by Cheree Alsop
We couldn’t get there fast enough. My heart raced at the thought of finding Ava. Was she safe? Was she hurt? Was she afraid? The questions kept running through my mind as we raced along the midnight asphalt. Stars glittered outside the window, untouchable beacons that reminded us there were still places we couldn’t fly. Perhaps Ava was looking at the same stars. I put a hand on the window. “Please let her be okay,” I breathed.
The angel Koden had given me sat in my pocket. I took it out and gripped it tight, hoping beyond hope that she was alright.
“I’m at the house,” Kale said into my earpiece.
Goliath pushed a button on the SUV’s dashboard; Kale’s voice filled the car. “Lights are on and guards are staked at the doors. Stop at the library parking lot a block from the address. It’s good you’re coming in the vehicle; less chance to alert them if they have surveillance on the sky.”
Goliath pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later. Kale was waiting for us. I climbed out to hear his orders. The black-winged Galdoni’s knuckles were bruised and he looked weary but determined. “Our goal is to find Samuelson and locate Ava.”
The name Samuelson sent a surge of rage through me. I clenched my fists. Kale held up a hand. “Reece, you stay with Goliath in the SUV. We could be running into a trap and you definitely aren’t in any shape for a fight.” I wanted to go in so badly, to be the first one to Ava to ensure that she was alright. I needed to know more than I needed to breathe.
Kale put a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll let you know how she is as soon as we find her,” he promised.
I nodded and took my seat in the front of the vehicle. Goliath walked to the back. At the push of a button, the seats folded and moved to the back while a side panel rotated to reveal a computer and surveillance equipment. “Ready,” Goliath said into the microphone.
Kale gave him a thumbs-up from the parking lot. The Galdoni disappeared into the darkness.
“This is the worst part,” Goliath said quietly. At my glance, he let out a slow breath. “If Kale gets hurt or ambushed, I’m not there to help. Instead, I have to listen and hope they have it figured out.”
“What’s the point of surveillance, then?” I asked.
His massive brow furrowed. “We record everything that happens, every conversation, the locations of the Galdoni, and what occurs while they are inside. It protects us if there is ever an investigation, and gives us what we need for additional research into security threats against the Galdoni.” His voice lowered. “But I still hate it.”
I nodded in agreement. My hands itched to help as we listened to Kale lead the others around the back of the compound.
“Lem, take out one and two left, Saro, you’ve got right. Drake, Stag, rush the door,” Kale said quietly. “Our goals are silence and speed. I would like to avoid alerting Samuelson’s full security staff, but with his set-up, I’m not sure that’s going to happen. Either way, we can handle it.”
Lem gave a quiet chuckle. “We’ve got this.”
“Let’s move.”
We listened to the guards be taken out with swift efficiency. An alarm sounded loud enough that we could hear it from the library. Kale didn’t speak, but we heard him rush into the back doors Drake and Stag had barreled down. Gunshots followed. Two screams sounded. Footsteps and loud breathing could be heard through the speakers.
“Take the left wing,” Kale commanded to someone.
I was gripping the arm of the chair so tight my hand ached. I had to focus to let go. Every muscle in my body was tense. I glanced back and saw Goliath staring at the computer as though he could see what was happening. His jaw was clenched and his fists were balled on the keyboard. The machine beeped in protest, but he didn’t hear it.
“Samuelson.” Kale’s shout made me freeze.
“To whom do I have the honor?” a cold voice responded.
“Kale, leader of the Galdoni,” Lem replied. “You should probably bow.”
Goliath shook his head at the Galdoni’s brash answer, but listened without speaking.
“Kale. You know, I’ve heard of you,” Samuelson said, his tone dry and musing.
“Cut the crap,” Kale replied.
Something was thrown across the room. Somebody yelled. It killed me not to know what was going on. I should have been there. Samuelson needed to pay for what he did.
