Mission: Her Protection (Team 52 #1)(41)

He looked down at Rowan who was eyeing the running crowd with concern.

Lachlan looked over at Callie. “Callie, you stay with Rowan. Stay back, and only come in if I call for you.”

The woman looked like she wanted to argue, but then nodded. Lachlan knew all his team preferred action over playing bodyguard, but they also took orders when they heard them.

Lachlan gripped Rowan’s arms. “Stay with Callie. Be safe.”

She nodded. “You, too.”

Fuck. His team was watching him, but he ignored them and leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.

With a smile, Callie took Rowan’s arm. As the rest of the team jogged into the casino, Callie pulled Rowan away from the panicking crowd and toward the restaurants.

When Lachlan turned to the others, Blair, Axel, and Seth were grinning at him, and even Smith looked like he was fighting a smile.

“Not a word.” Lachlan strode forward and out into the replica of Venice’s St. Mark’s Square.

More panicked, fleeing people. The screams grew louder.

Together, his team rushed over the bridge that spanned the artificial lake. Then he glanced down, and his gut tightened.

Half of the lake was frozen solid. A gondola was caught up in the ice, pointing straight up.

Shit. “Fan out.”

They crossed the bridge, and on the other side, still more people were pushing and stumbling as they tried to get away.

That’s when Lachlan saw the figure scaling one of the faux Italian-building fa?ades. A large figure that looked like it was wearing white body armor.

Someone had activated the artifact.

He pulled his SIG, and saw his team do the same. He gave a hand signal, and they moved over another bridge.

The creature spotted them and jumped down. It landed, cracking the travertine tiles, then rose slowly.

Fuck. Lachlan took in the brown hair framing the distorted female features.

“Airman Kowalski,” Blair murmured.

The woman had to be at least a foot taller than usual and far bigger. The artifact rested on her chest.

Lachlan touched his ear. “Callie, we need the tranqs. Get in here.”

“On my way,” Callie responded. “I’m sending Rowan back to the SUVs.”

As they waited for Callie, they moved in slowly, circling Airman Kowalski. Suddenly, the woman let out a growl. Then she charged.

Lachlan dodged. He got a clear view of the artifact on the woman’s chest.

Airman Kowalski swung a clawed hand at Seth. He jumped up and kicked her. She staggered backward, then she bent her knees and jumped up. She leaped over their heads.

“She’s getting away,” Smith barked.

Lachlan sprinted after her, his team right behind him. Airman Kowalski ran through a door, and into the casino.

Inside, there were startled screams as Airman Kowalski crashed through the crowd. Team 52 followed her erratic path, dodging blackjack tables and slot machines. Suddenly, Callie appeared, holding the tranq gun.

“Take her down,” Lachlan ordered.

Callie steadied herself, taking aim at the fleeing woman.

The medic fired, then cursed. “Missed.”

“Take the shot again,” Lachlan said calmly.

He saw Airman Kowalski knock through a group of tourists, sending them toppling. He ran forward, Blair at his elbow.

“She’s going to hurt someone,” Blair yelled.

Lachlan lifted his weapon. Airman Kowalski turned and their gazes met. She let out a wild roar, then crouched and touched the floor.

A web of ice formed at the airman’s feet. It rose up from the floor like some kind of reverse waterfall.

“Callie. Now!”

Callie fired again. “I think I got her.”

But the ice reached the ceiling, looking like a wall of glass, cutting them off.

Lachlan hammered a fist against the ice. It was rock hard. He flipped his SIG around and thumped the butt against the frozen wall.

Too thick. Fuck. “We need to get around. Now!”





Chapter Thirteen





Rowan sat anxiously in the SUV’s passenger seat, hoping Lachlan and the others were okay.

She drummed her fingers against the dash. People were still fleeing the Venetian, and she kept her gaze trained on the casino, hoping to see Lachlan and his team come out soon.

As people ran screaming past her vehicle, she saw a small boy stumble and fall, tears streaming down his face.

Screw this. Rowan pushed open the door and scooped the boy up. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

“Ryan!” a woman yelled.

Rowan handed the boy over to the hysterical woman. More people staggered past and she had to force herself to stay where she was and not run into the casino.

Then she saw the creature rush out of the casino entrance.

Rowan sucked in a sharp breath. Big, with white frost slicked over its body, and ice forming on the ground where it walked. It got closer, and that’s when she saw its face.

No, not an it. A she. This had to be Airman Kowalski.

The mutated woman reached the sidewalk, looked confused for a second, then turned and loped off down the road.

God, they couldn’t lose her. Rowan still didn’t see Lachlan or the others. She dived back into the Suburban and climbed into the driver’s seat. She started the engine and pulled out onto South Las Vegas Boulevard.