The Belial Stone (The Belial Series #1)(30)

Trembling, she tugged open the door of Jake’s car. She reached down and slid Rocky from underneath the car. Grabbing her under the arms, she pulled her up.

“Leave me behind,” Rocky mumbled.

“Not a chance.” She shoved Rocky into the car, head first. Pushing her legs in after her, she gave thanks for her friend’s small size.

As she raced around to the driver’s side, she glanced at her uncle, still keeping pressure on Mike’s wounds. She hesitated. She couldn’t leave him behind

“Go,” he yelled. “Now.”

Jumping into the driver’s seat and starting the engine, she looked over at where Jake was waling away at Paul's companion, using the butt of the gun as his weapon. With a ferocious growl, the man jabbed Jake in the face, followed by a brutal hit to the chest. Jake dropped.

The man whirled in her direction and began to run. She slammed the car into gear and crushed down on the accelerator. She sped towards the end of the parking lot, tires squealing.

In the rearview mirror, he raced after her. She pulled a hard left as she reached the road, knowing her car would be hidden by the wall of the school. A hundred yards down, she made a U-turn. Bouncing over the curb and onto the sidewalk, she sped back towards the parking lot.

She couldn’t have timed it better. The man sprinted into view just as she reappeared from behind the wall. The car smashed into him, flinging him into the air.

Slamming on the brakes, she threw the car into reverse. She punched down on the accelerator, aiming for him again. Struggling to his feet, he pulled himself out of the way in the nick of time.

She braked. Her eyes narrowed as they met his. “Fuck you,” she mouthed.

Jake sprinted from the parking lot, firing at the man non-stop.

With one last glare at Laney, the man stumbled down the street, clutching his arm to his side. With a burst of speed, he was gone.

Laney put the car in park and let out a trembling breath. He left. He just left.

Jake wrenched open the door. “Laney?”

She looked at him, fear and terror colliding inside her head. “I’m okay. Mike?”

Jake pulled out his cell phone. He glanced at Rocky and then back at her, shaking his head. “Your uncle’s keeping pressure on the wounds.”

She closed her eyes. Oh God, no.

Jake walked away as the dispatcher came on the line, telling them they had an officer down. Sirens sounded in the distance.

She put the car into drive and turned back into the parking lot, pulling to a stop only ten feet from her uncle. He was working on Mike, his face a mask of determination. The pool of blood around Mike shimmered in the parking lots lights.

Tears gathered in her eyes. Could anyone survive after losing that much blood?

Next to her, Rocky’s eyes were closed, her right side soaked in blood. Laney pressed her hand to her neck to feel for a pulse.

“Still here.” Rocky’s voice was faint and her eyes remained shut. “You need to go. That was the same guy from your house, wasn’t it?”

Laney nodded, but then realized Rocky couldn’t see the motion. “Yeah. It was him.”

“And his friend?”

“Don’t know. Never seen him before.”

A cop car roared into the parking lot. Two officers leapt out, guns drawn.

Jake walked toward them, hands raised, explaining the situation. The two men holstered their weapons. One ran to Mike, while the other pulled a first aid kit out of the trunk.

Patrick stepped away as one of the officers took his place. His arms were covered in blood up to the elbows.

An ambulance swung into the parking lot. Jake intercepted it, pointing to Mike, then Rocky.

Laney opened her door. “The paramedics will be right here. I'll be back.”

She stepped out into the night, pulling her sweatshirt tight around her. It felt colder than it had only a few minutes ago. Slowly, she walked towards Paul's body. Part of her expected him to pop back up like he had every other time. Why was he staying down this time?

With shaking fingers, she reached down to check for a pulse. None. And his face had gone soft in death. He looked kind, harmless. Who was he? Why was he after her?

Drew’s paper, nestled in the big pocket of her sweatshirt, rustled as she stood. Was this all because of a simple paper Drew had written? She glanced around. Was that really the reason for all this violence?

A chill ran through her as she surveyed the damage. Mike and Rocky shot. Paul dead. And that didn’t include the four officers attacked today, and Drew. And maybe Jake’s brother and God knew how many other people.

She glanced over at her uncle, standing next to Rocky, who’d been laid out on a stretcher. He was holding her hand, offering her comfort. Somehow, she had brought this horror to those she loved.

She watched Jake, his face set in stone. Jake had enough going on with trying to find Tom. None of this craziness could be related to that. It would be better for him if he just left them behind.

She shook her head. But she couldn’t let him do that. She had to keep her uncle safe. And Jake and the Chandler Group were her only shot at accomplishing that.





CHAPTER 24



Havre, Montana



Tom lined up with his tent mates and they quietly filed through the cage door. Grabbing a stale roll and cup of water, they ate on their way to the enclosure. Once there, they dropped their cups in a bucket, picked up shovels, and made their way to their dig spot.