by Dannika Dark
“We’re even now.” Shepherd closed the cabinet drawers and turned to face me. “That’s why I need to make this count.”
“If Viktor wants to take him in alive, are you going to be able to do that?”
The lantern flickered against his strict features. “I can’t make any promises.”
Chapter 21
I poked my finger in a bullet hole on the van wall. “Well, at least we can see outside now.”
Christian glared down at my tank top and button-up shirt. “Where the feck’s your coat?”
“It’s restricting.”
“Like the bra?”
I smiled. “You noticed. Where’s your coat?”
He pinched his tight T-shirt and gave me a smug look. “It’s restricting,” he parroted. “Wouldn’t want to deny the ladies a glimpse of my chiseled pectorals.”
“Exactly what ladies are we talking about?” I gripped the bench when we hit another bump.
He winked. “The ones I’ll be seeing after we finish the job. A man needs to unwind.”
“A man also needs to trim his nose hairs.”
I stifled a laugh when Christian leaned away and subtly pinched his nose. He didn’t have any nose hairs that I’d noticed, but nothing pleased me more than pointing out his arrogance by means of finding his insecurities. Our verbal banter had become a form of stress relief, and neither of us ever took it personally.
“Turn that shit off,” Shepherd growled toward the front of the van.
Viktor was driving, but Wyatt had dominion over the radio.
“Don’t start,” Wyatt said. “You know how I feel about Air Supply.”
Shepherd rolled his eyes to the chorus of “Making Love Out of Nothing at All.”
“You’ll get along famously with the man we’re hunting,” I said. “He loves eighties music.”
“I didn’t say I liked eighties music,” Wyatt countered, leaning around his seat. “Air Supply just speaks to my soul.”
“Your soul is dead,” Shepherd grumbled.
“Lay off. That’s the year I got my first computer. It’s nostalgic.”
I laughed. “How old are you again?”
Shepherd folded his arms. “He lost his virginity to ‘Oh! Susanna.’”
Everyone snickered.
Wyatt stared daggers at him. “Whatever, Dirty Harry. And I wasn’t that old when I lost it.”
“Why is he here?” I whispered to Christian. “I thought Viktor didn’t want him coming on dangerous missions.”
“We’ll need someone in the driver’s seat in case we need to make a quick escape. Wyatt’s also the liaison who’ll contact the Regulators, and that’ll depend on what we find.”
Shepherd relaxed his posture on the opposite bench, just as cool as a cucumber. Niko possessed a look I’d seen many times in the training room when he was getting into his zone, and Gem was sandwiched between them. I glanced at Blue on my left, who was sending a text message to Claude. He replied back telling her to make sure we females were careful, and that made me chuckle.
Niko drew his hood over his head. “We have a good chance of succeeding. Cristo paid men on the street to take you down. I suspect he operates alone.”
“He also likes bombs,” I mentioned.
Shepherd crushed his cigarette beneath his boot. “She’s right. If he doesn’t have anyone there protecting him, he might have laid out some traps. Keep your eyes open. And Gem, stay inside the van. Not on top of it.”
She launched to her feet. “Stay in the van. Stay in the van. You didn’t witness my epic fireworks show earlier. And you shouldn’t put your cigarettes out on the carpet!”
“We’re going to have to replace the whole damn thing anyhow,” he retorted.
“Well, it’s a filthy habit and—”
The van shuddered when we hit a bump. Gem fell forward, and Niko swiftly caught her with one arm.
“Careful, braveheart. We need you in one piece.” He turned and sat her down in his place before moving up front to speak with Viktor.
“Why am I even here?” she asked herself. “To babysit Wyatt?”
Gem didn’t seem to like going on jobs that involved crime scenes and dead bodies, but I found it interesting that she was eager to partake in a raid.
“You are here as protection,” Viktor answered from the front. “If he escapes to the street, we need you to track him. You are our eyes and ears.”
Gem crossed her legs, satisfied with that responsibility, but I could see she was still on a high after helping us with her energy balls. I surmised that Gem didn’t get to practice her wielding ability too often, so I understood the danger if one of us was standing in the line of fire. That made me nervous, especially after seeing how charred those men had been. But having her topside wasn’t a bad idea in case Cristo tried to escape. Given his track record, I wouldn’t put it past him.
The van finally stopped, and the engine turned off, but the music kept playing—probably to block out some of the conversation still going on up front. Blue scooted all the way down to the rear doors.
When Viktor got out, Wyatt hopped over to the driver’s seat.
“Let’s roll,” Shepherd said, opening the back door and jumping out.
Niko and Blue followed behind him.
As I stood up, Christian caught my wrist. “Are you armed?”
I showed him my new bracelet. “That’s some armoire Shepherd has in his bedroom. At what point does a hobby become a fetish?”
“If he starts wearing a leather thong with a concealed dagger, you’ll have your answer.”
The team was more jittery than usual, and maybe part of that had to do with the fact that we hadn’t yet rescued the baby. What would a desperate man be willing to do to escape? My thoughts drifted back to when Darius had thrown that little boy over the ledge so he could flee, and I imagined Cristo was brazen enough to pull a stunt like that.
