Riders (Riders, #1)(52)

Around six, I left everyone in the domestic terminal and did some recon of the area of LAX where the shipping companies operated. A couple hours later, with the mission prep done, I met up with them and went over the plan I’d drawn up. Then it was time to execute.

We hopped on the airport shuttle. At that hour in the evening it wasn’t very full, but Daryn came to my side, placing her hand next to mine on the steel grab bar along the ceiling. I noticed the chain around her neck. The key was tucked away. Hidden again.

“Almost there,” she said. “One more horseman to go.”

“After three comes four,” I said, reading the airline signs that zipped past outside. I’d made a mistake in starting to like her. I had to figure out how to correct it. This wasn’t the time to add complications.

“Gideon…”

“We should stay focused on the mission.”

“That’s what I was going to say, but you won’t look at me.”

I swung around so I was staring right into her blue eyes. “You have my full attention. Anything else?”

She didn’t say anything, but color came up on her cheeks and her hand flexed next to mine on the bar. I knew she felt it, too. This friction between us. Like we were magnets that couldn’t line up right.

Marcus and Sebastian were watching us. Not even trying to hide it.

“This is us,” I said.

“It’s not that I don’t want that, it’s just that—”

“This is our stop, Daryn.” I shifted my backpack on my shoulder and hopped out. “Ready?” I asked Sebastian.

He made a sound that was either a yes or some mild regurgitation.

To reach the cargo terminal we’d need to get through two layers of security. First, past a gatehouse that was the entry point for a large parking lot full of semis. This was where shipping companies trucked in their cargo before it was moved through another security point into the actual terminal where the planes were—which was the second breach we’d need to make, the airport itself.

The first lot was surrounded by twelve-foot concrete walls topped with concertina wire, so. Best way inside was through the gatehouse.

I checked my watch, and then Sebastian and I hustled up to it as Marcus and Daryn stayed behind. We had two minutes before the security cameras panned back.

The older man inside looked up from a crossword puzzle. “Can I help you?” he asked, with surprise. This part of the airport wasn’t for pedestrian traffic.

According to the plan, Sebastian was supposed to make his move now. He looked like he might pass out, which was not the right move.

“Whenever you’re ready, dude,” I said.

“I can’t,” he said. Then he gave the man an apologetic grin.

The guard returned Bastian’s smile, even though he was starting to look anxious. “You two lost?” he asked.

“No. I mean, yes,” Bas said. He shot me a pleading look. “We’ll be leaving now.”

No way. He wasn’t going to flake out on me. I reached for the anger inside me, the burning potential that was always there, and let the charge ignite. I looked Bastian right in the eye and sent him a small shot of it.

“Shit!” he said, his eyes flying wide. “Gideon, what did you do to me?”

It was the first time I’d ever heard him swear. “Provided some motivation. You’re on, man. We need you. Channel it, and get it done.”

He looked at the guard. A second later the man’s body relaxed. I jumped through the window in time to catch him before he hit the floor.

“He looks okay, right?” Sebastian asked. “He didn’t get hurt, did he?”

“He’s fine. He’ll just have a headache and some mild confusion when he wakes up.” I set him down behind the chair and locked the door to the gatehouse from the inside so he’d be safe in there until he came back around.

I stared into the darkness. Daryn was supposed to be there any minute.

“Wow, I feel weird,” Bastian said, rolling his shoulders. “Jumpy. Is this how you always feel? What’s next again?”

He looked a little strung-out, his weight shifting restlessly, his jaw flexing like he was grinding his teeth. I remembered Anna crying after she’d slapped Wyatt. Sometimes using my ability had consequences that weren’t great.

Daryn and Marcus walked up moments later, both looking much calmer than Bas.

“Okay, let’s go. Nice and easy. We’re just going to take a walk, everybody,” I said, as we moved inside. To one end, busy warehouses crawled with pallets and forklifts. I took us the other way, deeper into darkness. With so many trucks in there, the lot’s lights made a checkerboard of light and shadow. Killer for getting psyched out. Every truck was a place the Kindred could be hiding behind. Even with some training under my belt on staying cool under this kind of stress, I was juiced on adrenaline.

I glanced at Marcus. He was belligerent and cagey. I thought he’d be the one to worry about, but thanks to my shot of rage, Sebastian was the one who looked fired up and primed to punch something.

We arrived at a cyclone fence that bordered the airport. I could see the tarmac from where we were, lines of cargo planes, with fuel trucks and forklifts servicing everything. Reaching into my backpack, I fished out the radio/GPS and tracked the position of the companion unit I’d shipped earlier.