Return of Victory: A Kurtherian Gambit Series (Reclaiming Honor Book 8)

by Justin Sloan

  With a crash, Micky came through the wall right behind Arturo, knocking the blade free and wrestling him away from the boy in one quick movement. As the blade clattered away and the boy fell to his knees, Lady Woo reached for a gun, but Valerie acted first.

  She sprang forward, throwing Lady Woo into the far wall. The woman looked stunned at first, but as she recovered and stood, that turned into anger.

  “You can’t kill me. You need me! she shouted. How else will you keep my people in check? They won’t listen to—”

  “ENOUGH!” Valerie was a hundred percent certain in that instant that this was not someone she could allow to live. She leaped forward, pulling the woman’s head back by the hair, and sank her teeth into her neck. Not because she needed the blood, but because she wanted to feel the life drain from this one slowly.

  When it was done she let the corpse drop to the floor, wiped her mouth, and spat.

  New York was theirs once again.

  Valerie turned just in time to see Micky plunge Arturo’s own blade into the man’s throat.

  “That’s for betraying your own people,” Micky said, then fell beside the dying man, eyes wide and glinting with tears.

  “Micky, take the boy to Sandra. We’ll reunite him with his father in the morning.”

  Pulling himself together, Micky nodded.

  “Come on, Eddie Jr.,” he said. “I’ve got you.”

  That was the name! She smiled, nodded to them, and took off.

  ***

  Valerie ran back to the water, where she found four more boats covered in blood. Shots were still being fired outside the wall, but nothing this way. Nothing more had happened in the city since she had dealt with Lady Woo and the others.

  “Robin?” she hissed as she reached the dock.

  A figure appeared at her side and she nearly had a heart attack, but smiled at the sight of Robin’s victorious stance.

  “I think we got ‘em all.”

  “And the men I sent over?” Robin gestured and Valerie saw them along the wall, weapons at the ready.

  “We figured it made sense in case any got through.”

  “Good thinking.” Valerie beamed, looking at the sunrise coming over the water. The sky was already that light yellow—almost gold—it got just before the sun poked up, and that meant Robin needed to get inside. “Find Sandra and tell her I’ll be there soon. I need to make sure Royland’s off the battlefield. The rest of you, come with me.”

  “I will, and I’ll check on my parents. They went underground too, right? Same place?”

  Valerie nodded. “I’ll see you tonight. Get some rest.”

  They agreed and Robin ran off at full speed. She had clearly been too focused on the task to consider the situation with the sunlight—a nearly fatal lack of focus.

  “I’m going to move faster than you can,” Valerie told the men. “Just do what you can when you get there.”

  Running ahead of them and not worried about stealth now, Valerie reached the battlefield and was pleasantly surprised. The people with their backs to New York were largely still alive, firing on random stragglers from the enemy army. They had a group of the enemy pinned down; some shooters who were using a mound of corpses as cover.

  This will take a long time to clean up, she thought. She found Royland and Cammie at the edge of the battlefield, Cammie already urging him to go.

  “Why aren’t you in shelter yet?” Valerie demanded.

  Royland glanced back, glared, and asked. “Did we win? Lady Woo?”

  “I drank her blood and felt her life drain away. Happy?”

  He closed his eyes, smiled, and said, “Yes.”

  “Then get the fuck out of here!” Cammie shouted.

  After kissing her briefly, he ran for cover. Valerie turned to assess the situation. On the left was another force that was firing occasionally at the one surviving group. Valerie strained her eyes to see, but was pretty sure that was Fred over there.

  “They arrived not long ago,” Cammie announced, beaming. “At first we were worried and about to attack, but they saw who was who and made it clear they were on our side when they started lobbing grenades at the enemy. Oh, and they,” Cammie pointed to another group on the far side, “came with this guy…called himself Gerald and said you knew him? Vampire type.”

  Valerie laughed. “No way. He’s in the city now?”

