by R. D. Brady
“You are. You were born for this.”
“Helen was born for this. Me? I’m a former college professor who’s now supposed to lead what, the world’s armies against Samyaza? What about my background suggests I’m ready for that?”
“What would you do to keep Max safe? To keep Victoria safe?”
“Anything. Everything.”
“That is what makes you qualified. You will do whatever is necessary. You will face the devil herself to keep those you love safe, and even those you don’t. You are a protector. And no one is outside that protection. It is not just your divinely provided skill that makes you the leader. It is your heart, Delaney McPhearson. A good leader never asks more of her people than she is willing to do. And you will do whatever it takes. That inspires people. That makes people want to follow you.”
“But people will die.”
Drake nodded. “Yes, they will. But more will die if Samyaza is not defeated. And you know that. Right now, you have been knocked back on your heels, but you need to get back up. You need to fight.”
“I know. It’s just—” She bit her lip, looking away as hopelessness threatened to overwhelm her.
Drake walked over to her and carefully slid her from underneath Max.
“What are you—”
He sat down, pulling her onto his lap. “You have to be strong, Laney, but right now, you grieve. You cry. You scream. You do whatever you need to do. And when the world sees you again, you show them your strength. But with me, I’ll take your moments of weakness. I’ll hold you up until you don’t need me to.”
She closed her eyes, letting herself sink into him. “How do you know what to say?”
“I know you. You’re the other half of me. Loving you—it’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
Chapter 38
Cairo, Egypt
The plane touched down around ten a.m. Egypt time, three a.m. Baltimore time. The flight from Baltimore to Cairo had taken sixteen hours, with a stopover in London for refueling.
Noriko stepped out, bracing herself for the heat. The airport in Cairo was surrounded by a vast brown desert. She was surprised to find that while hot, there was no humidity. It was almost pleasant.
“Not much like home, huh?” Gerard asked as he stepped next to her.
She gestured to the palm trees that dotted the landscape. “Actually, it is, in some ways. It’s more brown, more barren. But there’s a beauty here in its barrenness, in the history that’s seeped into the sands.”
Feeling Gerard’s eyes on her, she felt flustered and warmer than she was a second ago. “What?”
“I don’t think I’ve met anyone like you before.”
She looked up into his face, and in it were the faces of two small children that she saw in her mind’s eye.
Yes, you have. She opened her mouth to answer, but darkness rolled over her.
Noriko looked around, blinking up at the Great Pyramid and across at the Sphinx. Torches raced across the sands. People crested the hill, charging toward her. Noriko’s eyes grew large as she turned to run. But there was nowhere to go.
Her eyes popped open. She looked up into Gerard’s face. She was lying on the ground, her head in his lap.
“There you are,” Gerard said.
A man with a dark beard hovered in the background. Gerard spoke to him in Arabic before turning back to Noriko. “Our driver Nadir is worried. He wanted to call for a doctor. I assured him you would be all right . . . I was telling the truth, wasn’t I?”
Noriko nodded, then winced as her head began to pound. “How long?”
“Just a few heart-stopping minutes. I take it you had a vision?”
“Yes. It was of the Giza Plateau. I think that’s where we need to go.”
Gerard looked to the east. “There will be too many people now. That plateau is the most popular destination in all of Egypt.”
Noriko started to nod but thought better of it as the pounding in her head increased.
“Well, there’s no help for that, and since I think you could use a little rest, I’ll get us a hotel, and we’ll go visit the site after dark.”
“Okay.” Noriko pushed against Gerard to sit up, but Gerard slipped one hand under her knees. Cradling her to his chest, he headed to Nadir and the waiting Mercedes.
“I . . . I can walk.”
“Ah, but then Nadir would think me ungallant. And I cannot have that. Besides, that vision seemed to take quite a bit out of you.”
“I’m just tired.”
“All the more reason to save your strength.” He lowered his voice. “Did you see where exactly the Omni will be found?”
“No. I just know we’re supposed to go to Giza.”
“All right, then. Giza it is.”
Noriko fell asleep in the car and barely woke up to walk into the hotel. Gerard got them a suite and steered her toward one of the bedrooms. She mumbled her thanks, then promptly fallen asleep again.
She didn’t wake until well after dark. She stretched. A glance at the clock showed it was ten p.m. She’d slept for nearly ten hours. The suite was quiet, so she grabbed her pack and headed for the bathroom, hoping a shower would clear the last of the cobwebs from her mind.
As she stepped out of the bedroom fifteen minutes later, Gerard was signing the room service bill. The waiter took the leather case from Gerard and let himself out of the room.
Noriko’s mouth watered at the sight of all the food, and her stomach rumbled.
Gerard nodded to the table laden with dishes. “I took the liberty. I thought you might be hungry.
“Starving.” Noriko quickly took a seat, pulled a linen napkin across her lap, and dug in. She looked up at him, realizing she was the only one who was eating. “You’re not hungry?”
“It’s not that. There’s something I need to tell you.”
From the look on his face, she knew it wasn’t good news.
She wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin, then placed it next to her plate. “What is it?”
