“Good.” The freight elevator started to move again, and Kadmus and Brasden came in view. The darkness was suddenly pierced by the brilliant LED lantern Kadmus was holding in one hand. True to his word, his other arm cradled an AK-47.
Brasden was carrying a Smith & Wesson automatic, and he smiled maliciously as his gaze zeroed in on Catherine. “I’ve been waiting for this, Ling.”
Kadmus lifted the lantern so that’s its beam would light every corner of the darkness. “Where’s Sullivan?”
“I wouldn’t risk her life. When you called me tonight, I got her out of here.” She stepped forward. “She’s suffered enough, you bastard. It’s not her fault my son is on your kill list.”
“He might not have to die,” Brasden said. “Kadmus is a reasonable man, and I might be able to persuade him to let the boy live. Providing you give us Cameron.”
“Us?” She turned to Kadmus. “I thought Brasden was only a glorified errand boy in that ragtag army of yours. Do I have to deal with him, too?”
“Yes,” Brasden said before Kadmus could answer. “Kadmus and I have come to terms regarding the future of our relationship. Tell us about Cameron.”
Catherine ignored him, still staring at Kadmus. “Is that true?”
“Brasden has been very helpful in tracking you down.”
That was no real confirmation, and she could sense antagonism. She might be able to work with it. “I won’t be telling you anything about Cameron until you prove that it’s worth my while. I don’t even know that you’ve managed to get your hands on Luke. He can be very clever.”
“He’s just a kid,” Brasden said. “Our man Ellis is smart and experienced. Your Luke won’t have a chance.”
“Won’t?” she repeated. “That means you don’t have him yet. You lied, Kadmus.”
“I exaggerated, and you fell for it. Women are always vulnerable where their emotions are concerned.” He smiled triumphantly. “But I have you now. So it doesn’t matter. Ellis will bring the boy here and—”
Brasden’s cell phone rang, and he picked up. “Brasden.” He listened and muttered a curse. “Find him.”
Kadmus stiffened. “Brasden, that didn’t sound good. You told me—”
“Ellis is dead,” Brasden said curtly. “About two blocks from here. Throat cut. No sign of the boy.”
“What? You told me that Ellis was so good. He couldn’t deal with an eleven-year-old kid?”
“It’s not my fault. Ellis was good.”
“It seems you have nothing to offer me, Kadmus,” Catherine said. “I suppose I should thank Brasden for being an incompetent bumbler.”
“I can offer you your life.” Kadmus’s hand tightened on the AK-47. “And it’s damn funny that Ellis was killed only two blocks from here. It wouldn’t have taken you long to run out of here to rescue the boy.”
“You’re reaching. I wouldn’t have had the time.”
“But you tell me you’re so good.” He gave Brasden a cold glance. “And you succeeded in making a fool of Brasden at Daksha. You might have managed to pluck your son away from Ellis. But where would you have found to stash the little bastard?” He raised the lantern high again and slowly let the beam play around the walls. “I wonder…”
She felt a jolt of panic. Any minute he might decide to go and investigate those storage cabinets. She couldn’t wait any longer. “It’s stupid to think that I’d be able to—”
She kicked the lantern out of his hand, and it crashed to the floor. The glass smashed, but the bulb remained lit as it rolled toward the elevator.
Catherine dove behind the stacked boxes as Brasden let loose with a spray of bullets from his automatic.
“Be careful, you fool,” Kadmus yelled. “Do you want to set those fireworks off and have us all go up in flames?”
It was what Catherine had hoped he’d think. She’d made preparations earlier in the evening and ensured that these wooden boxes were filled with relatively harmless fireworks. But if Kadmus let go with that AK-47, it would shred those boxes and anyone sheltering behind them in seconds.
“She’s not armed, Brasden,” Kadmus said. “Go after her, dammit.”
Catherine slid her knife out of her leg holster.
Then she reached for one of the cherry bombs from the pile she’d earlier readied and started lighting them.
“Come on, bitch.” Brasden was moving toward her. “Kadmus may want you alive, but I don’t give a damn about his screwy ideas about Shambhala. You’re a dead woman if you give me any trouble.”
She waited.
Just a little closer …
First, distract him.
She raised up and started tossing the cherry bombs.
Blam! Blam!
Two exploded in front of Brasden.
“What the—”
The next one hit him in the chest and exploded, burning him.
He screamed.
Now he was off guard. She scrambled to her knees and threw the knife.
It sank deep into his chest.
He tottered and dropped to his knees. He was moaning as he tried to lift his gun.
He didn’t get the chance.
His body was suddenly riddled with bullets, tearing him to pieces.
“Fool.” Kadmus stood over his body with his AK-47. “He couldn’t even perform a simple kill.” He kicked Brasden’s body. “But I didn’t want you to kill him. I’ve been reserving that pleasure for myself.” He stared into the darkness. “You’ve used your knife and those pitiful fireworks. I doubt if you have anything more lethal. I won’t be as easy to put down as Brasden.” He started forward. “I won’t kill you. I’ll just wound you. Then I can take my time and—”
The skylight above them exploded and shattered in thousands of shards of glittering glass.
Someone had jumped, hurled himself through the glass.
Cameron!
He rolled in a ball toward Kadmus, then grabbed him around the knees and brought him down. But Kadmus’s AK-47 was swinging viciously at Cameron’s head as he hit the floor. Cameron ducked and straddled him.
Catherine was on her feet and diving for the gun she’d been forced to drop on the floor.
Dammit, but she couldn’t use it without running the risk of hitting Cameron. Kadmus was fighting viciously, and he still hadn’t released that AK-47.
“Get away from him, Cameron,” she called desperately. “Let me take my shot.”
Kadmus stiffened and went still for an instant. “Cameron?” He stared up into Cameron’s face. “I’ve got you?” His voice was hoarse with excitement. “I was wondering if you’d come to try to help Ling.” His fist slammed into Cameron’s stomach with brutal force. “I’ve got to be careful not to damage you too much. I need you.”
“Too bad,” Cameron said. “I don’t need you. Yes, I did come for Catherine, but you’re my primary target.”
“My hand’s wet.” Kadmus looked down at his fist. “You’re bleeding.” He smiled fiercely. “That’s good. It means you’re weak. I’ll take you, then I’ll get Ling with the AK-47.”
“Not that weak.” Cameron lifted his hand and backhanded him. “You like weak, don’t you? I remember how much you enjoyed using those ropes to play with Erin. Do you know how often I was tempted to come and use them on you?”
“But you didn’t.” His hands gripped Cameron’s neck. “Because you knew that I was too strong for you. You knew that I was destined for Shambhala. I was meant to be there, and you were keeping me from it. No more, Cameron.”
“No more,” Cameron whispered as he struggled to break Kadmus’s grip. “You do have a destiny, and I won’t keep you from it any longer.” He broke Kadmus’s hold, and his hands grasped Kadmus’s neck. Cameron stared him in the eye. “Not Shambhala, never Shambhala.” His hands tightened, cutting off air. “Hell, Kadmus.” He twisted sharply. “That’s your destiny.”
Kadmus’s neck snapped and broke.
Dead, Catherine realized, as Kadmus’s body went limp. Relief surged through her as she moved toward Cameron. He was getting off Kadmus’s body as she reached him. She said, “He said you were bleeding. You told me that you were okay.”