begin trying to relax, starting with my toes. I feel calmness radiate from my big toe, across my foot, up to my shin, and then to my groin. I repeat the process for my other leg. Then, each arm. Finally, I relax from my chest out and up over my head.

  Now, I can concentrate on the task at hand.

  I hear someone coming from the front of the train and step aside. It’s just a server, dressed in a black and white uniform, pushing a food trolley. She goes past, stopping a few compartments down. Then, she goes into the next car.

  I hear the doors close.

  Suddenly, there is a scream.

  The server is running back up the train, towards us, her bonnet trailing behind her. She is yelling something in French and runs past our compartment. She goes towards the front.

  “Shit, you all stay here,” I say.

  The doors to the car ahead of us burst open, and gendarmes run past.

  One peers inside at us.

  “Stay in your compartment until further notice!” he orders.

  I wisely have the Glock hidden behind me.

  “Oui!” I say.

  He looks at me sternly, then takes off after the others.

  “We’ve got to move. Let's go towards the front…” Vic says.

  Then, the shooting starts.

  * * *

  Gunshots echo through the corridor of the train.

  I hear screams of pain and shouts.

  Suddenly, Merc comes racing past our compartment. He's holding onto Isaac, and Levi is holding onto his other side. A pool of red is spreading across Isaac's white shirt.

  "Isaac!" screams Grace, but I pull her back before she can run after the three men, as they race into the adjoining car. I toss her at Leigha and take up a position behind the door.

  A gruesome looking man shoves his face into the doorway, his ugly gun pointing around the room.

  Confused, he suddenly ducks inside as bullets whiz past from both ends of the train.

  What the fuck?

  I punch him in the skull with the Glock, and the man falls.

  “Stay here!” I order the women.

  “Evan!” Leigha shouts after me.

  I run down the corridor, stopping just before the next car. The door is open, and I see three gendarmes, pinned down, by two men at the far end of the car. I take careful aim over the heads of the three men and put the sights on the canister of a fire extinguisher.

  I fire three shots.

  Three bullets shatter the extinguisher, making a cloud of retardant chemicals that block the view of the thugs. I keep firing high, yelling at the gendarmes to retreat.

  They instead charge at the men, and there is the sudden sound of a submachine gun. They get cut down, to a man.

  I don’t wait around and fall back to the compartment.

  “Move! Now!” I order.

  The women crowd into the corridor, and run to the front cars, with me in the rear. I see one thug come through into our car and fire at him as he is raising a sub gun. He takes a hit and falls.

  I can’t tell how severe his wound is, so I fire another shot and push the girls.

  The doors open and Levi and Merc pull them into the car, as I rush past.

  Then, they slam
the doors, locking them with a steel bar.

  “This won’t last!” Levi says.

  Merc grabs Isaac.

  “Stay with me, buddy!” he growls.

  Isaac’s shirt and pants are red, but Grace is applying pressure to his injury.

  “Gutshot, dammit! Hurts like a bitch!” Isaac groans.

  Grace looks terrified, but grimly is assisting the wounded man.

  “What can I do?” Vic asks.

  “Bring me some cloth napkins and some water!” Grace replies.

  Vic rummages around and soon is back with the items.

  “Pour the water on the hole, until I say to stop!” Grace orders.

  “Leigha! Move Isaac’s jacket, please!” she says.

  Leigha folds the jacket aside, revealing an ugly crease.

  I breathe a sigh of relief.

  “It’s only a scratch, Isaac!” I say.

  He glares at me with gritted teeth.

  “Shot. Twice. Asshole!” he moans.

  Leigha pulls the jacket further down, and there is indeed a clean hole in his lower abdomen. Blood leaks out of it, slowly.

  “Damn,” I whisper.

  It may or may not be lethal; I’ve seen men pull through with worse. But it depends on if it hit anything vital, like an artery. The blood isn’t flowing enough for that, I think. Vic rinses off the blood from both areas, and Grace wipes them down, drying them, and watching the blood pool again. She motions and Vic pours on more water.

  Isaac hisses in pain.

  “That’s enough!” Grace says.

  She presses two napkins into the wounds.

  “Vic, hold that one, Leigha, the other, while I see if there is a first-aid kit in this car,” Grace says. Her voice is shaking.

  She goes off to find a medical pack while I stare at Leigha.

  Two more gendarmes rush towards us, into the car from the front, guns drawn. Levi turns and barks at them in French. They move to where he and Merc are, and take up positions on either side.

  Levi converses quickly with them, and they nod.

  Levi is saying something to me, but I am still focused on Leigha.

  “What?” I ask.

  He glares at me.

  “Get your head in the game, son!” he warns.