I went down hard.
Jordy once told me that during a fight, there would be a moment where I’d question my judgment. My fight-or-flight instinct would stutter and allow me to decide my fate. If I chose flight, I might as well give up and die.
Screw that. No one put Jasper in a corner.
I raised my hands above my head and let gravity do the work. My arms slipped out with ease. With my hands free, I ripped the collar and ducked out.
For a precious few seconds, Joshua was oblivious to my escape. I tumbled away and landed in a crouch. Using my forearm to wipe the blood out of my eyes, I let out a guttural scream and charged.
Joshua’s eyes darted between me and the empty shirt in his hand. He froze in his confusion. Good. It was time to change things up.
I tackled him and slammed him against the wood-paneled wall. He lost his footing. The force of the blow rattled his head. When he slumped, I dove and pinned him beneath me.
My mind went blissfully blank. Without the burden of emotions, my strikes were efficient and savage. I attacked his face with the same intensity he’d used on me. He’d suffer as much as he’d inflicted.
His jaw, nose, and chin cracked under the assault. He howled with pain, raising his arms to shield himself.
No biggie.
My attention moved to his torso with a series of well-aimed jabs and hooks until we both heard the sickening crack of a rib bone. He screamed again.
Not enough. Never enough.
Panting, I stood and stared at him for a moment. I smiled, reared back, and stomped the inside of his bent leg. The knee separated from its socket with the audible tearing of muscles and crunching of bones.
He rolled over to protect himself, screaming and threatening me. He and his friends were going to slit my throat and desecrate my body as the life drained from me.
Subduing him and causing pain had been my goal until now. I was going to kill the sick bastard.
“You piece of shit-asshole-jerk face.” I wrapped my left hand around as much of his neck as I could reach and squeezed.
Joshua gurgled and flailed.
“May you suffer a thousand deaths and I hope all of them end with a spike up your ass, you sick rapist.” I prepared to shatter his face and roared.
“Jasper!” Jordy grabbed my arm, tearing me away and pushing me behind him. “Not like this. Not yet. Stop fighting me!”
I trembled with rage and willed myself to keep in those angry tears. “No! He has to die! He said he was going to slit my throat and rape me!”
Jordy’s eyes shuttered, and the man was gone. “You should have blasted his legs off and cauterized the wounds. Don’t worry, though. You’ll have your fun soon enough.”
I nodded and stepped back. Jordan promised me violence. That was good enough for me. I was content to watch him work until he called me into action.
He leaned over Joshua and spoke in a conversational tone. “You had me fooled. Shame on me. I might have let you live, but you touched mine. Jasper, how bad?”
“Me or him?”
“Him.”
“Broken ribs. I’m fairly sure I separated the knee from the rest of the body, and I might have fractured the bone. A concussion for sure. A few kidney punches.”
Jordan snorted. “That’s my girl. Good work.” He wrapped his left hand around Joshua’s neck and lifted him off the ground in one fluid movement. “You thought you’d kill a little girl? How’d that pan out for you?”
“Jordy, man. Please.” Joshua was a sniveling punk. “I was following orders. You understand that.”
“Kill him.”
“Wait.” He backed Joshua into the wall and held him a good four feet above the ground. Joshua’s lower leg was just a sack of meat stretching the skin in unnatural ways. He’d begun to resemble one of those action figures that was on its last legs, stretched out beyond recognition and useless.
Jordan flexed his fingers until Joshua slapped at him wildly as if he had a sliver of a chance to escape.
“You know how this plays out,” Jordan said quietly. “If you want it to be quick, start talking.”
Joshua struggled, but the pain from his injuries had drained his energy. He slapped Jordan’s hand again. “I’ll talk.”
“Jasper, get me resistance bands, a chair, and your favorite toy. Now.”
It would have been uncivilized to clap and jump up and down with glee. I stared at the men for another beat and then ran to the corner of the boxing area. The items Jordan requested were things I used in my daily workouts. I had a feeling this show was for me, bless that man-beast.