My boots hit freshly fallen snow as I stepped onto the curb and looked around. The buildings in the immediate area appeared uninhabited and partially demolished, in much worse condition than the other parts of the Bricks I’d seen.
I stepped closer to Viktor. “Are we near his building? I don’t think walking out in the open is such a good idea.”
“Nyet.” He brought us into a huddle. “The address Shepherd provided belongs to a residence underground. Tunnels run below the city, constructed many years ago by Breed who were not given permission to live topside. It is an elaborate maze, and the tunnels lead to underground dwellings. I’ve been here once before. Do not speak to anyone, and do not let yourselves become distracted.”
Shepherd unzipped his jacket and stared at the pothole in the center of our circle. “Are there rats down there? I don’t like rats.”
Viktor raised the collar of his long grey coat. “Let’s not be dramatic. Blend in.”
We all exchanged glances. Blend in with rats?
One at a time, we descended the iron rungs. Christian was the last one in and moved the cover back in place. I was surprised there were working lights affixed to the walls. This wasn’t at all like crawling around in the sewers. The tunnels were tall so that you didn’t have to hunch over. There was even a sign on the wall in front of us with arrows pointing both ways, a series of numbers below them.
“This way,” Viktor said, leading us to the right. “Spread apart so we don’t look suspicious.”
I fell back with Christian. “Okay, now this is getting weird.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet, lass.”
Without wind, the temperature underground was tolerable. In front of us, Niko made no attempt to conceal his two katanas beneath his black coat like he usually did. He wore them affixed to his back. Blue kept pace with him, her midnight-blue cloak covering the tops of her tall boots. She’d drawn the hood over her head to conceal her long hair, probably for the best. Christian and I were in the rear, with Viktor and Shepherd up front.
“Did you live down here or topside?”
I asked.
Christian glanced behind us before answering. “Both. Neither offered privacy, which is why I have a little house in the woods.”
“You mean cellblock eight?” I quipped.
He suddenly grabbed my sleeve and pulled me to a stop. “Keep your eyes low.”
“Superstitious immortals?”
“Not just that. In our line of work, you always want to avoid anything that makes you stand out in a crowd. Think about when we first met in the bar and how later it took you a minute to recognize me. People tend to ignore hair and clothing, because those are things you can change. Down here, people pay attention to eyes, tattoos, and scars. If we run into a tangle with any of these shitebags, you don’t want them putting a bounty on your head. And a girl with a blue eye and a brown one isn’t so hard to find. Make yourself forgettable.”
“What about Niko? He’s got a distinctive eye color for his race.”
“He’s also learned a lot in his long life. Notice how he always keeps his eyes low. It’s a submissive gesture.”
I snorted. “A man with two swords isn’t exactly the submissive type.”
“Most people arm themselves down here; they’ll just assume he carries them for show.”
“Maybe I should have worn contacts if it’s such a big deal.”
“Ever been punched in the eye while wearing a contact lens? There’s a reason most of us don’t wear those.” Christian tucked my necklace beneath my shirt. As if my hair wasn’t disheveled enough, he ran his fingers through it and scrunched it up. “Don’t smile at anyone.”
“Afraid they’ll see my fangs?” I punched them out just for effect.
Christian’s eyes hooded, and he stepped closer. “And don’t do that either.”
We stared at each other for a long moment, the air between us a degree warmer.
“Hurry up,” Blue shouted.
Christian turned on his heel, and we picked up the pace. When the tunnel branched, we turned right.
“Are there women down here?” I asked.
“Aye. Powerful women. So careful not to start any catfights.”
I nudged him. “Don’t act like you wouldn’t watch.”
“Make no mistake, Raven. The Vampires down here kill for sport. You look at someone the wrong way and they’ll cut your throat. Not everyone down here is a maniac, but laws don’t exist. No one will come to your rescue. Remember that.”
We reached the end of the tunnel and entered a wide elevator with a caged wall. Viktor switched a lever, and the mechanical parts slowly began to turn. The wall just outside the rusty bars moved upward, and when it disappeared, I gawked at the view below. It wasn’t just a maze of underground tunnels; it was a world. We were in an enormous cavern, stories high, that served as a gateway to numerous tunnels built into the walls. Some were above us and others below. Bridges made from wooden planks and ropes connected a few openings on opposite sides of the massive room. I pressed my forehead against the bars and gaped down at a river.
A Chitah scaled the wall with astonishing grace as he climbed to a higher tunnel. My hair stood on end when a wolf howled, the sound reverberating off the walls around us.
“Careful what you say,” Christian murmured. “Vampires down here use information to their advantage.” He lifted my chin with the crook of his finger. “Are you listening? Don’t get swept away by all this.”
The elevator came to a hard stop. I turned around to the opening to see a man lighting a pipe just outside. He ignored us as we circled around to the other side and approached one of those rickety bridges.
A man guarding the bridge held up his hand.
“Privet. We are here to see an old friend,” Viktor said.
The black-bearded man smiled. “Russian?”
“Tak tochno.”
“I thought as much. A fellow countryman.”
