Dark Defender Page 20

  Her captor actually laughed. “Like I’d want to touch you after you’ve been rutting with that animal.”

  She sneered right back. “That ‘animal’ is more man than you’ll ever be.”

  He lunged forward and backhanded her. The pain was almost blinding. She kicked out, aiming for his balls but missed, catching his thigh instead. Rolling off the bed, she ran for the door, but he was only a half step behind her.

  Grabbing her by the hair, he jerked her back, sending her stumbling to the floor. “Don’t try to threaten me with the likes of Blake Trahern, slut. He might be harder to kill, but once he’s dead, he’s vulnerable.”

  She met him glare for glare. “You’re not man enough to kill him, you murdering bastard. Cowards like you kill with bombs because you’re too afraid to face your victim. Blake won’t have that problem: he’ll enjoy gutting you like the pig that you are. And even if you do manage to take him out, there’s Jarvis and the others. You won’t walk out of this place alive.”

  “Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong. They all think I’ve already left. Right now they’re outside, trying to figure out how two St. Louis homicide detectives came to be dead right outside the gates. While they’re dealing with that little problem, you and I will collect whatever information your fool of a father left for you to find.”

  “Don’t you dare call my father a fool! He was a good and honorable man.”

  Ritter looked disgusted. “Call him whatever you like. If he’d kept his nose out of my business, he’d still be alive. Instead, he died in a million little pieces, all for nothing.”

  The image he painted made her stomach roil, but she refused to show him any weakness. “At least he believed in something. That’s more than you can claim.”

  “Not true, my dear. I believe in money, and living the good life.” He motioned toward the door with his gun. “Once I’m out of here, Ritter of the Regents will cease to exist.” He gave her a sardonic smile. “Of course, so will you. Cooperate, and I promise your death will be quick and painless.”

  “Go to hell.” He might succeed in killing her, but she wasn’t going to make it easy for him.

  “Stupid bitch.” He motioned toward the door with the barrel of the gun again. “Get dressed and let’s go—now! My patience is wearing thin.”

  The gun left her little choice but to comply. She turned her back for some semblance of privacy, but could feel his eyes watching every move. Her skin crawled as she dressed slowly, trying to buy time for Trahern and Jarvis to get back. All the while, her mind churned with questions. The two lawmen had obviously been involved up to their necks in this lunatic’s plans, but they didn’t deserve to die for it. This madman was bent on murdering anyone who came between him and his goal.

  Finally, she could delay no longer. Out in the corridor, all was quiet. Once the barrier stabilized, most of the Paladins had retired to their quarters to rest up from fighting.

  “I assume your father left a computer disk of some kind.”

  Ritter could ask all the questions he wanted to; that didn’t mean she had to answer. Her reward was a jab in the ribs with the barrel of his gun.

  “I’d suggest you show a little more cooperation, Brenna. I can find the information on my own. It will just take longer.”

  “No, you can’t.”

  “Don’t underestimate my abilities. Before Jarvis shoved me back in the elevator, I saw you standing by that Paladin computer geek. He was back out in the cavern working on something when I made my way to your room. I’m sure with a little persuasion, he’d turn over the data to me.”

  “Paladins aren’t corruptible.” At least, she didn’t think so.

  “They do have an unfortunate streak of honor running right up their spine. However, I’m quite confident that he’ll turn over the files to prevent me from shooting you.”

  And then this crazy man would shoot him, too. Maybe she could find a way to warn the unsuspecting Paladin of their coming. She deliberately stumbled, hoping the sound of her hitting the ground would carry far enough to catch Doe’s attention.

  Ritter jerked her to her feet again. “Quit the theatrics, Brenna. He can’t hear you. He had headphones on.”

  So much for her plan. All she’d accomplished were a couple of more bruises to match the one on her face where her captor had slapped her. They were almost at the end of the passage; the brighter light of the cavern was showing just ahead. How could she prevent Ritter from attacking anyone else?

  By making a deal with the devil.