Joshua was in tears when I returned with the requested items and a kettlebell.
“Can I help?”
“Easy, tiger. Watch and learn.” The resistance bands secured Joshua to the chair and put consistent pressure on his injuries. “You have one chance. I ask. You answer. If I’m not satisfied, she gets one swing at you with her kettlebell per question. The only rule is that she can’t kill you.”
“Please don’t kill me. I trained her just like you wanted. Jordy, you know me. Don’t do this.”
Jordan arched a brow, stepped back, and gestured for me to swing. “Make it count.”
I wrapped my hands around the handle and swung my arm back and forth until the momentum carried me forward. The kettlebell hit his uninjured knee and shattered it.
“Do not speak unless you are answering a direct question.”
Joshua’s head bobbed in acknowledgment.
“Good. Yes or no. Are you working alone?”
“No.”
“Are there others in the compound?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have orders to hurt the civilians? The children?”
“No. Injure a few to scare the rest into staying at the east end.”
“Who are you hunting?”
Joshua’s lips curled into a sneer, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. “You don’t get it. This was just a message, a precursor. We know who you are, and we will not stop. We will use the blood of your most powerful and your innocents to summon forces you can’t imagine. The world will be remade in our image. I want you to watch, Jordy. I want you to live with the memories of the blood flowing from her soiled and mangled body.”
“See what I mean?”
Jordan said nothing.
Sighing, I picked up the line of interrogation. “What innocents are you talking about?” I knew if I approached him, nothing but the hands of God, the Devil, and the Annonnimus One would be able to stop me.
“You’ll find out soon enough. Their blood is on your hands, little girl.”
Jordan straightened and took a step back. “Lovely sentiment. Here’s my counteroffer. I will rip the throats out of anyone who gets in my way. She will do much worse. When you’re all in Hell remember to mention my name to the guy in charge. He can thank me later.”
“Thank you,” I whispered as I slipped my hand into his.
“My vow to protect you has never faltered.” Jordan reached for the handgun strapped to his leg and handed it to me. “Careful. It’s loaded. This is the Kimber that you used at the range. I modified it for your grip and added a laser sight.”
I almost drooled. “Thank you.”
“I need you to follow my instructions to the letter.” He waited until I gave a small nod of agreement. “See my duffel bag in the corner? Open it. Inside you’ll find a smaller bag with your name on it. Strap on the harnesses and load up.”
“What about him?”
Jordan snarled. “He’s my problem now. I ignored my instincts, and he nearly killed you.”
“Okay, boss.” I stood on my toes and kissed his cheek. Jordan closed his eyes and smiled. “I trust you.”
“Go on. Consider it an early birthday present.”
I marveled at my lack of concern for Joshua. Jordan was going to kill him, and I’d just given my blessing.
Inside his black bag, Jordy had indeed put aside a small backpack, upon whi
ch he’d placed a removable sticker with my name. It was heavier than I expected. I unzipped it cautiously and squealed.
It was a killer’s dream: another Kimber, two Colt 1911s, a 9-millimeter baby Glock and an assortment of wicked knives. Each one was tailored to my hands and preferences. I looked over at him and melted a little at his smile. There had to have been something pathological about us, but I was okay with it. This was what I was meant to do.
Joshua was a broken and bloody mess. His sobs did nothing to ruin the moment.
“Keep going.”
I reached into the bag and pulled out ankle, shoulder, and belt holsters. Each pocket was labeled with the appropriate weapon.
Crap. I didn’t have a shirt because that jerk had tried to choke me with mine. “I don’t have…”
“Figured. Change of clothes. Quickly now.”
As promised, cargo pants with extra pockets, a long-sleeved shirt, socks, and sturdy boots awaited me. Modesty had disappeared somewhere between the description of my impending death and the loss of my shirt. I didn’t care if anyone saw me naked at this point.
Jordan spoke to Joshua in a low voice that didn’t travel. He didn’t strike our prisoner, nor did he seem to threaten him. But Joshua was more terrified than ever. Although he’d stopped crying, he had the look of a man awaiting a horrific death. We all knew it was the truth. It was just a matter of time.
