Sinner Reborn

by Morgan Kelley

  After the vehicles were fueled up, they parked across the street in the lot adjacent to where they had come out. Maura watched them, and she had that sick feeling in her stomach.

  They were either tracking her.

  Or they knew where Avalon was.

  “Call Nate,” she said, as the men started gearing up.

  “Why?”

  She pointed as they suited up in military grade gear. “They’re heading into the woods. They know where Avalon is, and he needs to get her the hell out of there, and fast.”

  Luke pulled out his cell and prayed his friend wasn’t screwing around. They were going to need the head start. Moving a blind woman through the woods wasn’t going to be a cake walk. It was going to take time, and with five angry ex-military men on their ass, they didn't have much time to screw around.

  When he hung up, he glanced over at Maura. “Nate’s going to get her moving. He’s going to make it look like they’re going the opposite direction to buy them time.”

  She was getting worried.

  “I need to know something,” she stated.

  “What?”

  “Is your partner going to be able to pull this off? I know you were worried about his mental state before he took this assignment, but as of right now, this all weighs on him. We have the fight of our lives coming up, and we need to be focused on that. If I’m stressing about Oracle, I can’t do it.”

  Luke didn't have to think about it.

  He could see the way his partner had been looking at Avalon. Not only was he invested in the job, he was falling for the girl. There was something there, and that meant his brother in arms would fight to the death.

  “He can do it. Nate has had my back for years. I don’t doubt that he’s going to put Avalon first. She’s going to live, but he might not.”

  She was glad the man she loved believed in his partner. They needed everything to line up for this to work.

  That’s what she had hoped for. If this was going to work, they were going to need Nate and Avalon to be strong.

  “Do you have a plan?” he asked, as her eyes never left the men across the street. “What should we do? Wing it? You have to have a backup plan for things like this, right?”

  Maura knew exactly what had to be done, but she wasn’t sure it was going to sit well with Luke. While she moved in the dark, he worked for truth and justice. His world was so much cleaner.

  She’d been trained for situations just like this. When Oracle was in danger, there was no other choice in the matter. Now she only had to hope that Luke didn't see the real her and get scared. What was coming was going to be the true test to their relationship. While he loved a Marine, would he still love the woman who created Bravo Ghost?

  She was a killer, and it wasn’t going to be pretty.

  Her fingers were crossed.

  “Maura, what’s wrong.”

  “We don’t have any choice, Lucas. We’re going to follow them in.”

  “And do what when we catch up? Invite them over for some jerky and Power Bars?”

  Here it came.

  “No, we’ll take them out. One by one, we’re going to pick them off to save your partner and Avalon.”

  “And if we don’t get them?”

  “We go down trying. We’re the heroes or one hell of a distraction.”

  CHAPTER seventeen

  Thursday Late Afternoon

  I t had been a pretty awesome day with Avalon. Yes, he nearly drowned her, and she had an emotional breakdown, but at least he got to learn more about the woman he was hopelessly falling for. There weren’t many days in his life where he could honestly say that he was at peace.

  Today was one.

  Nate was able to see past Oracle to the core beneath, and he loved what he saw. After she finished crying, she let him hold her in his arms. It was an amazing feeling to know that she needed him. While she was so strong on the outside, there was a piece of her that longed to have him in her life.

  It gave him purpose.

  That was something he’d been missing as of late, just going through the motions when it came to his life. Now he could wake every day and know that there was a reason for him being alive.

  She was it.

  Glancing over, he watched her erratically pace the floor. The second they had arrived back at the cabin, her demeanor changed. While she was still his sweet Avalon, she was morphing.

  Now, she was edgy.

  Bothered.

  Off balance.

  He was just about to ask her what was going on when his private cell phone rang. Glancing down, he noticed that his partner was calling.

  That was odd.

  They agreed to only contact on their phones if there was some sort of emergency. That didn't bode well for Nate, so he quickly answered.

  “Yo.”

  “You have a big problem heading your way.”

  Nate didn't glance away from Avalon. He could see that his friend was right. Maura had said that Oracle had her own pre-warning system, and it looked to be true.

  She looked riled up.

  “What kind of problem?”

  “There are five men wearing guns and Kevlar. We’re in town and can see them getting ready to head into the forest to find you. We’re up shit creek.”

  He didn't like that idea.

  “Give me details,” he said, as he started shoveling their sparse supplies and gear into his backpack.

  “It’s a five mile hike, and they’re in damn good shape, so unless they’re taking their time, they’re going to make the trip in less than two hours. You have to get as far from that cabin as possible.”

  Nate went into FBI mode. Many things had prepared him for this moment, and he was going to make sure that nothing happened to Avalon.

  Screw Oracle.

  He was protecting his woman.

  “You need to roll, man.”

  “I’ll be out of here in five minutes.”

  “Maura and I are going to try and slow them down. We’ll buy you as much time as we can, but you’ve got to get to that next location. Can you do it?”

  He didn't doubt it. He’d passed all the survival training in the FBI, so this was going to be about making the trip as quickly and unnoticeable as possible.

