The Betrayed Series: Ultimate Omnibus Collection

by Carolyn McCray

  “But—” Petir fell short of arguing, but Tok knew his mentor’s hesitation.

  “He knew the risks when he infiltrated Brandt’s unit, Petir. If our roles were reversed, he would give the same order.”

  Petir bowed his head, accepting his orders.

  Their mole was not any mole, but what else could Tok do? James was but only one link to the greater mystery. He would sacrifice anyone. Even his own brother if it meant keeping the Knot’s secret safe.

  * * *

  Rebecca shifted in her seat as the plane climbed to cruising altitude. She had spent too much time either running for her life or cramped in a transport. Everything would be all right if she just had a nice, hot bath and a soft bed. After months in the jungle, both seemed but a mirage.

  She looked over to the professor to see if he fared as badly, but he quite casually read the in-flight magazine. He showed her a page filled with expensive leather shoes.

  “Do you think this would look good with my gray Armani suit?”

  Rebecca just shook her head. His brief shock well over, Lochum had returned to his usual self-absorbed nature. No person could ever matter to him as much as this damnable quest.

  Closing her eyes, the doctor tried to fall asleep, but all Rebecca kept seeing was Brandt’s hurt face, and the look of sheer disbelief as she left his protection.

  Thrown against her seat belt as they hit some turbulence, Rebecca wondered how that could be. The skies had been clear. Shouts came from the other side of the plane. Everyone strained to see out the starboard windows. Rebecca rose as high as she could with her latched seat belt, but could only glimpse a glowing light in the distance.

  For a second she had been worried. The sound of RPGs was still too fresh in her memory, but whatever had happened was far from here.

  The flight attendants bustled about, and one headed to the cockpit as the plane leveled out way too early. Rebecca glanced at Lochum, who had put down his magazine and watched the activity with a sharp scrutiny.

  “What do you think happened?”

  The older man shook his head as the head stewardess took the microphone off the hook. She spoke in Hungarian, then French, then finally English. “There has been an accident near the airport. We are still awaiting instructions from the tower regarding the continuation of our flight. Please keep your seats and remain calm.”

  Okay, whenever a flight attendant told you to remain calm, it usually meant you shouldn’t be calm at all. Everyone stirred in their seats.

  “Regardez! Je vous ai dit qu’un missile l’est descendu!” a passenger yelled. People ignored the warnings of the stewardess and abandoned their seat belts, rushing to the opposite window.

  “He said…” Lochum’s voice trailed off.

  “He said what?”

  But the older man’s lips were pressed together. Rebecca unhooked her belt and shoved her way past two Hungarian businessmen until she got a good look. It was far in the distance, but she knew a plane on fire when she saw one. Belgium all over again.

  “Please, Mademoiselle, I must insist that you clear the aisle.”

  Oblivious to the woman’s urging, Rebecca just stood there staring at the flaming husk of a plane. That rocket had been meant for her. The bastards much have fired on the wrong plane, killing all those innocents.

  Or…

  Rebecca gripped the woman’s sleeve. “What flight was that?”

  “Please, just sit back—”

  “What flight?” she asked, with enough force that the woman sighed, “Outbound to London.”

  Rebecca’s legs gave out under her.

  Dear God, that was Brandt’s flight.

  “Mademoiselle, are you all right?”

  Lochum caught her slumping weight. “I’ve got her.”

  All the commotion in the plane shrunk to nothing. The bastards had taken out Brandt’s plane. Hit it with one of their fucking RPGs.

  The sergeant was dead. Along with Lopez, Svengurd, and Davidson. The men who had saved her life were now dead. All because of her.

  “Put your head down, ‘Becca,” Lochum said as he gently bent her spine, forcing her forehead to her knees. She didn’t resist, but wouldn’t have really minded if she had fainted. Blackness was preferable to the burning pain.

  Brandt had offered to go by car. He had offered to go to Budapest. Why had she not agreed? Why had she been so fucking stubborn?

  A strangled sob broke loose from her constricted throat.