Apparently, Kale thought the same way. “Tell me where Ava is before I break your neck,” he growled in a voice that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
“This is about Ava?” Samuelson wheezed through a restricted throat.
“Tell me!” Kale yelled.
“Sh-she was worthless,” Samuelson responded. “She was broken. I thought you were hiding her because she was pregnant, but she wasn’t.” His voice hardened. “She should have been. They promised me she was fertile and sound. Advantage Corp lied. I made her pay for that lie.”
I felt Goliath’s gaze. I couldn’t breathe. Every sound over the intercom grated against my ears. I heard Kale’s angry breathing, the moans of whatever guards lay closest to the room where they had found Samuelson, and the quiet hum of a car over the road near the library. My heartbeat wasn’t among the sounds; my heart had stopped at Samuelson’s words.
A roar tore from Kale; the sound of splintering wood sounded loud through my earpiece. “What did you do to her?” he yelled.
“Why does it matter?” Samuelson protested, his voice quivering as he gasped out the words. “She was worthless.”
Kale’s voice lowered into a steely calm. “She is young and innocent.”
“Innocent,” Samuelson snorted. Another crash followed. A scream sounded loud through the SUV.
“Tell me where she is if you value your life,” Kale said.
“She was garbage,” Samuelson replied with a sob. “So I took care of her like garbage. She was disposed of.”
“Where?” The one word hung taut in the air, filled with all the venom and steel of Kale’s anger. I could picture him with his hands clenched, Samuelson lying broken at his feet.
“There’s a parking garage . . . in Denson . . . my company. . . demolition in the morning for the new mall. . . .”
“Reece, it’s your call,” Kale said quietly. “Do you want me to kill him or serve him to Officer Donaldson for justice?”
I wanted him dead. I wanted to kill him with my bare hands. Every cell in my body screamed for him to be throttled, but even that wouldn’t be the kind of death the man deserved after what he had done to Ava.
“Will a man pay for what he does to a Galdoni?” I asked Goliath quietly.
Everyone on the other end of the intercom waited in heated silence.
Goliath hesitated. A mixture of emotions crossed his face. He finally shook his head. “The Galdoni’s place in society isn’t solid enough for an answer.”
The blood would be on Kale’s hands. If I was there, Samuelson would already be dead. As it was, Kale was waiting for my orders to kill a man in my name, but the death would be his to carry out.
“A gun!” someone shouted.
Two gunshots rang out. A scuffle followed. Someone screamed, then silence.
“What happened?” Goliath yelled, his deep voice echoing through the intercom.
“H-he had a gun,” Saro replied. He took several calming breaths. “Kale doesn’t need your answer, Reece. Samuelson’s dead.”
Chapter Twenty-two
I threw my earpiece down. “Where’s Denson?”
Goliath stared at me. “Reece, you’re not supposed to—”
“Show me Denson, now,” I demanded.
Goliath pulled it up on the computer. The city was about fifteen miles west of our location. He narrowed in on the location. The image was old, but it showed the parking garage toward the northwest end where construction on the mall had already begun.
“It’ll take twice the time getting there by vehicle,” Goliath said, “But I think in your condition—”
I threw op
en the door. “Take off my bandages.”
Goliath didn’t speak as he removed the gauze from my wings.
I forced them to open. The pain that flooded from the swollen joints about sent me to my knees. I put a hand against the door and willed the pain to the back of my mind.
“You sure you can make it?” Goliath asked.
“I’m sure,” I replied.
Goliath climbed out of the SUV. “I’m going with you.”
I forced my wings down and rose into the air. Every movement hurt. Goliath turned his tan wings west. I followed in his wake, using the updraft to conserve energy as we flew toward Denson. Ava was about to be killed. My heart pounded with her name. I had to save her. She deserved to live.
“You okay?” Goliath called over his shoulder.
“Great,” I forced out.
“This all worth it for a girl?” he asked.
