“Wow, that’s good. I had no idea you could cook.”
Lifting an eyebrow, he winked at me. “I have many secrets!”
After dinner, Killian announced he had news for us. The delicious food formed a lump in my gut that threatened to come back up. They had new orders from Alex. The Manhattan team finally had some detailed intel on Dagin’s operations. Sean and Killian had managed to immobilize Xarchi at Dump and taken him to an interrogation chamber. While flatly refusing to give me any gory details, Killian explained that Xarchi had been particularly helpful before he was sent back to hell in a cloud of ash. It seemed Dagin was dabbling in the arms trade. His engineers were producing a new weapon that he was getting ready to put on the black market. No one had any doubt the new weapon would be catastrophic and create mass chaos. There was simply no other reason for demons to get involved with humans. The problem was we still didn’t exactly know what we were dealing with. The techies were still reverse-engineering one of the weapons that Dec hijacked from the red warehouse.
I swiveled towards Dec. “You took one of the weapons? Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugged. “It’s no big deal. I snatched it from the warehouse and brought it to our lab.”
Killian added without a smile, “You didn’t have a need to know, Mica. Sorry. Our final orders are to blow up that lab and destroy any chemicals or equipment we find. That’s the plan. We’ll head out later.”
I frowned and started to argue, but he raised a hand to cut me off. “I hope you’ve learned what you need to. It’s time to get serious. Playtime is over.”
Chapter 27: Playtime is Over
“PLAYTIME IS OVER. Playtime is over.” I stomped to my room muttering the entire way down the hall. Did he really, really, think this was fun for me? I snorted through my nose. Yeah, sure I loved getting thrown around the basement. And turning my brain inside out was just hilarious! Ugh! He was an idiot. I should’ve kicked him in the head. I slammed the door and felt better.
A soft knock interrupted my sulking. I didn’t want to talk to any of them right now so I ignored it. The door cracked open and Sean poked his head inside.
“I know you’re not asleep. Can I come in?”
Ungraciously, I grunted at him and turned my back. He took that as permission and came inside. Instead of coming over to the bed, he walked to the window and stared out at the fading light. He was absorbed in his own thoughts as the sun set for the night. I had alternated between staring at the ceiling and staring at his back for the last 30 minutes. By the time it was fully dark, I was over my bad mood and wanted to talk. The silence stretched uncomfortably, and I didn’t know how to break it. Just as I was about to go to him, he flopped down on the bed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I wish I knew.”
“Cryptic.”
“It’s the best I’ve got.” He ran a hand through his hair until it stood up in spikes. I smiled at the sight. He didn’t smile back.
The pattering of rain on the roof filled the silence. A soft rumble of thunder echoed in the trees, and a faint flash of lightning lit up his face. I shivered in the cool air. A storm was coming, but when? Sean reached for me, and I slid into the circle of his arms. His mood was grim, and my imagination took great liberties as it tried to figure out the cause. He was still keeping secrets. What did he know that he wasn’t telling me? What did Alex tell him? What was going on? I hated being left out.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
He took my hand and kissed it. Peering into my eyes, he traced my jaw with a fingertip, and whispered, “I can’t find the words.” He yawned hugely, and added in a more matter of fact tone, “Maybe I just need some sleep.”
I didn’t really believe that; he was just changing the subject. I let it go for now though and curled up with him. Even as his breathing slowed, and he relaxed in sleep, I stared at the ceiling. Something was very wrong. I felt it in my bones. I trusted the feeling, and it scared me to death.
The coming of the new day brought with it only watery sunlight that washed out the hard lines of the room. The effect was a sense of being underwater as the rain poured down the windows. A loud crack of thunder brought Sean upright suddenly. Instantly alert, he scanned the room for intruders, hand halfway to his gun, before reluctantly relaxing again. His eyes were deep blue, but the shadows under them were purple in the grey light. His face was white with fatigue and the tiny crease between his eyes was more pronounced this morning.
He gave me a crooked smile, and said, “You look tired, babe. Didn’t you sleep at all?”