  “It wasn’t your fault, ‘Becca. Just breathe.”

  But she couldn’t. Of course it was her fault. If they hadn’t been sent to extract her…

  “He knew you cared for him, ‘Becca.” He stroked the back of her head like a father might his daughter. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  Every time he said that, bile rose in the back of her throat, and over the protests of both Lochum and the stewardess, Rebecca bolted from her seat and stumbled toward the lavatory. Another person stood in line as someone exited, but she threw herself past both of them, retching as she rushed into the bathroom. Sitting there, hugging the toilet, Rebecca sobbed.

  Yerato, now her guardian angel, and the rest of the soldiers. All dead.

  Brandt, so worried for her safety, was gone.

  How could she continue?

  * * *

  Fuck, fuck, fuck, Brandt thought as the sound of sirens filled the air. The pricks had taken down the plane. If it had not been for Rebecca’s stubbornness, they would all be dead. Who would have thought the fuckers would take action so publicly?

  Chalk up another instance of his underestimation of their enemy. Where did they grow balls so huge?

  After Rebecca had boarded her flight, the decision at the terminal had taken no thought at all. London was but a distant memory. His answer to Davidson’s question was a no-brainer. His orders weren’t out of his mouth before the men were hoofing it out of the terminal. No one argued. If anything, Svengurd had such a pace away from the gate that they all had to trot to keep up. Lopez had estimated the interval between reaching the helicopter, getting into the air, landing at a smaller airport, stealing a private plane, and being in flight after Rebecca to be less than fifteen minutes.

  Even that seemed too long. Brandt could have lied to himself that his urgency stemmed from his sense of duty, but he didn’t even bother. The thought of Rebecca out there without him, exposed, defenseless, made his jaw clench. Sure, Lochum had stayed under the radar for a decade, but with this kind of heat? The professor was way out his league. Hell, Brandt worried that even he was out-matched.

  Obviously the fuckers had access to their cover documents, which meant deep infiltration into his team’s chain of command. If Brandt couldn’t contact his superiors for fear it would compromise their position, it meant no reinforcements. Which meant they had to fly out of here with nothing more than their nearly spent weapons against an organization that had nearly wiped his team off the face of the earth three times now.

  Davidson fiddled with the helicopter’s radio as Lopez prepped the chopper for flight. “Fuck, it was our plane!”

  That was the first time he had ever heard the kid curse. And had he picked the right opportunity.

  “Boss, we’ve got a problem!” Lopez called out.

  “What now?” Brandt growled. He just wanted to get their weapons ready for action. If these fuckers took out an entire civilian flight, they wouldn’t hesitate if they found the chopper.

  Lopez got out of the pilot’s seat. “The control tower has closed the entire airspace.”

  “And?”

  “There’s no way we are getting out of here in this,” Lopez said.

  Brandt’s mind spun, refusing to accept this fact. “Even for a medical emergency?”

  “I think we’ve played that card for the last time.”

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Brandt hit the roof hard enough that his hand screamed in pain, and the metal dented. That pit in his stomach cramped upon itself. Except this time, the worry and pain
only firmed his resolve.

  He turned to his corporal. “Exactly how fast can you drive?”

  From the shit-eating grin on Lopez’s face, it was going to be one hell of a ride.

  Awakening

  ══════════════════

  Near Qasr al-Yahud

  AD 41

  The sun winked on the horizon as the shadows grew longer, yet still they walked, sending an ache deep into Judas’ right knee. He looked at Ameil, who bore the face of a child who did not understand why they hurried.

  John had set such a pace. Had he known that they would travel so far, Judas never would have dressed Ameil in new sandals. The boy’s feet were a map of blisters.

  “Might we slow? We near the village and do not wish to raise alarm.”

  The dark-haired man looked as if he did not understand the words. Could the Baptist not smell the rich gravies stewing upon hearths? They were so near that Judas could swear he smelled goat’s milk drizzled with honey. His mouth watered at the prospect, but John seemed unmoved.