I stared at his massive wings. “You kidding?”
“Of course,” Goliath replied. “I’m just trying to keep you from thinking about your pain. Any life is worth it. I’ve just never been in love.” He looked back at me. “But I’d be afraid to face you with that look in your eyes.”
“You need a girlfriend,” I said, fighting to keep in the air.
Goliath shrugged. “I have a cat.”
I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped me despite the situation. “A cat?”
“A kitten, really,” Goliath said. “His name is Mr. Timmons. I found him by the garbage bins and Kale said I could keep him.”
I smiled. “I’d keep him a secret. It might damage your reputation.”
Goliath laughed. “As if I need to be more intimidating.”
“True,” I admitted.
Goliath pointed. “There it is.”
His talking had distracted me enough that we had made it. Gratitude for the Galdoni’s kindness filled me. He angled toward the parking garage and I followed. The extra pressure on my wings stole my breath.
“We have trouble,” Goliath said.
Four Galdoni rose in the weak dawn light that filtered through the clouds. I grimaced. All four were the same Galdoni I had fought outside of Alice’s house.
“That garage could be blown at any time. It sounded like Samuelson already expected it, so we don’t have much time,” Goliath called over his shoulder.
“I’ll search the garage if you can keep them distracted.”
“Will do,” he replied.
“Watch out for Steel,” I told the big Galdoni.
He glanced back. “He’s a friend of yours?”
“Something like that. There are a few issues to settle.”
Goliath grinned and popped his knuckles. “I like settling issues.” He tucked his wings and dove straight at the group.
I followed close behind him. At the last second, I forced my right wing to raise and pushed the left one low. I spun to the side and cut through the group before they could stop me. I glanced back to see one Galdoni break free. The rest attacked Goliath. I dove through the lowest level of the parking garage, following my instincts which said Samuelson would do his best to bury his evidence completely. Nobody was in sight. A ramp lowered from the level I was on. I ran to it and my heart fell when I saw that the garage continued underground.
A hiss of wind warned me. I ducked in time to avoid Steel’s attempt to ram me into the wall. He tucked his black wings and rolled, rising graceful into a fighter’s stance near the ramp.
“Going somewhere?” he asked.
“Let me save her, Steel. Her death does not need to be on your head,” I told him.
He laughed. “As if one more death matters.” His eyes narrowed. “Of course, you were too young for the Arena. Maybe you don’t know the victory of slaying your enemy.”
“She’s not your enemy,” I pointed out. “She never hurt anyone.”
Steel raised his arm. The cast was dull and dirty. “I wouldn’t have this if it wasn’t for her.”
“She had nothing to do with that!” I protested. “I broke your arm. It’s what you deserve for attacking students at a party.”
He took several steps toward me, reiterating the thought that I probably should learn to control my mouth.
“She deserves to die as much as you do,” he spat. “She failed to produce a child. That was the sole reason for her creation. You are a weakling and a coward, both attributes entirely against the meaning of our existence.”
“I broke your arm, so what does that make you?” I replied before I could stop myself. I backed down the ramp, stalling for time as I searched for Ava. Steel jumped in front of me, blocking my path. I searched for words. “What I mean to say is, in nature, the ability to adapt is the key to survival for any species. Our world has changed, Steel. We need to be more than just bloodthirsty killers.”
“Do we?” he asked with his predatory smile. “It’s working out just fine for me.”
He lunged. I dove off the ramp to the next level. When I spun around, Steel was there. He punched me in the chest, then slammed a haymaker into my jaw. I fell to the cement floor gasping. He tried to kick me in the stomach, but I caught his leg and rolled toward it. His knee gave a loud snap and he yelled. I pulled up to my feet using the wall.
Rage turned Steel’s face red. He ran at me like a bull, using his wings to supplement his knee. I rolled backwards over the wall and fell to the next level.
The pain when I hit tore through me without mercy. I fell to my knees.