  “We’ll get to the rendezvous spot. You two just make sure you do too because if not, I’ll have to call in for help.”

  “Don’t worry about us. Bug out, get to the location, and keep her safe. We’ll handle the rest.”

  “See you there,” he stated, hanging up the phone.

  Nate grabbed the piece of paper that Maura had scribbled the next set of coordinates on, and he quickly entered them into his phone. Hopefully, he could do everything he said.

  Glancing up, Oracle wasn’t moving. It was like Avalon had left and something had replaced her. This trance-like state freaked him out.

  “They’re coming,” she whispered, her voice not quite sounding like it normally did.

  “Yeah, they are. We have to make a break for it, honey. Come on, Avi. Let’s get into our gear and head out.”

  Oracle obviously wasn’t finished. “I see blood. There is lots and lots of blood, Nathaniel. I can see it coating hands and boots. It’s coming our way.”

  He didn't like that at all. In fact, he wasn’t sure what freaked him out more. That she was prophesizing someone’s death, or that it might possibly be theirs.

  “We’ll be fine, Avalon,” he stated, grabbing her things before handing them to her. Get into your boots, layer up your dry clothes, and be ready in five minutes,” he ordered.

  She did what he said.

  Nate couldn’t dwell on what may happen. He had to focus on the job at hand. Now he needed to get them ready and out of there. It was going to be the only thing that saved them if Maura and Luke failed.

  When Avalon was dressed, Nate had finally finished packing up the things they would need. He would have to leave behind that majority of their clothes and gear since he was the on
ly one going to be playing pack mule. His priorities would be a change of clothes, a sleeping bag, weapons, and food.

  The rest would have to stay behind.

  “I’m ready, Nathaniel,” Avalon stated.

  “Great, honey. I’m going to carry you down to the river. Hopefully, they’ll only see one set of prints and not think it’s us heading out.”

  “Okay, Nate,” she stated. “What can I do to help?”

  “You just stay calm, hold onto me, and let me know if anyone is getting close. Can you do that?”

  She nodded.

  “Okay, then off we go.”

  He swung Avalon up into his arms after slipping into their gear. The weight was going to suck, but at least he’d only have to bear it for a little while. To save Avalon, he’d carry a car through a minefield.

  Walking toward the stream, the one where they picnicked earlier, Nate focused on the woman in his arms. “This is going to be one hell of a hike. From the coordinates, it’s going to take almost a full day of walking.”

  “I’ll be okay. I can handle the walk.”

  He hoped so. They needed to make this as fast as possible, and without leaving a big trail behind.

  “I could only bring one sleeping bag, but we should be fine. It’s still pretty warm at night,” he stated, noticing that what little of the sky he could see was being kissed with yellows and oranges.

  Night was coming, and fast.

  Avalon touched his face. “We’re going to make it,” she stated, giving him as much reassurance as possible. “I trust you and your family.”

  He was touched by that.

  Now, he only hoped they didn't screw up.

  Avalon’s life depended on it.

  * * * C a r t e r - G a i n e s * * *

  It didn't take them long to find the men. They weren’t exactly moving like ghosts through the trees. In fact, for a bunch of ex-military, they sounded more like a herd of elephants.

  That was to their advantage.

  So, Major Maura Gaines was going to use it.

  It appeared that they were spreading out in some sort of grid pattern as they looked for any trace of Avalon. The irony was that they completely missed her and Luke’s footprints heading into the town.

  They lucked out there.

  Big time!

  “What’s our plan?” Luke asked, keeping his eyes on the fleeting images ahead of them. They were currently bedded down in a cluster of brush as Maura worked out her strategy.

  “I think in this case, it’s going to be best to pick them off one by one. We can’t go blowing the place up with gunshots. We’ll draw the local authorities here, and then Elizabeth Blackhawk is going to have a hell of a mess to cover-up.”

  “Okay, so we do this quietly and without making too much of a ruckus.”

  “Only fire if you have to,” she stated. “I’m going to take out the one on the end, and then that should draw them to us. We’ll head away from the general location of the cabin. If we fail, then Nate will have a little more time. If we succeed, then we’ll keep them off our tails and be able to rendezvous at the next location.”

  “Be careful,” Luke stated.

  “Lucas, this is what I do. You just keep that pretty FBI ass of yours intact.”

  While she was scared shitless for him, Maura was going to need all the help she could get. There were five very large men who needed to be stopped.

  “How are we going to take him out?”

  Maura found some black dirt on the ground and used it to dirty up her face. While she was wearing black, her pale skin would be a dead giveaway as she tried to blend in.

  Then she did the same to Luke, lovingly streaking up his flesh. “There you go, sexy.”

  “Great.”

  “Give me five minutes to move ahead of him, and then I want you to make some noise over here. Not a ton because you’ll draw them onto us before I can take him out—just enough to make him think he’s being followed. I’ll do the rest.”

  Luke could do that, and he really hoped that his fiancée knew what the hell she was doing, or they were going to be ass deep in trouble.