Funny, I was just thinking the same thing… I kissed the tiny crease and smoothed my fingers over his face until he sighed.
“We’re a mess, aren’t we?” I asked.
He stopped my hands and kissed them one at a time before tucking them behind my head. As I gazed into his unguarded eyes, the truth of his thoughts came crashing into me. He was barely hanging on. Closing my eyes in denial, I pulled him against me. We clung to each other as the full force of the storm broke over the house. The incessant scream of the wind urged us on. Hurry, hurry… Time is running out. Rain slammed against the glass, drowning out all other sounds. When the last rumble of thunder was very far away, we fell into a dreamless sleep.
They were grouped around the big dining room table looking at sketches when I finally made an appearance that afternoon.
“I want to talk to you.”
“Can it wait?” Killian asked.
“You’re going over the plans for tonight, right?”
He nodded.
“Then no, it can’t wait.” I pulled up a chair and straddled it.
“Fine. What’s on your mind, Mica?”
“I’m going inside with you tonight. I can help.”
Sean protested, “No, you’re not. You’ll stay outside and be our eyes.”
“You need me to balance the team. I can fight as well as you, and I can shoot a gun now. I’m just as trained as you guys are.”
Killian’s eyebrows went straight up. “You think you’re as trained as we are? Really?”
I backpedalled. “Okay, maybe not, but I have skills you can use. Let me help!”
I appealed to Dec for support, but he bolted to the kitchen to feed Domino. Coward! Sean set his lips together and glowered at Killian in silent conversation.
After an eternity, Killian picked up his wicked boot knife and pointed to a position on the sketch. “You’ll be here. I need you to be eyes and ears outside. Bring the NVGs and check your earpiece and mic. You got that?”
I gritted my teeth and must’ve looked mutinous because he added, “Or you can stay here. It’s your choice, princess.”
I glared between them and threw up my hands. “Fine! I’ll do whatever you tell me to do. But I don’t like it! What if something happens to one of you inside? I could help. I--”
Sean stood up so abruptly his chair fell over. Angry now, he shouted, “Stop it! What if something happens to one of us? What would you do then? If Dec is killed, how will you help him? If I’m killed, how will you help? If Killian is killed, then what? What! Mica, you’re not thinking! You can’t help. We’ll be dead, and so will you. That’s what will happen if this mission goes south tonight.”
Now it was nearly time to head out, and I was nervous. I checked and double-checked my body armor, cleaned my Sig, loaded it, stuffed extra magazines into my pockets, and strapped on my new Bowie knife. I checked myself in the mirror and flexed my biceps. I looked bad-ass! I had on black camouflage pants and a thin long-sleeved black shirt. I had black boots on my feet and body armor covering my chest. My gun was tucked into its holster, my knife strapped to my thigh. I was a mercenary. Geez, my dad would kill me if he knew what I was up to… One more reason to come out of this raid alive and in one piece. I looked out the window and groaned. The rain had come back with a vengeance. Our fearless leader checked the radar and announced we’d have rain all night. The storm was moving to Vermont
so we’d have to deal with it for the next six hours. Well, at least we’d have cover…
Two hours later, Domino huddled under a bush and shook water out of her ears. My hat kept the water from running into my ears, but it still ran down my back. I was already soaked through to my underwear so it was pointless to look for shelter. When he dropped me off, Killian reminded me that I wouldn’t melt. Guess he had a point. As long as I could hear and see, I would be able to do my job tonight.
Sean studied the clearing and reminded me, for the 20th time, to watch the driveway and the back of the property for latecomers. He had about five more minutes before he had to move into his position. Killian wanted it to be fully dark, and it was nearly there. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the wind picked up again. It made me uneasy, and I shivered. Sean peered through the binoculars at the roofline and mumbled to himself some more. He had gone over the plan twice since we got here. All business now, he didn’t waste any time worrying about me. It was go-time. He was a professional. He’d do what he’d have to do tonight. I understood that, and I--
Cutting off my thoughts, he pinned me against the tree. My head was spinning by the time he released my mouth, and I dragged in a ragged breath of air. The relentless rain sluiced between us like a waterfall. The dense woods surrounded us like a jungle in the pouring rain. Lost in the moment, there was only him, only now. He dragged his mouth across my throat, kissing me with an unexpected tenderness.