“There was an attack back in Baltimore.”
Noriko gasped. “Why didn’t I see anything? I could have warned them. I could have helped.”
“It’s not on you. It was Elisabeta.”
“Is anyone hurt?”
“Yes. There were a lot of injuries and some casualties.”
“Who? Who died?”
“I don’t know the names of the people on the estate, but there are about twelve of them.”
“And my friends? They’re okay?”
Gerard shook his head.
Noriko’s heart plunged. “Who?”
“It was Zach. There was an attack at the animal preserve. He died protecting Dov and Sascha.”
Noriko pictured Zach, his hooded eyes, the pain she always felt around him. But it had lessened whenever he was around Dov. She wasn’t surprised he had protected Dov, even to the death.
Gerard reached for her. “Noriko?”
She shook her head, the action drawing attention to the tears she had realized were on her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around herself and stood on wobbly legs. “I just . . . I need a minute.”
Her chest felt heavy as she pictured Zach the last time she saw him. They’d been watching Aladdin with Dov. He’d looked so happy. Oh God, he’s gone.
“There’s more,” Gerard said.
Noriko could barely see him through the tears in her eyes. More? Wasn’t this bad enough? “What?”
“Jen, she’s pregnant. But she was hurt, and the baby—they’re not sure if the baby is going to make it.”
Noriko and her biological sister had been trying to get to know one another. Noriko knew she and Jen had had vastly different upbringings, but even with Jen’s difficult life, she had a heart that was impossible to miss. She’d known Jen was pregnant, even before Jen knew. And she would a great mother.
If she gets the chance . . . Her heart ached, and she couldn’t seem to think straight. She began to shake. “I just . . . I don’t know what to
do.” She looked at Gerard through a waterfall of tears. “What do I do?”
He pulled her into his arms. “Nothing. Right now, you do nothing. You grieve. Everything else can wait.”
Chapter 39
Baltimore, Maryland
The engine of the plane droned on, acting like a white noise machine. Laney dozed on and off but got no real rest. Every time she would start to drift off into sleep, her unconscious would remind her of the horrors of the past day. Now she ran a hand through Max’s hair, adjusting the blanket over him yet again, as if somehow by making sure that no chill reached him it would make things at least a little better.
But it wouldn’t. Max had lost his mother and Maddox. They had practically been killed in front of him. How was he supposed to come back from that?
And her uncle had been taken back into surgery. The call had come in an hour ago. He was fine now, just some unexpected bleeding, but it had been terrifying. What if she had lost him? That thought had led to thoughts about all those they had lost—Zach, the guards at the preserve, and the staff at the estate, potentially Jen’s baby. The list just seemed to keep going on.
Laney put her hand over her mouth, smothering the sob. It was too much all at once. They had known Samyaza would strike, but not like this. Not on so many fronts.
Drake stepped in from the cockpit and gave her a look.
Now what? she thought with growing dread before looking at Cleo, who lay on the ground at her feet. Cleo, stay with Max.
Cleo lifted her head and rose gracefully to her feet. As Laney stood, Cleo hopped up on the seat. She tucked her tail underneath her as she curled around Max, laying her head gently on his chest.
Laney quickly made her way to Drake. “What’s happened?”
“No one’s hurt. It’s nothing like that,” he said quickly.
She blew out a breath and ran a shaking hand over her face. “Okay, so what, then?”
Drake nodded to the window. “We have an escort.”
With a frown, Laney leaned down to look out the window. Beyond the wing of the plane, Laney could make out the outline of a jet.
Drake dropped into the chair next to her. “There’s a matching one on the other side.”
Laney’s pulse raced. “Elisabeta?”
Drake squeezed her hand. “No, and we’re in no danger. Our escorts are courtesy of the U.S. government.”
“What? Why?”
“That is the question. The pilots were informed that they should continue on their heading and that agents would meet us on the ground.”
“Agents? From where?”
“That was not specified.” He paused. “Are you sure all charges against you have been dropped?”
“According to Brett, I’m in the clear.”
“Well, the government apparently has a new interest in you.”
Laney pulled out her cell phone to call Brett, but Drake just shook his head. “That won’t work. I already tried. They seem to be jamming our calls.”
“Is that legal?”
Drake shrugged. “Believe it or not, I am not well versed in the legality of government actions.”
“And they didn’t give any clue as to what they wanted?”
“Nope. Just said we would be met by agents.”
Laney looked back at where Max had thrown an arm over Cleo, holding her tight. Now was not the time for some government agents to try to push them around. There was way too much going on. She needed to focus on that. The plane darkened as the sun dropped behind the clouds, and thunder rolled.
“Hey, hey.” Drake turned her to face him. “Enough of that.”
Laney jolted, not even realizing she’d called on her abilities. “Sorry.”
He patted her hand. “Well, let’s not toss a tornado at the nice government pilots. It might make whoever’s meeting us on the ground a little testy.”
“I know, I know. It’s just with everything happening, I don’t have time to sit down and chat with some government bureaucrats.”
“Maybe, but unless you’ve decided to live outside the law, I think we have to.” He raised an eyebrow. “However, I think you would make a very sexy fugitive. In fact, I think up until yesterday, that’s exactly what you were.”
