Was the guy a nut-job or what? “As far as I can tell, you’re not asleep, asshole.”
Kalin chuckled, an odd purple swirling within the green of his eyes. “Don’t need to be. Your sister has gained considerable power through the years and no longer needs to be asleep to communicate. I believe she, ah, meditates.”
“Bullshit.” Damn Kurjans always lied.
Kalin tipped his head. “Oh my. She hasn’t told you. Not only can we meet in her odd little dreamworld while fully awake, she can no longer keep me out. If she’s open and not shielding, I’m invited.”
The fucking asshole was trying to mess with his head. Garrett forced a laugh and tried to ignore the fact that the room was still wavering. “Nice little fantasy world you’ve got there.”
“Boy, she’s in every fantasy I have.” Kalin grabbed the bars. “Her blood tastes like honeyed sunshine, and since I’ve tasted, I can visit any time I wish. Mentally, of course.”
Bile rose in Garrett’s throat. No way had this guy bitten his sister. No way. “I’m going to kill you slowly.”
“Sounds like a date.” Kalin leaned in. “But I’m busy right now. We’re supposed to exchange you for the witch in three hours.”
“Witch? You want Moira?”
“No. The other one.”
Drawing a bored expression, Garrett slid back his right foot. “Why?”
“She’s powerful, and we want her,” Kalin said, an odd light entering his eyes.
Garrett lunged, reaching through the bars to grab the Kurjan’s neck. Kalin kicked between the bars, nailing him in the knee. Garrett went down and just as quickly flew back up.
Kalin stepped back, smiling. “You’re quick.”
His knee pounded with pain, echoing up his thigh. Garrett snarled. “Quick enough. How about you let me out of here, and we see how quick you are?”
Kalin clicked his tongue. “As tempting as that is, I’m not ready to kill you. Yet.”
Garrett studied the soldier. He was almost seven feet tall, and broad. The medals on his chest showed a life of combat. He’d be tough to kill. “There’s no way my people will hand over a mate to you—not even for me.”
“I’m aware of that fact.” Kalin clasped his hands at his back.
Garrett mentally shoved the drugs through his blood faster, speeding up his heart rate. He needed balance. “So, what’s your plan? Big trap?”
The purple disappeared from the shimmering green. “Oh, this was all about you, Garrett. The big trap is just a bonus.”
“Me?” Garrett lifted his chin.
“Sure. You’re a means to an end, boy.”
Ah. The Kurjan didn’t want a witch—he wanted Janie. Garrett’s smile came naturally as he shook his head. “You’re a moron. No way will my father let Janie sacrifice herself for me.”
“Considering Janie is of age—twenty-four, I believe—that decision is up to her, now isn’t it?”
“No.” The guy really didn’t understand family, did he? Garrett stepped up to the bars again. “The second I was taken, I guarantee an entire squad of guards was assigned to my sister. She won’t be able to take one step in your direction.”
Kalin drew a wicked knife from his back pocket. “You willing to die for your sister, young Kayrs?”
Garrett lowered his chin and allowed his fangs to drop. “In a heartbeat.”
“How about kill for her?”
“Gladly. Unlock the bars, and I’ll prove it to you.”
Kalin ran the blade along his hand. “Have you killed before?”
Garret eyed the weapon. An inch or two closer, and he could grab it. “Yes.”
“Liar,” Kalin said softly. “At your age, I’d killed more men than you know.”
“Women,” Garrett countered just as softly. “You hunt and kill women just like a waste-of-human serial killer.” At Kalin’s startled look, he flashed a knowing smile. “We know all about you, and so does Janie.”
Kalin’s upper lip twisted.
Ah. That hurt, huh? Garrett grinned. “You’re a dead man, Kurjan.”
“Maybe.” Kalin headed for the door. “But at least I’m not bait.” He disappeared from sight.
Why hadn’t the world exploded? If the trade was in three hours, surely they’d tracked him. Garrett settled his stance, ready to fight when they arrived. Any moment now.
The two helicopters flew low enough to avoid radar and dropped into a vacant field three blocks from the metal building set into the industrial park.
Jase jumped to the ground, shoving his earpiece more securely into his ear.
Talen’s voice came through loud and clear. “Three teams. One—take the front entrance. Two—take the back. Three—scale the fishing headquarters to the east, approach the target via rooftops. It’s a two-story building—set up for offices on level two and an old iron business on level one. Has been vacant for over a decade. Everyone wait for the go order.”
Jase tucked his rifle along his back and followed Conn toward the east building. Moira and a squad waited to protect the helicopter. Talen had stuck Conn and Kane on Jase duty, while he took a team, and Max, Dage’s bodyguard, flanked the king. There was a time Jase would’ve taken and led the third team. Not today, apparently.
He easily climbed up the rickety fire escape and reached the roof. Bending low, he ran along rooftops, jumping several yards from building to building, finally reaching the one adjacent to the Kurjan encampment. A quick study showed an innocuous metal building with darkened windows. He gulped air. It would be seriously dark inside if the lights went out. So he tapped his ear communicator as Conn and Kane took position. “Team three in position.”
The other teams checked in.
“Go,” Talen ordered.
Jase jumped the distance to the metal building, hitting and rolling to his feet. Staying low, he ran across the slippery metal to the locked door. “Fire in the hole.” He fired several shots into the lock and kicked the door open.
Conn dashed inside, weapon out. Jase followed, with Kane protecting his back as they ran down a series of metal stairs. He breathed in relief when Conn kicked the door to the second floor. The stairwell was too tight.
Conn swept left, Jase right, and Kane stayed low through a hallway littered with garbage, crumbled drywall, and exposed rebar.
Windows cut into the walls up high, while closed doors lined the hallway. One by one, they swept the abandoned rooms. Gunfire echoed from the first floor in short bursts. They’d cleared the fifth room when a glint caught Jase’s eye.
He held up his hand for all to stop. As he dropped to his haunches, his gaze traveled the tripwire to the explosive hidden by some boards. His breath caught, and he slowed his heartbeat. Drawing wire cutters from his boot, he leaned forward and cut the wire. A second wire had been strung a foot away. He tilted his head so his brothers saw and then inched forward to dismantle that wire, as well.
They needed to step lightly.
His earpiece buzzed. “Any sighting?” Talen asked, gunfire peppering in the background.
“Negative for team three,” Conn said.
“Negative for team one, but we found a stairwell,” Dage said. “We’re heading down now.”
Jase stretched to his full height, turning a doorknob to enter a room. A battered desk sat in the middle, and a closed door was in the wall. The hair on the back of his neck rose. The first closet they’d seen—if it was a closet. He and Talen settled into position, guns trained on the door as Conn inched along the wall and yanked it open. A long, dark stairwell led down. A hidden stairwell?
Panic heated Jase’s breath.
“Cover me,” Conn whispered as he produced a flashlight and headed down. Talen stepped into the stairwell, gun pointing down. Jase turned to cover the hallway. His mind spun, and his gut clenched. His brother was walking down into hell. Sweat rolled down Jase’s back.