They immediately conversed in Russian, and I wished Gem were around to fill me in on what they were saying. Viktor showed the man his watch, and they spoke further. It looked like there was some bartering going on, though Viktor had cash in his wallet. Did money not matter in this place?
After Viktor gave him the watch, they shared a laugh, and the man let us pass. I picked my way across one plank at a time—some of them broken—holding on to the ropes for dear life as I stared past the large gaps in the wood. When my foot slipped through a loose board, Christian snaked his arm around my waist.
“I got it,” I said, my heart racing. Heights I had no problem with; water was another story.
Niko gripped the ropes, guided by Blue, who was talking him through each and every step.
Once we reached the other side, Viktor and Shepherd led the way through a tunnel carved from natural rock, and we all put distance between us again. Lanterns were affixed to the walls, light flickering on the uneven rock and water dripping from several crevices.
“Do people have jobs down here?” I asked.
Christian tucked his shirt in where it had come out in the front. “Some. The bridge watchers know almost everyone, and they’re not too keen on letting strangers pass.”
“Well, it looks like all men can be bribed.”
“Just be lucky he didn’t take a fancy to one of you girls.”
I nudged him in the ribs. “Or one of you boys.”
“Over my rotting corpse.”
After ten minutes, we climbed a short ladder to an upper level. There weren’t as many people passing by, and it was eerily dark. This one looked more man-made, judging from the large slabs of stone and rock. When we reached a fork, Viktor gathered us in a tight huddle.
“We separate from here. We must approach him from all sides.”
“What’s his address?” Christian asked.
Viktor locked eyes with him. “12 U-B.”
Christian grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s an abandoned section. It’s a large amount of space, Viktor. He’ll have the advantage if he’s set traps. Time to escape. I don’t know all the connecting tunnels; hardly anyone goes in there except for the crazies.”
I swung my eyes up. “Crazies?”
His black eyes met mine. “Just an affectionate term for Vampires who gave in to their bloodlust. Juicers also like to hide in those spaces, and I don’t mean your casual energy sippers, but the ones who’ll drain you until your heart stops. It’s where the savages go. They hide in the shadows, and no one can catch them.”
Niko reached over his shoulders and touched the handles of his katanas. “Then we should divide ourselves by who can see in the dark. Christian, you go with Blue. I’ll stay with Viktor, and Raven go with Shepherd.”
I wondered at first why Blue and Niko didn’t stay paired since they were partners, but Niko could see energy in a way that none of us could, and we needed him to protect our leader.
A candle flickered in the distance.
Viktor lowered his voice. “Does everyone know the way?”
Christian and Shepherd nodded.
“Be careful. Eyes and ears.” Viktor and Niko disappeared into the inky shadows of one tunnel.
Christian took Blue’s arm and led her to a metal ladder. “This way, lass.”
She glared up at the opening. “Are you sure?”
“Have I ever lied to you before?”
She narrowed her eyes. “When you said you didn’t wash my red dress with all my whites.”
“Okay, that wasn’t my fault.”
After they climbed the ladder and were out of sight, I followed Shepherd down an adjacent tunnel, staying a pace behind and focusing my Vampire eyes on shadowy corners. The smell changed from an earthy scent to stale air and mold. The walls glistened with a clear residue that looked like the slime trails that slugs leave behind. Shepherd stopped at a metal door marked 12. He placed his fingers on the door, tracing them down to the knob.
“Nothing,” he said. “You sense anything?”
I shook my head.
“Why does that make me nervous?” He took a de
ep breath and gripped the handle. “Do me a favor and stand back for a minute.”
I stepped aside. To have quick access to my weapons, I removed the button-up shirt I wore over my tank top.
The hinges made a terrible screech as Shepherd pushed open the door. With heart-stopping speed, he suddenly dropped to the ground. I jumped back a step when something whistled by me. A crack sounded, and on the wall opposite the door, a steel arrow had split the stone in two.
Shepherd, still on his back, locked eyes with me. “Booby trap.”
I held out my hand and pulled him up. “Maybe you should let me go first since I’m the immortal.”
He wiped the sweat off his brow. “This place is a deathtrap. Watch out for floor levers. The firing mechanisms might release anything from a landmine to an arrow.”
I peered inside to see what he’d stepped on, and all it looked like was a broken section in the cement floor. The expansive room had pillars, and pieces of rubble were piled in places where the ceiling or walls had partially collapsed.
Shepherd moved stealthily, a serrated knife in his hand. His leather jacket not only held weapons but offered some measure of protection against knife attacks. We veered farther right before he began walking a straight line. A broken wall beside us revealed another room, but it was small, and after poking our heads in, we continued toward the back where the tunnel light couldn’t reach.
My Vampire eyes didn’t work as well as a pureblood’s, but I could see just enough to keep from falling. I noticed Shepherd struggling in the dark, his hand extended, so I stepped in front of him as a guide. He pinched a loop on the back of my jeans and followed my lead.
I came to a stop.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said, staring at the floor ahead of me. “I thought I saw something.”
“What did it look like?”
I backed up a step and crouched before standing up again. “Like a straight line that goes across the room.”
“This is a clusterfuck,” he muttered. “Does it look like a trip wire?”