Eternal Nights (39 page)

“Is she—” Sullivan started, but stopped short.

“I got a pulse, but I can’t rouse her. I’m taking her to the infirmary.” Damon barely paused.

Cam was safe. Her baby was safe. Alex and Damon were safe. The bad guys were caught. Now all she needed was to hear Ravyn was okay, and everything would be perfect. Stacey began shaking as reaction set in, and Alex hugged her more tightly.

“Is the comm gear working, Cantore?” he asked.

“No, sir. That would be too convenient.”

“Yeah. Here’s what we’re going to do. I want your men to sweep the house, every room. If there’s another thief here, I want him found. Once I’m confident the building is clear, we’ll pick up your captain and Thomas, then take everyone to security headquarters and start asking some questions.”

Sullivan said more, but Stacey stopped listening. She could have died tonight. An innocent child could have died tonight. And Ravyn— She cut that thought short.

But Alex had shown up. Despite everything that had happened between them, despite his anger, he’d come to her rescue. He would have sacrificed his life for hers, even if she wasn’t pregnant. Stacey needed to sit down.

*** *** ***

Wyatt dragged Kendall to a stop. Before she could complain, he said quietly, “We’re doing this the smart way, Bug, and that doesn’t mean charging out of the city with righteous indignation.”

She nodded. “Just tell me how we’re handling it.”

He drew her to the side of a nearby building, hiding them in the shadows. “The only gate that hasn’t been sealed off is guarded. If you’re right, and McNamara is involved, she could order the men to let her pass.” Wyatt scowled. “They can tell us if anyone exited, and one of them can back us up—provided they aren’t dirty themselves.”

“That makes sense,” she said slowly, “but why are we stopping here?”

“Because we need to check out the gate carefully from hiding before we approach.”

They must be closer to the wall than she thought. “Okay.”

Her easy agreement took some of the steam out of Wyatt, and Kendall had to bite her lip to keep from smiling. He’d been all geared up to argue with her, but she’d surprised him.

“Stay close to me,” Wyatt ordered, and after she nodded, he began to wend his way through the buildings. When he stopped again, they were hidden behind the side of a shop, and had a clear view of the wall.

“Where are the guards?” she whispered.

Wyatt shook his head, silently telling her he didn’t know.

Either the soldiers were part of the smuggling ring, or something had happened to them. Or maybe they just headed into some nearby building to play poker or something.

Except Kendall had a bad feeling about this.

After they’d waited and watched for a while, Wyatt said, “I’m going to reconnoiter the area near the gate. Stay here.”

Before she could protest, he was gone. Even though Kendall kept her eyes glued on the portal out of the city, she never saw Wyatt. She was getting scared that something had happened to him, when he slipped up beside her. He looked grim.

“What happened? Did you find them?”

“Yeah, I found them, darlin’. Their throats were slit. That means mission scrubbed.” Kendall started to protest, but he shook his head sharply. “No. One person couldn’t take out both men, so if it was McNamara, she’s not alone. It’s too risky for either one of us to go out there, not without backup. What we are going to do is head—”

Kendall reached out and put two fingers over Wyatt’s lips. She’d seen movement over his shoulder. Using her chin, she gestured toward the indistinct shapes behind him. It looked like two people, but she couldn’t be entirely certain.

“Stay here,” he whispered in her ear.

Kendall told him softly, “I won’t let you go alone, not a second time. You need someone to watch your back.”

For an instant, she read the conflict in his eyes. Special Operations were trained to work in teams. On the other hand, she knew he didn’t want her in danger, and there was no telling who was skulking around or how violent they’d be. With a grimace, he signaled her to move.

He remained in the shadows, the only concealment they had, and she stayed with him.

As they neared the people, Wyatt silently signaled, indicating what position he wanted her to take. Kendall nodded, shifting so she flanked the duo. It took her farther from him than she felt comfortable with; she wanted to be able to help him if he needed it.

The figures were armed—she saw one of them was wearing a pistol belt—and she pulled energy, ready to wield it instantly if they drew their weapons.

They managed to remain undetected until Wyatt aimed his pistol at them, and hollered, “Freeze.”

Of course, the pair didn’t do that. Even as they reached for their pistols, Kendall started directing the power, melting the plastic pieces and heating the metal. They weren’t able to hold on to their weapons long.