  Judas nodded toward Ameil, who had fallen behind again. “The boy cannot go much farther like this.” In truth, neither could he, with his leg, but the Baptist did not need to know such intimate things.

  Finally John looked at Judas as if for the first time. “Jesus lives?”

  Trying to keep a patient tone, Judas answered. “He was fevered, but well spirited when I left. His immediate concern was to summon you.”

  “I fear I cannot keep the urgency in my heart from my feet…” Judas looked into John’s eyes. They shone of one who knew more than this world held. A storm of faith whipped within the Baptist’s mind.

  “He will undergo more trials?” Judas asked.

  “As will we all,” the Baptist replied.

  There was a look of certainty in John’s eyes that reminded Judas of the childhood days so long ago on the bank with Jesus. “There will be suffering?”

  “Of course…” John tilted his head. “We are Jews, are we not?”

  There was a moment of tense silence, and then Judas chuckled. John was so very right. Even the Baptist patted him upon the back.

  “What was so funny?” his nephew asked as he caught up with them. Upon seeing Jesus return from the desert, Ameil had stopped using sets of three. Another miracle bestowed by his friend.

  Surprisingly, the Baptist tousled the boy’s hair. Judas did not think the Baptist had noticed Ameil until now. “He created his chosen people out of hardy stock for a reason.”

  “Did God tell Jesus to go out into the desert?” Ameil asked as he rubbed his tired eyes. Judas could not take the boy’s sad countenance any longer and scooped the child into his arms. “That he did, nephew.”

  “Why does he not talk to me, then?” the boy asked.

  John smoothed Ameil’s hair as he spoke. “He speaks to all, child, but it is only those with the most courage and faith who can hear him.”

  The boy looked into Judas’ eyes. “What does he say to you, uncle?”

  Embarrassed and not wishing to admit the fact that God had always been silent, Judas was relieved when James came down the road to join them.

  “Thank the heavens,” James said as he ushered them toward his house. “He has been in such a state since you left.”

  “I must see him,” John said as he rushed headlong past James, not even acknowledging Jesus’ brother.

  James shook his head. “Jesus and he are well suited…” He looked down at Ameil. “I am sure they will share confidences into the night. If you wish to come inside—”

  He did not mean to be rude, but Judas wanted nothing more than to soak the dirt from his skin. “Thank you, James, but I have duties at home.” But something in James’ posture kept Judas from leaving. “Is something wrong?”

  James looked at Ameil, who was already asleep in Judas’ arms. “Jesus has revealed very little, except to say that he will begin his ministry once his legs are under him again.”

  He had fathomed as much. One did not undergo such rigor to continue life as other men. Jesus was to embark on a mission to not only save their small community from the Romans, but the whole of their religion. John’s eyes had told him of this without uttering a word.

  “Of course you will travel with us,” James continued. Judas knew he should have acted surprised, but he did not bother. James, of all people, knew that where Jesus went, Judas would follow. “There is little time to discuss a great many things.”

  “In the morning, then.” Judas went to leave, but James caught his arm.

  “I know there are ways… That this is not the proper time or place yet… We may leave as early as tomorrow…” James was acting peculiar. It wasn’t like him to not just speak his mind, no matter the other’s feelings.

  “Whatever worries you, James, speak it freely.”

  The taller man smiled, but with little joy. “You have been better than a brother to Jesus, yet I feel we have been little of a family to you, Judas.”

  Ameil was heavy in his arms, or he would have waved away James’ concern. “Your heart has enough weighing upon it. Give my feelings not another thought.”

  Darkness had fallen completely, and if it were not for the candlelight spilling from a nearby window, Judas would not have been able to see that instead of relieving James, his words seemed to agitate the man even more.

  “You think fondly of Ruth, do you not?” James asked.

  Judas did not know where this strange turn of conversation was leading, but he answered truthfully. “Your sister is a blossom in a snow-covered field. She is loved by all who know her.”

  “Then might you consider taking her as your wife?” James asked.