  There might not be a wedding to plan.

  That, to him, was unacceptable.

  Luke counted down the time on his watch, as he waited to give Maura what she needed. His fingers were crossed, there was a knot in his gut, and he wanted to freak out.

  Yet, he couldn’t.

  She needed his trust. Maura was good at her job, and he was going to let her lead on this one.

  As the time ran out, he started walking toward the man not far off into the distance. He wasn’t trying to be quiet. In fact, he was aiming for every stick, pile of dry leaves, and anything else he could find.

  He knew exactly when the man heard him.

  The commando spun, trying to spot him in the trees. He looked surprised and not the least bit happy that someone had snuck up on him.

  “Don’t move!” he ordered, pointing a gun at him.

  Luke did as he said, praying that Maura was going to cover him. He was wearing Kevlar, but one head shot and Luke was done.

  Maura saw him turn, and it worked out just as she planned. As soon as the man’s back was to her, she stepped out of hiding with Bowie knife in hand, and from behind, ripped it across his throat.

  Warm blood gushed across her hand, and the man grabbed for his throat, no longer worried about Luke.

  There was a shout as he fell, and then nothing more.

  Maura stripped his guns and tossed one to Luke. “They’re going to hear that and come for him. We’re going to have to stay on our toes from here on out.”

  He didn't say anything as she wiped the blood on the crunchy leaves.

  What could he say?

  This was his girl, and she was badass to the bones.

  Thankfully.

  “We’ll head this way. I want you to leave lots of tracks. We want them to look for us.”

  She could hear the com in the downed man’s ear click to life in the silence of the forest. “Yeah, we move now!”

  With that, they headed into the trees and as far from the cabin as they could get.

  The game was on, and they had everything to lose.

  * * * C a r t e r - G a i n e s * * *

  Nate carried her for nearly half a mile. When his arms burned from the buildup of lactic acid, he couldn’t do it anymore. He had to put her on her feet.

  At least they’d put some distance between them and the cabin. Heading down to the stream and doubling back would add some confusion to the mix.

  Now he prayed it would be enough.

  Avalon’s life, and his, depended on it.

  His head and heart were warring. While both knew that they needed to keep her safe, there were two different reasons why. The part of him that was all about the job wanted to keep the Oracle mission intact, but the part of Nate which loved her needed to keep Avalon alive.

  She was like two people, and now so was he.

  Maybe that’s why they worked. Since he was all about being married to the job, he’d finally gotten his wish. Most women couldn’t spend their lives married to a man who did what he did. Now he’d found the best of both worlds.

  She was the job.

  And she was his heart.

  He’d lucked out.

  There was no doubt that being handed this mission was the best thing that ever happened to him. He now could work and love at the same time and never have to worry about his woman hating him for being all about the job.

  His skills meant her safety.

  Nate knew he was blessed on this one.

  “What are you thinking about?” Avalon asked, as he led her through the trees as quickly as she could move without getting hurt.

  “About you and the job.”

  “Care to elaborate?” she asked, holding tightly to his hand. Nate was her lifeline, and in more ways than one.

  “I never wanted to fall in love because I couldn’t give that person my whole self
. I was always going to have an internal battle over my job and my heart. Now, for the first time in a long time, I can do both. I can actually have it all.”

  She was speechless, only because she knew what was coming. That light at the end of the tunnel wasn’t happiness, but the headlamp of an oncoming train.

  She felt bad.

  When she was taken from him, Nate would crumble.

  Just as she was going to say something, her hair caught in the bramble. “Ouch!”

  Nate stopped the second he heard her. “It’s your hair. It’s caught,” he said, untangling it.

  “Just cut it. Then we don’t have to worry,” she offered, willing to sacrifice part of her identity to buy them more time. If they got caught, she was going to lose him.

  Avalon couldn’t handle that.

  “I’ll braid it,” he said, turning her around. As he ran his fingers through the tangle of blonde hair, he couldn’t imagine cutting it off. He loved Avalon’s tresses. They were part of her.

  She didn't move as he did the braid. “How did you learn to do that?” she asked.

  “I have a sister. She’s younger than I am, and I’ve watched my mother do this countless times when we were kids.”

  “Can you teach me? No one’s ever braided my hair.”

  His hands stopped. That sentence killed him. Avalon had missed out on so much—most of it basic love.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Thank you,” she said. When she heard a tear of fabric, and then felt the twisting of the end of her hair, she knew Nate had crafted her a makeshift hair tie.

  “All set,” he said, dropping the long braid down the back of her shirt. “Now, you don’t have to lose all that amazing hair.”

  She smiled brightly at him. “You’re handy.”

  He kissed her on the lips. “Yeah, well, I’m going to be around for a long time, so get used to it.”

  Avalon didn't argue. She’d let him have the moment.

  In fact, she basked in it too.

  Life was too short.

  “Okay, we have a wall of rocks ahead of us. We’ve got to get up it. I want you to hold onto my belt and stay right behind me.”