  She smiled, glad he had shown up. That would be a fun reunion.

  Valerie gave Fred a wave, then turned back to her friend, hands on her hips.

  “Want to end this like we used to?” Valerie asked once he was gone.

  “Girl power?” Cammie asked. “Let’s do it.”

  “I was thinking more like a ‘Ladies’ Night Out’ kinda thing, but yeah.”

  “Less talking, more killing.” Cammie transformed and together they ran out to deal with the last of the enemy.

  It was over as quickly as it had begun, the two ladies tearing the enemy fighters apart before they even had a chance to scream. By the time they finished the sun shone over New York city, glinting off buildings and casting shadows on the dead. Valerie stood at the edge of the city looking at her new army, this motley crew of fresh New York citizens.

  “You have all earned your place here among us,” she shouted, her voice carrying loud and clear. “Remember that the days of violence are behind us, however. We will accept trainees into the military and the police, since we must have both. There will always be some who try to act out, to cause pain and suffering. But we will be the rising sun that casts aside such darkness. We will stand as one and say, ‘Not in our city. Not on our Earth.’ Will you all agree to that?”

  Cheers rose from the crowd; she had them.

  “Come on, then…let us welcome you to your new home. Get some rest, because as you can see, we have a lot of cleanup to do.”

  The cheers faltered somewhat there, but as they started moving for the city the smiles were plenty wide.

  Before she started to follow them, she saw Espinoza and his men heading her way.

  “Thank you, soldiers. We wouldn’t have made it back here last night without your help. And I’m sure you did your part to see us through until morning too.”

  Espinoza stuck out his hand and she shook it.

  “Any time you all want to come visit us,” he said, “we’ll be around. Just give the Colonel a call on that comm device. I’d love to sit down and have that beer with you.”

  “Me too. Aren’t you staying?”

  He glanced around at his men. “We’ll rest up, but then we gotta get back. It’s a long journey, and I’m anxious to make sure our Pod is where I left it.”

  She laughed. “Tell you what. While you rest, I’ll run out there and bring it back, if that works for you. So it’s all ready in the morning.”

  He nodded. “You truly go above and beyond, Val. We all consider ourselves lucky to have had the chance to fight by your side.”

  His men agreed, and they all followed her into the city to bunk down for the night. It was a good thing she had met the Colonel when she did, or these guys and the comm devices wouldn’t have been possible. Without the comm device she might not have made it back from Europe at all, and tonight she wouldn’t have returned in time to deal with the invaders who had entered the city.

  She owed much more than her life to that man and his team.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  New York

  Sandra heard someone entering and ran to the door. When she saw the guards—Diego among them—moving aside, she knew it was a good sign. Even better when she noticed that the sounds of shooting had ceased.

  “Who is it?” came whispers from behind her.

  Then an older couple came forward, and one proclaimed, “Robin!” and in came that very person, running to their arms despite the blood still caked on her. It was clear that she had tried to wipe it off, but she hadn’t done a good enough job. When she pulled back, some was on the parents.

  They would have t
o find some good showers, but not until they’d rested. Everyone here needed a break, since sleeping during the battle hadn’t been realistic.

  Robin smiled at the sight of Sandra, and moved toward her to give her a hug, but Sandra held up her hands and said, “Maybe when you’re cleaned up.” At the frown, Sandra said, “Screw it!” and pulled Robin in.

  “Wow, it’s really growing, huh?” Robin looked at Sandra’s belly. “How much longer?”

  “Several months still,” Sandra replied, shaking her head. “I hope the baby’s safe after all the stress of tonight.”

  “I’m sure she is,” Robin replied, and then yawned.

  “Come on, daughter,” her father said, taking her by the arm. “We have a bed for you.”

  “Actually,” Sandra interjected, “now that the fighting is over, we have more comfortable quarters above to retire to if you’d prefer.”

