Eye of the Falcon (Psychic Visions #12)(102)

Liam sneered. “It’s a fine time for you to be having second thoughts.”

Dylan nodded. “That is so true. I am just as responsible for what you became as I am for what I became.” His voice thickened. “I loved you like a son.”

Eagle watched Dylan grab Liam’s head, and, with a sharp snap, he broke Liam’s neck. Eagle heard Issa at the doorway. He turned to watch, only to see her racing forward, her gaze on her brother. She stopped about ten feet away and bowed her head.

“It’s not the end I would’ve chosen,” she said in pain, “but it’s probably the best way forward.”

Dylan stared down at the man in front of him. “He did shoot you. I saw him. I just didn’t want to believe it was on purpose. He also tried to shoot Hadrid. I believe he succeeded. The bird went down with the gold satchel in its claws. We looked that night but never again. I don’t know how much gold may have been dropped. I don’t know how much there ever was.”

“Not much,” she said wearily. “The real bounty was the girls.”

Dylan shook his head. “Liam never told me about that.”

“Of course not. Why would he? That knowledge would’ve made you understand why my dad died the way he did.”

Dylan nodded. “It’s a sad life and a sad way to finish. I wish it could’ve been so much better.” The sound of sirens racing toward them filled the air. Dylan looked out a window and nodded. “It’s time.” He pulled a small handgun from his back pocket.

She took a step away from him.

He raised his gaze to her and said, “No, Issa. You have nothing further to worry about from me.” He put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.





Chapter 31





They walked through the airport into the Colorado sun. Finally home again. The trip back to his place was mostly silent. She had enough things to work through for a much longer span of time. One of the biggest things was, what would she do now?

Before leaving, they had visited Angus once again, bringing him up to date on what had happened. They’d also searched the cliffs for the gold. But found no sign of it. And no sign of Hadrid. In her heart of hearts she knew he had died that night. When that link had been lost between them, she’d known then. In many ways they’d both died that night. She was lucky to have been given a second chance.

The grief of revisiting everything was sharp yet again. But she dealt with it like she always had.

They also kept their promise to Gray. They were home after just three days. This time she came with four men, not just two. Panther and Tiger had been trying to return her money since she first gave it to them. It was a bit of a joke now.

When she walked outside and reached into her purse for her sunglasses, she found the money once again tucked inside. She sighed, picked up the money, turned, handed it to Eagle, and said, “Put this and what’s left of the money you have in your bag toward the pens and the care of the birds.”

He glanced at her and looked at the money in his hand. “You sure?”

She nodded. “I’m sure. Because now that we have access to the money in my mother’s bank accounts, I won’t run short for a while—if ever.” It was more than expected and made her wonder all over again at her mother’s choice to walk away from it all.

When they pulled up to the gates, Gray was with a kid waiting for them. She knew Eagle had been in contact with them the whole time. But she also saw another vehicle.

An older woman got out, turned to look at Eagle, and said, “There you are.”

Eagle hopped from his truck. “Annie, what brings you here?”

“Apparently a couple birds will be here soon that need some help,” she said testily. “Although, if the story is to be believed, it’s a bit far-fetched.”

*

Stefan knew this was the place. He could feel vehicles, people, and energy up ahead—frazzled but razzed energy surrounded by an unbelievable wave of bird energy. But still, several miles stood between where the birds were and where they needed to be. And he wasn’t sure at all what they would find when they got there. Humbug constantly urged Stefan and Roash on, as if some kind of homecoming was up ahead.

As Stefan stood in spirit form, studying the birds once again and the thick dense brush surrounding them, two dogs raced toward him. They sat down at his feet and stared up at him. Not at the birds but at him.

It was a joy of the natural order of things that many animals sensed his presence, even though he wasn’t here in physical form. He bent down and placed a hand on each. Then he bowed his head and gently sent healing energy between the two. At his command, both birds climbed on board, each taking a dog to perch on.

Maybe the wounded birds could make this last leg of the journey on their own.

Then Humbug turned to look at Stefan, and he realized he needed to walk these last few miles with the animals.

So he walked at their sides, making sure they were both okay. And then the dogs’ ears picked up as they heard the sound of a truck in the distance.

Stefan realized it really was a homecoming. This was it. Humbug was going home.

Stefan walked them close to the edge of the cages, took a look at the birds, the animals, the yard and realized how perfect a home this would be for Humbug. Several people got out of the vehicle that had just arrived.