She hurried to close the distance. Anyone who knew Wyatt knew he wouldn’t shoot an unarmed person, and these two were not going to cede quietly. Dismay filled her as she grew close enough to ID the duo—George and McNamara. She’d really wanted the colonel to be innocent.

Kendall didn’t have time to think about it before the fight broke out. Without hesitating, she dove in, taking on McNamara. She knew the colonel would be the more formidable opponent, but Wyatt might pull his punches if he had to go head-to-head with a woman, and she didn’t want anything to happen to him.

McNamara was a street fighter, and Kendall found herself in a no-holds-barred brawl. Blocking a blow with her forearm, Kendall landed a thigh kick. Some of the neighborhoods she’d lived in weren’t pretty, and this was the type of free-for-all that she was most comfortable with.

The colonel made a lunge for Kendall’s holster, but she turned her hip, and went for the woman’s eyes. McNamara barely twisted away in time to avoid Kendall’s fingers.

Ignoring the glare, Kendall looked for vulnerabilities. McNamara struck out at her, and she was able to grab the woman’s arm. Kendall spun her into the side of a building, but before she could smash her into the stone, the colonel ducked away.

A quick glance to her right showed her that Wyatt was still tied up with George the Jerk. It surprised her, and she stared a second too long. Her inattention cost her. McNamara grabbed Kendall’s hair and pulled until tears came to her eyes.

“You fight like a girl,” she told the colonel, trying to enrage her. But even as she derided her, Kendall dug her own fingers into the woman’s short hair, and pulled every bit as hard. Maybe they looked like a pair of fifth-grade schoolgirls, but this was causing some pain.

Kendall leaned away as McNamara tried to bite her. Finally, she hooked a foot behind the colonel’s leg, and pushed her hard enough to make her fall to the walkway. Unfortunately, Kendall was pulled down with her.

They rolled on the ground. The colonel was in her mid-forties; Kendall was twenty-four. She had youth and stamina on her side, and she used them. As she gained the top position, McNamara sank her teeth into her left hand.

Pain roared through her; so did anger. Kendall slammed the colonel’s head into the stone-paved street until McNamara released her. She thunked the woman’s head back one more time for good measure.

McNamara wasn’t out cold, but she was stunned. Kendall used the moment to flip her on her belly and pull her arm up between her shoulder blades. Only then did she look around for Wyatt. He was standing, arms folded over his chest, watching. “You could have helped,” she complained mildly.

“Darlin’, I was looking for a way to join the fight, but the way you two were rolling around, I didn’t have an opening.” He grinned. “Remind me never to bite you.”

“Mar—” she cut herself off as she recalled he hated it when she used his handle. “Wy, I’m okay with
you
biting me—in fact, I have a few places in mind.” When she heard what she’d said, Kendall gulped. To pull his attention away from that, she held up her injured hand. Blood dripped down her palm. “I need to swing by the infirmary and get a rabies shot,” she joked.

McNamara didn’t like that comment, and she struggled. Kendall pulled her arm harder, and the woman gasped before she subsided. “He’s out?” she asked, nodding toward Dr. George.

“Yeah. For a rich puke, he put up a heck of a fight.”

Before she could ask anything else, Wyatt tensed, and turned, aiming his pistol even as he shifted to her back to protect her. She heard a whistle in some strange cadence, then Wy said, “It’s okay. It’s my team.”

“What took you guys so long?” he asked. Kendall looked over her shoulder to see an army. Not only were Wyatt’s men there, but so were Sullivan and at least three other Spec Ops teams.

“Sorry, Marsh,” Flare said, deadpan. “We didn’t think Kendall needed any help since you were standing around watching her fight.”

Wyatt growled and she laughed.

“Stand down, Captain,” Flare said, coming up beside her. “I’ll take your prisoner.”

When she was on her feet, Wyatt put his arm around her shoulders and steered her over to Sullivan. She listened, her mood souring, as he gave his report. Two privates were dead for no reason other than they’d drawn guard duty on the wrong night.

Sullivan began issuing orders. Wyatt left to help his men secure the prisoners, and Kendall found herself on the edge of the group, forgotten. The bite hurt, and she pressed her hand against her thigh, trying to make it feel better. It didn’t help.