  She came to an abrupt halt just short of the cavern. “Let me go get the disk.”

  “Like hell.” He pushed her forward.

  “You’ll stand a better chance of getting away if they never know you were here.”

  “And if you run out in the cavern screaming for help, every Paladin within hearing distance will be fighting over the privilege to slit me from stem to stern with their damn swords.” A glint of fear flashed across his face.

  “I won’t scream for help.”

  “And why should I believe you?” He pushed her another few steps down the hallway.

  “Because I don’t want anyone else to die.” Paladins might survive death, but not all of them would come back as the same men they’d been. “I promise you that I’ll get the disk and paperwork and come straight back here.”

  He pushed past her to look out into the cavern. “You’re in luck. The computer geek is the only person in sight. You get one chance.”

  Drawing a calming breath, and then another when the first one didn’t work, she straightened her shoulders. As she entered the cavern, she felt the heavy weight of Ritter’s gaze right in the middle of her back, as if daring her to betray him.

  And she would, if circumstances would allow.

  “Something is wrong.” Trahern came to an abrupt halt just inside the gate. “I understand why the detectives were killed, but the timing’s wrong.”

  Jarvis gave him a puzzled look. “You’ve been out in the sun too long, Trahern. The bastard cut bait and ran. It’s that simple.”

  “No, by killing them when he did, he drew us outside the facility. Not only did we find out who his accomplices were, but we know almost for damn certain that he’s the one behind the judge’s death.”

  “And while we’re out here chasing shadows in the woods, he’s…” Jarvis looked toward the entrance to the cavern in alarm.

  “Shit!” Trahern took off running, his friend at his heels.

  If they took the elevator down to the cavern, they might as well hire a marching band to lead the charge into battle. The stairs were safer, even if that meant using up more precious time. There was no telling how long Ritter had been back inside, or what damage he’d already inflicted.

  “If he’s hurt her—”

  “He’ll die.” There was no special inflection in Jarvis’s voice; just a simple statement of fact.

  “Tell the guards that we’re in complete lockdown. Nobody in, nobody out, unless you personally give the order. Shoot to kill if somebody argues.”

  Jarvis nodded as he pulled out his cell phone and barked out the orders and codes to confirm the emergency status.

  They reached a door leading to a staircase. Before opening it, Trahern asked, “Where will this come out?”

  “Next to the elevators on the main floor.”

  “Is there another way to go? One that will let us approach the cavern from an unexpected direction?”

  Jarvis ran through the possibilities. “Yeah, there’s a service elevator behind the field quarters. Hardly anyone uses it, so I doubt Ritter knows it’s even there.” Jarvis led the charge down a labyrinth of hallways.

  Trahern pounded after him. The best way to get to the bottom of the corruption in the Regent organization was to capture Ritter alive and wring the truth from him. But if sparing him meant endangering Brenna, the whole organization could go to hell and damn the consequences. Jarvis and the others had better stay out of his way when they cor
nered Ritter.

  As Jarvis punched in the code to summon the elevator, Trahern checked his pistol, wishing he had a sword. Guns were dicey near the barrier; a stray shot could bring it down. It was going to be hard enough to get Brenna clear of danger; adding a charge of Others would be his worst nightmare come to life.

  The soft ping of the elevator snapped him back to the present. The two of them counted the seconds as they plummeted into the limestone world below, neither inclined to talk. Battle lust was hard to control, and it was critical that he keep his temper and killing instincts under tight rein for Brenna’s sake.

  “What’s the plan?”

  Trahern shrugged. “Don’t really have one.”

  Jarvis’s smile was wolfish. “I’ve always wanted to go charging in like Newman and Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. This might be my best chance.”

  “Neither of us is good-looking enough.”

  Jarvis laughed, as Blake had intended him to. It helped take the edge off their tension when the fight was upon them; blind rage only got people killed. This wasn’t a melee against the Others, but a delicate situation that could go horribly wrong if they weren’t careful.

  Then Jarvis said, “You know, it would be better if we took Ritter alive.”