“God, Mica! You’re ripping my heart out!” Before I could respond, he crushed me against him, ravaging my mouth with a hunger that set me on fire. His hands dug into my shoulders, bruising, clutching me to his hard body. My skin burned as the current ripped through my blood, and I shook with too much energy, too much power to contain. Arching with the pain, I moaned against his mouth until he released me to search my eyes in the darkness. A pale flicker of lightning cast an odd shadow over Sean, and for a moment, just for a moment, I thought I saw a different face. Then the illusion was gone, and I saw only the flickering gold lights in his eyes.
With one last hard kiss, he pulled away, hissing fiercely, “Stay alert!”
And he was gone.
I let the cool rain soak my overheated body, my thoughts ricocheting like a pinball machine, my mouth tingling and tasting of Sean. Everything would be okay, right? Sure. This was a routine mission. Nothing too hairy, right? Everything would be okay. I repeated this positive thought until I was almost convinced.
I used my night vision goggles to scan the perimeter. The farmhouse compound was surrounded by an electrified fence with concertino wire running along its top. There was one gate that was monitored with a camera and an electronic keypad. Killian’s intel source said it was the only gate onto the property. I hoped he was right about that. I couldn’t see much on the other side of the building from my position. That made me a little nervous. What if reinforcements could come in from that direction? We’d be screwed. Moving my eyes slowly along the fence line, I was relieved to see it was clear. I focused on the house next. There were sentries posted on each end of the second story porch. As I watched, one of them tossed a cigarette over the side where it fell like a tiny shooting star. A moment later, he slumped over in a quiet pile as Dec took him out. He slid the body out of sight and picked up the man’s rifle. He faced my direction and whispered into his mic, “I’m in.”
I breathed out. One down, two to go. Sean should be next. Endless seconds later, Sean called in too. Just one more. Killian was on the other side of the compound and was supposed to slip into the basement to set the charges. They would set the timers, and then get out of there. Killian should’ve been there by now. Where was he? I peered at the house with the NVGs again. Everything looked quiet. Wait a minute! What’s that?
“Company! Three men… no, not men. Make that three demons. Shit. They just appeared on the driveway.”
Domino growled under her breath. Not tearing my eyes away from the scene in front of me, I reached down and lay a hand on her head.
Sean’s voice came through the earpiece. “Where now?”
“Heading into the house. Uh-oh, they’re looking up at the second floor. Dec, they see you! Move!”
My vision was blinded as the demon threw a fireball at Dec. I couldn’t see where he was now. Did he vanish? The demon was still there…
“Sean! Dec’s gone.”
Domino snarled and backed into my calf.
“Chill, Cujo, before I shoot you.”
I whipped around with my gun in my hand. He aimed his at my head at the same time I leveled mine at his chest. He stood about six feet away. I liked my odds.
The man drawled, “Well, hell, you’re just a chick. Why don’t you put that gun down so we can get to know each other before I bring you to the barn?” He cocked the gun with a click.
Domino bared her teeth. The wind was picking up again and gusts were blowing branches around the two of us. I waited, searching his eyes. They flickered the moment he made his decision. In a split second, I lunged for his gun hand and shoved it to the side, snapping his finger in the trigger. I jammed my other hand into his nose. As he lost his balance, I threw myself backwards and came up with the gun pointing at his chest again. Nose dripping, he lunged at me. I pulled the trigger, and he dropped to his knees with a hole in his chest, a look of surprise on his face. I shot him again. Killian told me to always double-tap. The man listed to the right and slid over in slow motion. The driving rain filled his open brown eyes, and I bent over and threw up.