  “Thank you,” Robin’s mom replied, “but honestly, we’re so wiped we’ll barely be able to make it to the cots in here before passing out.”

  Sandra laughed and nodded. “I get that. But…Robin?”

  “Uh, right,” Robin turned back. “Sorry, so tired I nearly forgot. Valerie’s safe, she took out the indie leaders, and the war is completely over. It’s all…good.” Another yawn.

  “Thanks. Now go get some sleep.”

  “No argument there.”

  Robin walked off, one arm in each of her parents’.

  Sandra turned back to Diego, who had come up behind her and wrapped her in his arms.

  “You hear that, dear?” he asked. “We have a full day of rest and relaxation ahead of us.”

  “Are you kidding?” She scoffed. “I can get maybe a couple of hours sleep, then we need to get the café open. Get this city moving again. The people need to know we’re doing business as usual.”

  He laughed, kissed her, and rested his head against hers as his hand caressed her belly. “I love you. Both of you.”

  “We love you too,” she said, and then, when her head swam, she wrapped her arms around him. “Help me find a bed, please?”

  “With pleasure.” He picked her up in both arms and, careful not to bang her head against the door frame, carried her outside.

  “You can’t lug me all the way home, Diego—come on! A cot will do.”

  “Not for my lady it won’t. And just watch me.”

  She smiled dreamily and laid her head against his chest. As his heartbeat lulled her to sleep, all she could think about was how perfectly happy she was.

  ***

  When Valerie finally stumbled into the underground hideout, she was led to where Robin had passed out beside her parents.

  She stood there for a moment just smiling and looking at them, thinking how nice it must be to have parents who loved you and cared for you. Maybe her parents were out there somewhere, still thinking of her and loving her even if they thought she was dead. If they were still alive they would likely be quite old, she realized. Close to death’s door themselves.

  Maybe it would have been nice to search the world for them. She would have liked that, but knew how unrealistic that would be. Moreover, she had a mission, and she would have to make certain sacrifices to see that mission through.

  After all, she had been appointed by Michael himself. She was his Justice Enforcer, and would see that title through to the end—or until his return.

  EPILOGUE

  New York

  Clouds billowed over the city state of New York. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled as chaotically as ever, but that was the only form of chaos the people of New York had seen for months. The final victory had sealed it once and for all. Peace had settled over the land, formed through blood and friendship, ties set in stone with the FDG to the west and others throughout America and Canada since.

  Garcia had, after insisting on a couple beers and one more chocolate croissant, taken off back west with the other FDG men, though Valerie had been sad to see him go. These last few months had been much lonelier without him.

  She got it though—why TH would want him at his side. She was sure the Colonel had big plans for Garcia.

  Valerie watched the storms above with a smile and the knowledge that they meant nothing more than a coming rain. They weren’t symbolic; they just were.

  It was an odd sensation, or had been at first. Peace.

  Many of the men and women who had switched sides had stayed, setting up south of the city; outside, actually. The New Yorkers had helped them rebuild the ruined area so they could expand the city. Some were even moving across the river. Others had returned to their home areas with promises to form a new network, one of peace and friendship. If it didn’t stick, at least now they knew what they would be up against.

  She had a good feeling about the peace lasting, especially since she had used her limited mindreading ability to see how truthful the people were before letting them leave. Had there been disagreements or the occasional crazy person starting violence? A thief or two in Capital Square? Of course. That couldn’t be avoided, but the city was doing its best to make a difference. She glanced over at HQ, now mostly rebuilt and housing the police. Across town by the park, the barracks was still in operation and New York’s soldiers still trained.

  What role would Valerie play in a world where peace was the norm? How would she use her power, her skills in battle, when all the world required of her was friendship?

  At least she had that, and one aspect of that friendship kept her going: anticipation. Sandra’s baby was due any day now.

  So it was that when Valerie’s comm device buzzed and she saw Diego’s name she answered, her voice cracking with excitement.