She shook her head, but a smile crept its way onto her face. And that was why Drake was good for her. He made her smile even when what she really wanted to do was scream. “No, we wait. We’ll talk to them and see what the hell’s going on.”
“And if you don’t like the answers?”
“Then I guess it’s back to fugitives.”
Chapter 40
As the landing gear lowered, Max stirred. Laney hurried to his side, kneeling on the floor next to him so she could look into his eyes when he opened them. His eyelids flickered open.
“Hey, Max,” she said softly.
“Laney?” Confusion crossed his face before he gasped. “Mom!”
“Shh, honey, shh.” She ran her hand along his face as tears filled his eyes.
“They’re gone.” His voice sounded so young.
“I know. We picked you up from Springfield, and we’re about to land back in Baltimore.”
Max took a shuddering breath.
“It’s okay now, Max. You’re safe. I’m here, Drake, Cleo. We won’t let you get hurt.”
The tears disappeared from his eyes. Once again she saw the old soul that lived inside him. “You can’t promise that. No one is safe, not even Mom and Maddox. Their time was up. There was nothing you could do. Things happen when they are supposed to.”
She had to stifle a gasp. “You knew.”
Max nodded, and Laney had to remind herself she was talking to a child. He seemed so grown up. “It was their time. But I’ll see them again. Samyaza is reaching for her power. No one will be safe until she is stopped.” Max blinked and looked around. Laney had the feeling he didn’t even realize what he had said, and she felt a chill crawl over her. She knew Max was right, but to hear him speak without emotion—it was disturbing. What was happening to him? It was as if the little boy was being replaced with the ancient soul.
The tears reappeared. He reached for her. Laney sat on his left side as Cleo pressed in from his right. “I’ve got you, Max.”
But his words played through her mind. He was right. No one was safe while Samyaza was free. No, not just free, alive. For the rest of the world to be safe, Samyaza needed to no longer be in it.
A few minutes later, they touched down on the runway and taxied to a stop. Laney stood by the door, ready to open it as soon as the pilots gave the all clear.
Drake stood next to her, his arms crossed over his chest. “Absolutely not. You are not going out there alone.”
Laney sighed. “Yes, I am. You need to get Max and Cleo to safety if this goes sideways.”
“You get them to safety. I’ll take care of these little agents.” He cracked his knuckles.
“Yeah, that’s exactly why you are not allowed to do the talking. Besides, I’m the one they want to talk to. And I don’t want them boarding the plane and scaring the hell out of Max.”
He puffed out his chest. “Lest you forget, I am an archangel.”
She scoffed. “Yeah, I’ve met three of you guys. You’re practically a dime a dozen. I, however, am the only ring bearer.”
“You’re insulting my archangel status?”
“No, merely suggesting you’re not as unique as you think.”
“Maybe, but I do heal quicker from bullet holes than you do.”
“They won’t shoot me.”
“Really? Because yesterday they would have.”
A small finger a fear crawled down her spine, but she refused to let Drake see it. “They won’t. Now, help me open this door.”
Drake grumbled as he pulled the lever releasing the door lock. The door cracked open. “If you get shot, I am going to be very mad at you.”
“Noted.” She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in for a deep kiss. Releasing him, she smil
ed. “It’ll be fine.”
“It better be, or every last one of them out there is currently enjoying their very last breaths on this Earth.”
“Go.” She pushed him toward the back of the plane. He gave her a stern look before heading toward Max. Making sure he was out of the line of fire, she pushed open the door.
Three SUVS stood facing the plane. A ring of heavily armed soldiers in green uniforms rimmed the plane as well. She did a double take at the Hummer with what she thought might have a Gatling gun on top of it.
Well, that’s not worrisome. Maybe I should have let Drake meet them first.
The doors to the SUVs opened. Six agents in suits stepped out, three of each gender.
Laney looked down. There were no steps. The drop was about six feet. She could have sworn there was a button or something that would release stairs, but she didn’t see anything that might do the job.
Oh well. She called up a shot of air as she stepped from the plane and lowered herself down. Two of the agents jolted, glancing at their partners. Touching down, Laney walked forward. “What’s the meaning of all this?”
One of the agents stepped forward. “Dr. Delaney McPhearson, you are hereby placed in the protective custody of the United States government.”
Chapter 41
Invess, Calevitnia
The small country of Calevitnia was a former Russian state that achieved independence after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Calevitnia’s main industry involved sheep and fishing, although tourists had been arriving more frequently at the remote country to take in some of the incredible castles left behind by the former Soviet officers who had often summered along Calevitnia’s largest lake.
The door to the plane opened. Elisabeta pulled her fur coat closer around her. But it was not summer now. The air was cool. It felt as if snow was in the air. A quick look at the gray clouds covering them made that possibility seem even more likely.
“This way.” Artem extended a hand to Elisabeta to help her down the steps. He led her to a waiting Rolls Royce. A uniformed driver held the door open for them. Climbing inside, Elisabeta initiated the privacy window. “How long?”