The rain and wind muffled everything so I prayed no one heard the gun shots. Still shaking with adrenaline, I crept back into my position. I didn’t see any new movement on the ground. The demons were gone! No! Where did they go? Frantic, I scanned every inch of the property and came up empty. No demons and no sign of Dec either. Sean and Killian were still out of sight and off the radio. I chewed on my lip. Come on, guys… Where are you?
I tried the radio, but no one answered me. Domino nudged me and whined. I stiffened and strained to hear. It was no use. The rain was too loud. I couldn’t hear anything at all. Should I go down there? Hesitantly, I took a couple of steps and stopped. Sean’s words echoed in my memory and I was torn. Go or stay?
After yelling at me in the dining room, he finally threw up his hands, and shouted, “My God, Mica, is it so wrong for me to want to keep you alive? I’m supposed to protect you! I love you! No matter what happens tonight, promise me you’ll stay out of that farmhouse. If it goes well, we’ll all come out. If it doesn’t, well, you can’t help us in there.”
Against my better judgment, I promised him. It was a promise I regretted now as I stood in the pouring rain with a dead guy and a wet dog. I anxiously twisted my locket as if that would make them magically appear. The locket was my connection to them all. I clutched it like a talisman and prayed they were okay. As the seconds ticked into minutes, I paced, thinking furiously. Finally, an idea started to take shape. Killian expected me to use my abilities or he wouldn’t have agreed to bring me tonight. Maybe I didn’t need to go into the house because I should be able to see into it from here…
Creeped out by the dead guy, I picked my way to another good hiding place. I settled into the spongy wet ground and slowed my breathing. It took a few minutes of concentration, but eventually I could see inside the walls. Well, now, this is cool… I can see through the walls. Wow. Methodically, I scanned the second floor. Three dead humans. No Primani and no demons either. The balcony was empty too. Hmm, that was not a good sign. Sean should’ve been up there. I continued my tour down to the first floor. There were five men standing in what probably used to be a living room but now looked like an office. Three of them carried guns, but the other two didn’t. They had a geeky air about them. Hmm, maybe doctors or scientists; I’ll mention them to Killian later. Two demons were leaning against the desk, talking to the men. From the expressions on their faces, they were getting their butts chewed. No one looked happy, but maybe that’s just the normal effe
ct demons have on people. I didn’t see any dead bodies or Sean or Killian.
Okay, now for the basement. I paused for a split second to relax my eyes. This viewing was harder than I thought it would be. My head was aching with the effort and sweat ran in rivers down my back. Rolling my shoulders to loosen them, I closed my eyes and opened them again. After taking a deep breath, I focused on the basement. It was pitch black down there. I strained to see into the darkness. A movement caught my eye. There it was again--a flash of skin. Who was that? The vision wavered and I caught my breath. Focus… Focus. Okay, that’s better. Killian and Sean were on opposite sides of the room setting the charges. Moving like wraiths, they attached the timers to each set of explosives and moved on. Dec played lookout by the stairs.
Something startled me, and the vision vanished like smoke. Moving only my eyes, I studied the woods and strained my ears. There it was again! A stealthy shadow moved outside the corner of my eye. The next flash of lightning illuminated them.
I pressed myself deeper into the mud. Domino scooted backwards under the brush and pressed herself into the mud too. I was trapped here while they moved toward the house. I had to warn the guys.
Killian! This place is surrounded! Don’t come out here! No response from him. I tried again and again.
Finally, I heard his voice faintly say, Two minutes. Close your eyes!
Barely breathing, I waited. Two minutes crawled by, but the explosion didn’t come. Another minute went by and still no explosion. Meanwhile, these other men were creeping closer to the house with their weapons raised. Come on, come on, what’s taking so long? My heart was about to jump out of my chest. I closed my eyes and peered into the basement again. My heart nearly stopped. The basement wasn’t dark now. Two demons were lighting it up with fireballs. Dec and Sean stood back to back to block the demons trying to get to Killian. He was setting the final timer. A fireball flew towards his head, but he just ducked and kept working.
The Lost Soul Trilogy (Primani Book 5) Page 27