Chapter Thirty
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WORKING ON HER LATESTpatient, Qiana instinctively ducked when a loud gunshot echoed throughout the Garment District.Kochab called on his sword, scanning the tall buildings that surrounded them.“That human sniper needs to be eradicated,” he said with a scowl.
“We need to find his latest victim,” Qi said, infusing the wounded woman with her power.Out cold from a knife wound to her chest, she would make a full recovery.“Let’s stash her somewhere safe, then look for whoever just got shot,” the doc said.
Koach had already chosen the building where he would put the unconscious female.He picked her up and flashed over to the store.He kicked the door open that was behind the counter and deposited her on the carpeted floor.The clothing store had already been looted, so it was doubtful anyone would bother to check inside it.
His mate was waiting right outside when he left the usual note with the address of the hall in Morningside Heights next to the woman.“The shot came from a couple of blocks in that direction,” Qiana said, gesturing southward.As always, she wore a mask to hide her face and latex gloves to keep her hands clean.Fresh gloves were in the black bag she was carrying.
They joined hands, then sprinted to where they’d heard the bullet land.“Over there,” the knight said when he spied a body lying on the sidewalk.“I can’t sense anyone up high,” he added, tilting his head back to scan the rooftops.
“He could have been shot from half a mile away,” the trauma surgeon muttered as she hurried over to the body.Blood had pooled around what was left of the man’s head.“What a mess,” she said, shaking her head.
Kochab glanced at the corpse, then turned his attention back to the hunter.“How many bodies is that now?”he asked.
“Nine that we’ve seen, but there’s bound to be more,” Qi replied.“Semi would have been one of his victims if Zoe hadn’t been given a vision, then sent Amaros to save him.”
“He’s wily enough to only murder one person at a time and move on before anyone can spot him,” Kochab mused.
“Xan’s been watching for him on the cameras, but he always stays up high,” Qiana said in annoyance.“He’s probably ex-military or something.”
“It’s too bad he hasn’t sniped any of the soldiers,” her warrior said.“He could help us whittle their numbers down.”
“We wish,” Qiana agreed.“We should move to a different neighborhood before we get our own heads blown off next.”
“Agreed,” Kochab said, then teleported them to Morningside Heights.The hall that had been converted into a church was silent and empty when they checked it.“Pastor Hogan was wise to tell his flock to lay low,” he said.“Our enemies are still searching for GG and the other escaped females.”
“Vic’s still apoplectic that her old nemesis is now our ally,” Qi said in amusement.“It’s going to take her a while to get over it.”
“She’ll need to get over it soon if we’re really going to use the skating rink as our second base,” Koach figured.“She hates GG so much that she couldn’t even listen to what Wynter and Tolas had to say when they returned from their visit with the humans earlier today.”
“It already feels like that was a lifetime ago,” his cambion joked.There was always some drama going on either in the city or at their base in the mountains.Their schedule was different from the others’.Qiana preferred to work at night and sleep until mid-morning.She made sure to get plenty of training in, though.
Kochab sensed one of their enemies moving closer, then several more soldiers.Without a word, he whisked his female to safety.Unfortunately, he chose a poor location to arrive in.
“Grab the cambion!”Ornias shouted when his offspring and his nemesis appeared mere yards away from him.
With a snarl, Koach zapped his mate to the skating rink in Brooklyn.He knew its rough location and they appeared in the parking lot just as he’d intended.Qi was holding a knife in her hand, ready to stab her sire in his black heart.She blinked when she realized he was gone.“It’s so nice to see my dear old dad from time to time,” she joked, trying to pretend she wasn’t rattled.
Kochab could hear the low murmur of voices coming from within the large building.GG and Dalton were inside, unaware that two of their allies were so close.He didn’t want to teleport inside without warning and startle them into shooting them by accident.“Are you alright, mate?”he asked in concern.
Qi was shaking from the close call.“I’m fine,” she said, then indicated the door.“Should we introduce ourselves, since we’re here?”
“Why not?”he replied, sensing she needed to settle herself down.He knocked loudly and heard rapid footsteps approaching.
“What’s the secret knock?”GG asked.
“There’s a secret knock?”Qiana asked in surprise.“Wynter hasn’t passed it on to us yet.”
The door unlocked, then a beautiful blonde woman opened it.Her tall protector stood at her back with a rifle in his hand.“You must be Qi and Koach,” the ex-wrestler said, sizing them up.“Wynter told me all about you guys.”
“May we come in?”Kochab asked.“We just ran into my mate’s sire and she could use a cup of coffee.”