Wyatt and his team escorted McNamara and George away, and the other teams prepared to head out to the transport. She wanted to join them, but knew she’d be a hindrance. All she could do was hope that nothing happened to the men or the relics.

“Captain Thomas.”

“Sir?” Kendall came to attention.

“At ease,” Sullivan told her. “I just wanted to tell you that you’ve done a good job.”

Kendall gaped at him; she couldn’t help it. “Thanks, sir.”

“I wasn’t joking earlier tonight when I suggested you think about a career in security. Your files on the smuggling ring are going to go a long way toward convicting the participants.”

She thanked him again, bemused by all the compliments.

“But you should have come to me with what you knew.”

“I did try to talk to you, Colonel.” Kendall refused to let him cow her. “You told me to make an appointment.”

“There was a good reason for that, but I meant that you should have come to me the minute you suspected something was happening. I’m here for a reason,” he added, voice hard.

“Next time, sir, your office is my first stop.”

Sullivan shook his head. “I think I liked it better when I intimidated you. Go catch up with Montgomery. The kid is going to give himself whiplash if he keeps looking over here. I’ll meet you at the infirmary when things are wrapped up.”

“Yes, sir.” Kendall saluted and hurried to close the gap.

Wrapped up.
After weeks of stress and days of being hunted, things were almost finished. They’d done it. They’d taken down the smuggling ring. Kendall started shaking as it sank in that at last she and Wyatt were safe.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Alex looked up at the royal residence and sighed. He was exhausted and felt about a million years old, give or take a millennium, but he’d accomplished something worthwhile tonight.

Wearily, he climbed the steep, narrow stone steps to his sister’s home and went looking for Stacey. He found her in the main gathering chamber, curled up in the corner of the sofa with her feet tucked beneath her. Wordlessly, she watched him cross the room and sit beside her. Alex leaned back, resting his head against the couch, and stared up at the ceiling.

“Ravyn’s okay,” he said quietly. “Doc said she caught a blast from a popper, but she should be raring to go in a matter of hours. Brody and Cam are sacked out at the infirmary with her.”

He could sense the tension leaching from Stacey’s muscles. “Thank God. What else happened? I know something did.”

“One of the men we captured here told us that there were plans for the big players in the smuggling ring to take the transport and leave. We got there in time to catch about a dozen of them all together, including Colonel McNamara.”

“Bet you enjoyed reeling her in,” Stacey said after a moment. “The two of you have been at each other’s throats for nearly three years.”

Alex shook his head. “I wish I had been the one to arrest her, but I wasn’t. Captain Kendall Thomas wrestled the colonel to the ground and sat on her until we arrived.” A smile crept across his face. “Stace, you should have seen it. McNamara was belly down on the street, her arm twisted up high behind her back, and she was pissed as hell. So was Thomas. The girl kept muttering about how no one would get away with looting the Old City as long as she was breathing.”

Alex saw Stacey’s lips twitch, but she said, “You shouldn’t call her a girl. It’s sexist.”

“Bullshit. I’m not referring to her as a girl because she’s female; I call her a girl because she isn’t even twenty-five years old yet. When did these officers get so young?”

Stacey’s grin widened, and she shifted, lowering her feet to the floor. “The better question might be when did you get old.”

Alex blew out a long, slow breath. “Yeah. The thing is, in my head,
I’m
still twenty-four. But then I’m surrounded by these kids, and I feel like Methuselah.”

“Do you think it might seem that way because you’ll be forty on your next birthday?”

“Maybe,” he admitted. Alex didn’t say anything else for a moment. Stacey wasn’t being short with him. Granted, her tone was fairly impersonal, but it was an improvement over how their conversations had gone recently. “You don’t have to worry about being on the transport this morning,” he said. “We’re holding it for a thorough search. It’ll be two or three days minimum.”

“Did you—” Stacey started heatedly.

“It has nothing to do with you,” Alex interrupted. “We have to pull that thing apart looking for contraband. If you have a problem, I suggest you discuss it with Captain Thomas. I had to listen to her lecture me for nearly half an hour, and I’m not going through that again—not even for you.” He shook his head. “She’s passionate about protecting the antiquities here.”