  Trahern looked him square in the eyes. “But if he so much as breathes in Brenna’s direction, what say we kill him?”

  Jarvis laughed again. “Now we have a plan.”

  They quickly wound their way toward the main cavern, guns drawn and ready to fire. When they passed other Paladins, Jarvis brought them up to speed while Trahern continued on. The silence ahead bothered him considerably. Either they’d guessed wrong and the Regent wasn’t the one they were after, or he’d already come and gone. With Brenna, or leaving her dead body behind?

  Trahern’s blood ran cold.

  Jarvis rejoined him with a pair of swords in hand. Blake swung his through the air to get the feel of its balance. Not as good as his favorite broadsword back in Seattle, but it would do. The familiar feel of a good weapon in his hand further calmed his need for violence. As they grew closer to the barrier, he could sense the Others hovering close by, obviously hoping for another chance to invade. Their proximity had Trahern’s skin aching with the need to fight, to kill.

  Jarvis held his own sword at the ready, his eyes dilated and wild.

  They stopped to listen and heard a soft murmur of voices, one of them Brenna’s. Trahern inched forward. She was talking to the computer wiz, but something was definitely off. It was in her posture and the way she stood just a little too far away for normal conversation. Her voice was threaded with tension, as if she had a tenuous hold on her nerves.

  Which told him the Regent was close by, near enough to make Brenna feel threatened. So why wasn’t she diving for cover and letting Doe protect her? The answer hit him like a kick in the stomach; she was doing the protecting.

  Son of a bitch! Did she have no sense at all? Even if the Regent got off a lucky shot and killed the Paladin, he’d revive to fight another day. For her, dead was dead. Judging from where she stood, Ritter must be in the passageway to their room.

  He eased back and told Jarvis, “He’s in the far corridor, and Brenna is square in the line of fire. Can you get someone to circle around that way? We don’t want the bastard to know he’s in a trap until Brenna and your buddy out there are safe.”

  Jarvis nodded and retreated down the corridor to make the call without being overheard.

  Blake kept a wary eye on the cavern, knowing things could change for the worse in a heartbeat. The Regent had to be aware that his time was almost up; any second now he was bound to run out of patience.

  Jarvis dropped his voice to a low whisper for Trahern’s ears only. “I’ve got two men in position if he retreats. They both know not to make a move unless they hear from one of us.”

  “Good. I’m going in. He won’t be able to take a clean shot at me without showing himself. Don’t miss.”

  “That won’t work. From this angle it will be too close. I might hit you instead.”

  Jarvis was right, and they both knew it.

  “If that’s the only shot you’ve got, take it. Once I go down, you should be able to take him out.”

  “Like hell. You can’t afford to die. You might not make it back again.”

  Blake forced a small smile. “It’s got to happen sometime. Today’s as good a day as any.”

  He holstered his gun in the back of his jeans and laid down the sword. “I’m going to walk out as if I don’t suspect anything. He probably won’t buy the act for long, especially if I get too close to Brenna. And Jarvis—take care of her for me.”

  “Will do.”

  “One more thing. If I die, don’t let Brenna near me in the lab. She doesn’t need to see what happens to us. To me.”

  Jarvis saluted him with his sword, one warrior to another. Then Trahern stepped out into the cavern, prepared to die if that’s what it took to save his woman.

  With feigned casualness, he walked toward Brenna. If this was to be his last sane moment on Earth, at least he was spending it with her. “Oh, there you are. I was wondering where you’d run off to.”

  She nearly jumped out of her skin at his sudden appearance. “Go away, Trahern. I’m not speaking to you.” But she was; the fear in her eyes spoke volumes.

  “You’ve got to get over being mad sometime, woman. And if I were the jealous type, I’d have to do some serious injury to your computer geek friend here.” He strolled toward them, wishing like hell that one of the Paladin gifts was telepathy.