“You think you’re clever?” Steel asked, landing gracefully on the ramp. “You think you can keep running?” He laughed and waved a hand to indicate the cement walls around us. “This place is coming down at any moment. Each level has been wired, so if you’re not light on your feet, you’ll be smashed as flat as that girl you’re after.”
“Where is she?” I demanded, using the adrenaline that surged through my veins at the thought of her in trouble to force myself back to my feet.
“You’re getting closer,” Steel replied. “Maybe we should just let you die together.”
He dove at me. I drove an elbow against his head the same time that his punch caught me in the ribs. I fought for air. He shoved me against the wall to the next ramp. The force of my wings striking cement made spots dance in my vision. I used the wall to brace me against his next attack and kicked high. My foot caught him on the chin, snapping his head back. He stumbled sideways clutching his jaw. I pushed off from the wall and kicked again, using my aching wings to help me turn. The kick caught him on the side of the head. He fell to his knees. I used the wall to stay up.
“You will die with her,” he growled. He rushed me faster than I could get my limbs to respond. His momentum bowled us over the short wall down to the next level. The force of the landing broke us apart. I lay wheezing, trying to pull in a breath to clear my darkening vision. I glanced to the side. A lone car sat in the middle of the floor. There were no more ramps. We had reached the bottom.
Strong hands closed around my throat. “I should have killed you the first time I met you,” Steel glared down at me. “It’s time for you to die.”
I couldn’t force Steel’s hands away. My heart pounded loud inside my ears. I struggled for breath. Darkness pressed against my mind. I thought of Ava inside the car; hurt, maybe dying. If I died, she wouldn’t make it out of the parking complex. I was her only chance to survive. I slipped my hand in my pocket and gripped Koden’s angel. The sculpted blue wings bit into my hand. I pulled the angel out and slammed it into Steel’s face.
He reared back with a yell, the angel protruding from his right eye. I jumped to my feet and bowled him over. He rolled beneath me, throwing me onto my back.
“Look what you did!” he screamed, leering down at me with blood dripping from his damaged eye.
My good arm was pinned beneath me. The one that had been broken throbbed from his weight pressed against it. I gritted my teeth and pulled it free.
“It’s your time to die, Steel,” I growled.
I drove the heel of my palm against the angel sticking from his eye. I felt his skull give. I rolled, knocking his good arm out from under him. His face slammed against the ground, driving the angel completely in. His body shuddered, then grew still.
Before I could take a solid breath, explosions sounded. The detonation had begun. I pushed to my feet and ran toward the car.
“Ava!” I yelled. I threw the back door open. She wasn’t inside. The door on the other side was also open. I ran around, my heart pounding. She was nowhere to be seen. The floor rumbled. I could hear the levels crashing above, one on top of the other. It wouldn’t be long before the weight was too much and the underground levels were completely obliterated. I doubted they would dig them up. They probably just planned to build the mall right over the top.
“Ava, say something!” I screamed.
“Reece?”
The words were weak, a mere whisper amid the thunder that rumbled through the building. I ran forward. Pain, fear, darkness, everything fell away at the sight of Ava curled in the corner.
She didn’t move when I touched her. I picked her up and ran toward the ramp. I used my wings the best I could to run faster. Pillars began to fall. The entire right side of the parking garage slanted down. I staggered and had to fight to remain upright as the ground shook and fell away. I pushed my wings hard, propelling us up the next ramp. One more and daylight would be visible.
The ramp collapsed in front of us. I clutched Ava tight to my chest as five stories of cement slid down. The roof above us cracked. There was nowhere to go. We were trapped. I hunched over Ava, shielding her with my arms and wings.
“Reece!”
Hands grabbed my shoulders and beneath my arms. I was lifted into the air with Ava held close. We broke through to the first floor. I glanced up to see Goliath on one side and Kale on the other. Saro flew in front, guiding us through the dust and falling debris.