  “It’s time!” Diego nearly screamed. “The baby’s coming!”

  Valerie wasn’t sure she had ever moved so fast in any of her battles or life-and-death struggles. She darted through her door, hopped to the nearest rooftop, and bounded across the tops of nearby buildings to reach the one near the city center that had been set up as New York’s hospital. It was about time they had a real medical facility, and it had made sense to move it outside the former Enforcer HQ now that the city had moved away from its military stance.

  In the months following their victory over the indie network some people had begun training in medical services, others in the arts, and many were pursuing hobbies that could only found in times of peace. It was like the world of old, Valerie imagined—or as close as it would ever be.

  And now Sandra was in that hospital, about to give birth to an actual human! The thought still amazed Valerie.

  She reached the edge of Capital Square and worked her way down the fire escapes, jumping the last bit and rolling with it; not caring how much the fall hurt. She healed in a matter of seconds and kept sprinting toward the hospital. When she reached the doors she burst through, a blur until she reached the front desk where she stopped, realizing she didn’t know what room Sandra was in.

  She was about to ask when Felix appeared from a side hallway with a man on his arm.

  “Over here!” Felix shouted, smiling widely at the sight of her. “They kicked us out, but—”

  “They’ll have a damn hard time doing that to me,” she replied, jogging over and giving Felix a hug, glad to see him back and at it again despite the wound he had taken a few months back.

  “Hurry up then, or you’ll miss it,” he said, and watched her with his arm around his boyfriend—one of the men with the devil patch on his leather jacket. They are a good match, Valerie thought as she turned, ducking into the room he had motioned her toward.

  The sight of Sandra spread-legged caught her off-guard, but she quickly moved to her side opposite Diego. “Didn’t miss it yet, did I?”

  Sandra glared, but Diego chuckled as the doctor entered.

  “They say she’s fully dilated,” Diego replied.

  “Too much detail,” Valerie replied. “Just…get that baby out so I can meet it already.”

  “It’s not an it!” Sandra gr
unted with a glare as the doctor prepared her.

  “Okay, count of three,” the doctor said. “We’ll try this again. Ready?”

  “A few false starts,” Diego explained, then yelped as Sandra squeezed his hand extra hard. Good thing he was a Were and would heal, because her fingernails had drawn blood.

  The next few minutes were a blur to Valerie, who, despite all the pain and suffering she had endured, couldn’t fathom how Sandra was doing this. It was an alien experience, something she imagined she was closer to Diego in understanding than Sandra. She stood there holding her best friend’s hand and encouraging her through it all, and then in a burst of yuck and joy the baby was in the doctor’s arms and Sandra was crying.

  Everything went blurry and for a moment Valerie wondered if something was wrong, then she realized that she was crying too.

  “It’s a girl,” the doctor proclaimed, cutting the umbilical cord and quickly wiping the baby clean before gently placing her on Sandra’s exposed chest. For a moment the baby’s eyes seemed to look around and then she reached for the nipple, latching on a moment later.

  “That’s the fastest I’ve seen a baby do that,” the doctor said with a pleasant smile, and then excused herself.

  Valerie lingered a moment, amazed the beautiful sight of this weird-looking tiny baby, then kissed Sandra on the forehead and said, “Congratulations, she’s amazing,” before excusing herself too and making for the door.

  She wanted to give them space, but also wanted to hide the tears she knew would return any minute—even if they were of joy. Being exposed like that wasn’t in her bag of normalness. As she reached the door, Diego called out to her.

  “Val, wait!”

  She turned, a tilt to her head as she continued to struggle to keep the tears back.

  “We want to tell you while we’re still awake…” He bit his lip, smiling at Sandra. “It was thirty hours of labor, after all. Do you want to tell her, dear?”

  Sandra, hand on the back of her newborn as she sucked, working to get her first meal, smiled and said, “Her name. If it was a girl, we both agreed—”