I snapped on the last of my harnesses and slipped on the backpack. “I’m ready.”
“Stand at the door. Don’t walk beyond it and don’t look back.” Jordan’s attention returned to Joshua. He stood, dusted off his pants and removed his beloved Glock, the first handgun he’d ever purchased legally and which he had subsequently modified.
We both knew I wouldn’t fully comply. I walked over to the door and peeked over my shoulder.
Jordan lifted the gun and held it securely in both hands. “May the afterlife balance the scales and return to you all the pain you’ve inflicted on others.”
Joshua’s head rocked back in an explosion of blood and brain matter as the crack of the shot echoed in the gymnasium.
Jordan flipped on the gun’s safety, stored it back in the holster and walked over to me. When he took my face in his hands, Jordy’s eyes stared back.
“Did he hurt you anywhere else?”
“No.”
He nodded, grabbed my hand, and tugged me behind him. “When we leave, if you hear anything, shoot at it. Aim to kill.”
“What the hell is going on?”
“Shit has hit the proverbial fan, and it’s worse than we imagined.”
✽ ✽ ✽
Jordy led me into a small utility closet and promptly sat down with a sigh. He patted the spot on the ground next to him. “No point in holding up the wall. We’re going to be here for a while. Besides, we need to talk.”
“I’m fine.”
I was so far from fine. In mere moments I’d gone from elation and the gratification of exacted vengeance to horror at my actions. Sure, Jordy had pulled the trigger, but I was the one who’d beaten Joshua into submission, and I would have killed him. Sitting next to Jordy and talking it all over with him didn’t exactly promise to be my idea of a good time.
Jordy said nothing as he leaned back against the wall and extended his hand.
“Has everywhere else been cleared?”
“Yes. I’m sorry it took so long to find you, but no one told me you were missing. The security feed was compromised, and you didn’t have a workout scheduled. I thought you were safe in the Tower. Sit down.” He gritted his teeth. “Please, Jasper.”
I shook my head. Tears threatened to spill, and if Jordy extended any kindness, I’d lose my composure. Once we’d accounted for every last person in the compound and we figured out a plan, then I’d consider breaking down. Too much was at stake.
“It’s fine. If I’d known someone was going to try to murder me today, I probably wouldn’t have gotten out of bed.”
“As I said, we’re not going anywhere.” Jordy removed his hooded sweatshirt and dangled it. “I’ll let you wear this if you sit down.”
My lips twitched. Jordy looked nearly as bad as I felt. Speckles of blood dotted his face. If I squinted, the drops might have passed for freckles, cute little strawberry dots that danced over the bridge of his nose. He looked haggard. Any other man would have curled up and at least called for a timeout. Jordy? The purple lump on his temple, split lip, and blood-smeared limbs were a minor nuisance to him. Only his eyes gave away the massive grief and exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him.
I plucked the sweatshirt from his hand and did a little happy dance. The chill in my bones faded and left me feeling slightly less crappy. “That’s some major body heat.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Why are we going to be here a while? And I know that it’s bad timing and probably in poor taste, but would you walk me through everything? When else are you going to find such a perfect moment to teach me about crisis management?”
“Please?” Jordy held out his hand again.
“I don’t want to talk about it. Him.”
“We won’t. Anything else off limits?”
“No.” I slipped my hand into his and lowered myself to the ground. The sweatshirt pooled around me like a macabre circus tent, big enough to fit another person comfortably. I zipped it up and folded the sleeves until my hands were visible. “Thank you.”
“Always. Whatever I have is yours.”
That would have been great but everything I’d seen pointed toward an austere life with few vices. My holiday list hadn’t included oversized men’s gym clothes or Jordy’s pop music collection. Sitting under the flickering lights that emanated from the computer equipment around us, Jordy seemed more alone than ever. It may have been a paltry inheritance, but he wanted me to have it. Of course, I’d take it.
