Ronan jogged up, his face painted as well. “I took a look at the last satellite feed, and the kidnapped women are still in place. Although, I didn’t see the van that was there last time.”
Shit. They’d need a way to transport those victims out, and there was no way to haul them to the helicopter, even if there was room in the craft for that many people. “We’ll have to improvise. I’m guessing they have trucks in the metal building to the south of the stronghold, right next to that power station we’re taking out second.” There was a bigger power supply to the north they’d blow up first.
At least the weather was on their side. The snowstorm had finally moved on, leaving a cold blue sky and merciless sun. The Kurjans wouldn’t be able to venture outside, which definitely gave the Seven an advantage.
Benny clapped him on the arm. “Congrats on the mating. Can’t wait to see you all moonfaced around the campfire like the rest of these guys.”
Adare grinned. “Thanks, and that isn’t going to happen. I like her, she likes me, and we’ll make a good match. That’s what lasts.” He’d been honest when he’d said he didn’t believe in love, but he believed completely in promises and doing his duty. Grace understood that.
“Right,” Benny said. “Okey-doke, then. Back to business. You’re on lead, brother.”
Adare turned and jogged through waist-high snow into the forest and up a mountain, his boots heavy and his left leg aching at the ankle. What had he done to his ankle? Ignoring the pain, he ran for fifteen miles with Benny and Ronan behind him, just like old times.
They reached the outskirts of the Kurjans’ forty acres and an innocuous dilapidated wooden fence that looked like somebody had forgotten about it. He donned sunglasses that enabled him to see the electrical current running through the wood, between the planks, and about a foot above the fence post. Impressive security, that was for sure.
He backed up and made a run for it, jumping high and curling to summersault over the electricity to the other side. Ronan quickly followed, his boots barely making a sound as he landed. Benny watched them both, made sure they didn’t blow up, and then followed exactly in Adare’s footsteps.
Adare motioned toward the tree line. “Let’s keep to the trees.”
Benny nodded and fitted sunglasses on his face. He dug a circular device out of his pack and pushed several buttons on it. “Hold for electricity overload.” Taking a breath, he tossed the disc at the fence. Blue waves immediately blew out in every direction, sizzling over Adare’s face.
He stepped back, his eyebrows rising.
Benny clapped his hands together. “Oh, yeah. Chalton said that’d work, and what a rush, right? That should’ve knocked out every camera in the trees. Maybe even the electricity for the main buildings.”
Ronan set the alarm on his watch. “We’re on go.”
Adare jogged toward the trees, keeping out of camera range until he reached the first backup generator he’d identified via satellite. He had it disabled within seconds, silently and with his knife, while Benny and Ronan moved down the tree-line, taking out the other generators.
His glasses identified landmines, and he stepped around them easily, noting the grid pattern he’d assumed would be in place. Oh, there’d be a couple not in line, but the new Realm glasses would identify them. The Realm had always been lightyears ahead of the Kurjans when it came to security and modern science, and apparently that hadn’t changed any. Yeah, he’d stolen them last time he visited, and someday he’d be held accountable for that. Not today, though. Within minutes, the three of them reached the end of the trees and faced the several buildings, concrete and metal, that dotted the landscape.
Benny wiped snow from his hair. “Their cameras are disabled. They must know that—”
Gunfire erupted from the nearest metal building, and bullets plowed into the trees all around them. They scattered, taking cover, the plan firmly memorized.
Benny returned fire, while Adare went left and Ronan right, zig-zagging across the snowy landscape and utilizing everything from machinery to the metal buildings as cover. Adare reached the second building to the north and pulled out his gun, keeping his back to the exterior wall. He reached the door, took a breath, and dodged inside, gun first. The large shop held vehicles and fuel. His boots were silent as he cleared the building. Most of the Kurjans had probably been sleeping since it was bright out, but now they’d be awake and firing from the buildings. He had to find those women.
He turned to exit the building and continue east, but his vision faded. Pausing, he dropped to his haunches, taking several deep breaths. What was going on with him?
His vision cleared, and he shoved to his feet, setting several of the explosives he’d purchased from Jacki on his way out. The cold air centered him, and he continued on his way, having full faith that Ronan was doing the same on the other side of the property.
Finally, he reached the largest buildings as gunfire erupted all around him.
He fired back, careful to aim for guns and not people, in case the women were there. His watch dinged. Ducking against the building, he drew the detonator out of his pocket and put more distance between himself and the bomb, crouching in the snow and letting it provide cover.
He frowned. Ronan’s explosives should’ve detonated already.
Damn it. He flipped the cover open and pressed his button.Click. The shouts of soldiers echoed, and the wisp of a missile being fired from the main lodge hissed through the air. It landed toward the tree line and exploded, sending debris raining down. He glanced down at the detonator and pressed it again.
Nothing happened.
* * * *
Grace worked in her darkroom, letting the familiarity of developing pictures distract her from worrying about Adare. He’d seemed fine as he set off with Ronan and Benny that morning. Maybe he’d been right, and the mating wouldn’t cause him any harm. Perhaps her cells would even make him stronger.
She hung up a picture of him to dry. She’d taken the shot back at Realm headquarters when he’d been relaxing, his hair down, his gaze thoughtful. His black eyes expressed so much, it was difficult to look away. She then developed several pictures of Faith, a couple of Faith and Ronan, and then some landscape shots she’d taken of the lake during the storm.
Humming softly, she lifted a photograph out of the water. It was one of the shots of Brian she’d taken with her Pentax. He stood in the sun, smiling toward Bobbi, his face partially hidden by shadow. It was a good shot. It was nice to have found her friends again.