  As Mr. Doe spun around in his chair, a series of shots rang out. A splotch of blood blossomed on the front of Doe’s jeans’ leg as Brenna screamed. Blake charged forward and dragged her to the floor, but not in time. She went down in a boneless heap, holding her arm, blood oozing between her fingers.

  Bellowing in rage, Blake charged toward Ritter. Ignoring the stabbing pains in his leg and chest, he chased the bastard down and tackled him. Straddling the panicked coward, Blake wrapped his hands around the man’s neck and squeezed.

  In a harsh whisper, Ritter begged for mercy. “I’ve got money! It’s all yours if you get me out of here.”

  “I don’t give a flying fuck about your money. You shot my woman, you slimy bastard, and for that you die.”

  But Blake’s fingers refused to cooperate. As he tried to crush Ritter’s windpipe, the light of the cavern faded into darkness, and he felt nothing. With the last gleam of his eyesight, he glared down at Ritter. “God damn you—you killed me.”

  “Blake! Blake!” Brenna’s arm dripped blood on his shirt as she tried to revive him, blending with the growing red stain on the soft flannel.

  Strong hands pulled her away from Trahern’s body, but she fought them off. “No, he’s hurt! Get the doctor!”

  This time Jarvis wasn’t so gentle. “Damn it, Brenna, he’s dead. You’re the one who’s bleeding like a stuck pig. Blake’s beyond any help you can give him right now.”

  Oh, God, he’s dead! He’s dead, he’s dead! His beautiful silver eyes, now a dull gray, stared up at her, empty of life

  “Come on, Brenna, we need to get you up to the lab. The doctor will take care of your arm and give you something for the pain.” He all but dragged her down the tunnel toward the elevators.

  No, they couldn’t leave Blake lying on the stone floor in a pool of his own blood! Besides, she’d never told him that she loved him. She’d known that he lived in constant danger, yet she’d let him die without hearing those words.

  Jarvis punched the buttons on the elevator and then produced a clean handkerchief to wrap around her arm. “By the time we get that arm stitched up, they’ll have brought Trahern in.”

  “And they’ll bring him back from the dead.”

  The breath of hope was a sweet relief.

  Jarvis nodded, but he didn’t look as happy as she would have thought.

  “What’s wrong, Jarvis? What are
n’t you telling me?”

  He kept his eyes focused over her head. “It’s true that we can come back, but not forever. From what Trahern’s told me, his test results show that he’s pretty far gone. It’s impossible to guess when the end will come, or why it’s different for each of us.”

  “But his latest results were better,” she said stoutly. “What can I do to help him?”

  “Pray and keep your fingers crossed.”

  In the lab, the doctor motioned her toward the examination table as soon as he saw the bloody handkerchief on her arm.

  The next quarter of an hour was a blur of white lab coats as the medical staff cleansed her wound and stitched it shut. The doctor asked surprisingly few questions; maybe he was so used to the Paladins’ horrific wounds that a bullet wound seemed like nothing.

  “That should do you, Ms. Nichols,” he said as he clipped the last of the stitches. “Keep the wound dry and clean, and check back with your regular doctor in a week. Be sure to take all of the prescription I gave you. You don’t want infection to set in.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  Jarvis stepped forward. “She’ll have to come back here to have the stitches taken out, Doc. If her regular physician recognized it as a gunshot wound, he’d be required by law to report it. None of us want that happening, especially since the same gun was used to kill a cop today.”

  The doctor merely shrugged. “Fine, I’ll see you in a week. And don’t try to be brave: take those pain pills I gave you.”

  Before she could thank him, the doors to the lab slammed open and John Doe was brought in.

  “What the hell happened?” Dr. Crosby asked Jarvis. “I didn’t hear any alarms. How many more are coming?”

  “It was a random attack. Besides Brenna, there are only two more patients. Jake took one in the leg.” Jarvis’s expression turned grim. “Trahern was the only fatality.”

  The doctor motioned for Jake to take Brenna’s place on the table. Two of the Paladins carried him over and set him down, then two med techs moved in and started to cut his pants away.