“Don’t make promises like that,” I warned. “One day I’m going to hold you to it. You’ll be miserable without your… have you ever owned a teddy bear?”
He snorted and scratched the back of his right hand. “More than one. I didn’t spring from the womb fully formed.”
“Uh-uh. You’re too,” I paused and bit my lip, struggling to come up with the right word to describe the old soul with the bizarre tastes of someone much younger. “I can’t imagine you as a little boy.”
“I wasn’t too different. Shorter, not as fast, and hardheaded. I slept with a teddy bear at night. When we get out of this and have rested for a few weeks, I might introduce you to one I’ve held onto for years.”
My jaw dropped. If I needed to cast the bad guy in a movie, Jordy would have been at the top of my list. “Oh my God. Either we’re actually friends, or you’re so convinced that we’re going to die, you’ll say anything to motivate me.”
“We’re friends,” he allowed. “That’s never changed.”
Why dear God, Devil, and Annonnimus dude who told me to read a book? Did the man have a death wish? The months I’d spent feeling awful over the death of a little boy, and the loss of our friendship had been tortuous. I wanted to scream and shake him. Friends, in my book, didn’t abandon you without an explanation. Friends, however, dropped the subject when emotions were too close to the surface.
“What happened to your arm?”
Dark red syrup pooled in the crook of his elbow. It oozed toward his hand with the urgency of the first blob of ketchup from a new glass container. Based on the amount of dried rust powdering his forearm, it was a miracle he was alive.
“Oh. That. It’s nothing.” He used the hem of his black t-shirt to blot away the worst of it. “It’s healing already.”
“Hook a girl up with that adamantium.”
Jordy grinned. “I’ve always been more of a Beast guy. He wore cool glasses, and he hung upside down.”
“Glasses? Hanging upside down? What are you—?”
My shriek was cut off by Jordy’s hand clamping over my mouth. He moved us into the shadows of the
deepest corner and whispered urgently. “Someone is here. Keep quiet and don’t move.”
He eased his hand away and nodded his approval at my wide-eyed silence. In a brilliant spark of foresight, Jordy had reloaded all our weapons the moment we’d entered the utility closet. I’d thought it was simply paranoia at the time, but it was smart thinking. Although he’d cleared the area, he suffered no illusions that it would stay empty.
That meant either someone was still here or there were more coming. More innocents were at risk. I pressed my lips to his ears. “Not leaving your side. You made me promise.”
Jordy shushed me again. The networking equipment was loud enough to mask small movements. It wouldn’t mask conversation or the sounds of either of us bumping the walls.
The footsteps grew closer. Our would-be attacker opened one of the classrooms doors that was badly in need of a little WD-40. It screeched horribly as the metal pieces ground against one another. Right now, it was better than a fire alarm and a GPS device combined.
The man swore loudly. He did not need stealth since the sound had given away his position.
In the dark, Jordy bared his teeth in a ferocious grin. He’d known the doors were squeaky and had purposely done nothing about it. The trap was about to snap down on that little mouse.
That sneaky bastard was a genius.
Freddy Krueger, on the other hand, wasn’t. He flung open every door he passed, cursing more vilely with each empty room. I could feel his rage pulsing toward us and prayed that he didn’t find us. There was no chance of him being subdued.
One, two, Freddy’s coming for Jasper.
“Going to end this. Stay here.” Jordy kissed my forehead. “If something happens to me, shoot everything in sight. Go to the command center and don’t let anyone else into the room. Find Dakarai.”
Not today, buddy. I refused to say goodbye or contemplate the horror of seeing the life fade from his eyes. He’d just admitted that we were friends! The universe got no take-backs on that kind of relationship progress. Letting go of him was not an option.
I exhaled and leaned into him, taking and giving the small comfort of physical contact. “Oh, don’t be such a drama queen. You said someone betrayed us. Let’s go ahead and blame that person instead. Better yet, let’s kill the dirtbag together.”
Order of Vespers Page 18