  “I… I’m not… I don’t…” Judas could not help but stutter. He was prepared to speak of many things. Of supplies, routes, housing, but marriage?

  “Please listen, Judas, before you answer. You have done much for Jesus. You have kept him grounded to this earth when all around thought he might ascend into the heavens and never be seen by mortal eyes again.”

  Judas shook his head. “I but sat with him as a child and do not—”

  “Jesus would be pleased to have you a member of our humble family.”

  “I am honored.” Judas looked down at Ameil. It had been long since he had considered fatherhood. Might one day he have a boy of his own?

  “Think upon it,” James suggested, but Judas shook his head.

  “I must decline,” came out of his mouth before he could stop it.

  James spoke even lower than before. “Do not worry. Mother knows of our plans and has… Well, she will not object in public to the marriage.”

  The Virgin had never taken to him, so Judas was not surprised the woman viewed the match with disdain, but in the end her feelings did not bear on his decision. “We embark on a quest that may carry us far, many times in the face of the Romans’ will. I would not wish that worry upon a young bride.”

  “She is Jesus’ sister, Judas. Ruth walks our rocky path whether she is married to you or not.”

  Judas sighed. The reasoning had felt sound. But spoken aloud, he knew James was right. In truth, his heart was still heavy from loss. “I know it has been years, but I still cannot imagine being with one other than my Deliah.”

  James seemed to understand his remorse. “Neither does Ruth have delusions that this marriage would be anything but slow to grow.”

  “The offer is enough, James.” What Judas thought would end the conversation seemed to agitate the taller man even more. Was there more behind the proposal than even Judas suspected? “James, please speak the all of it. There is only God and myself to hear your words.”

  “It is only that… Jesus wishes to acknowledge you publicly.”

  “Let his heart rest easy. I know of our bond.”

  James shook his head. “No, he needs—”

  The door opened before James could respond, and John exited the house with as much urgency as he had entered it. The
Baptist walked past without a word, but Judas called to him.

  “John, is all well?”

  The wild look sparked anew in the Baptist’s eyes as he surveyed both of them. “In the months to come, the weight loaded upon your shoulders will break one of you.” Then the Baptist was gone into the night.

  Shame rose in Judas’ cheeks. There was no doubt of whom John spoke. James was above reproach. With honor and dignity he had supported his family through the hard work and sweat of a man, whereas Judas had groveled at the Romans’ feet for scraps.

  Did this spawn Jesus’ interest in a more permanent bond between them? Did the most holy of them wish to shield Judas somehow from the coming doom? Judas could not meet James’ eyes until he heard a hearty laugh.

  “He must have been a most pleasant traveling companion.”

  Judas could not help but grin.

  “Do not fret of Ruth or John.” James grasped Judas’ shoulder. “Your love for Jesus has been steadfast. In the end, it is what will be remembered.”

  Judas wished he believed the words, but it was kind of James to say them. “I know not what burdens I will bear in future, but this boy strains my arms. I should get him to his bed.”

  James clapped his shoulder one last time before heading back into the house. “Sleep well, friend. Tomorrow we are reborn.”

  As he climbed the steep path to his house, Judas could not pry John’s words from his mind. Why had the Baptist said such a thing? Why speak such prophecy unless one could change the wrong and make it right?

  Ameil stirred, eyelids fluttering, then buried himself deeper into the crook of Judas’ arm. The boy was old enough that Judas should awaken him to walk the rest of the way, but was loath to put the child down. Too soon Ameil would be forced to shoulder his own burdens.

  At least for this night, Judas was strong enough to carry them both.

  CHAPTER 11

  ══════════════════

  Budapest, Hungary

  Rebecca awoke to the Budapest sky, as gray and bleak as her mood. Pulling the covers over her head, she tried to go back to sleep, but Lochum’s excited “oohs” and “ahs” easily penetrated the thin blanket. Across the dingy hotel room, the professor perched on a rickety chair, studying John’s bone. The sound of his pencil scratching against the hotel’s stationery irritated her ears, so she might as well accept it. There would be no more rest.