The Belial Stone (The Belial Series #1)(55)

Henry crossed to him and placed his hand under the man’s neck. “Who sent you?”

The man looked at Henry, his eyes wide. He grasped Henry’s arm. “Help me.”

“Help’s coming. Tell me who sent you.”

The man struggled to speak, blood gurgled from his mouth. His breathing was jagged. He clutched at Henry’s arm. Henry knew there was nothing he could do to save him.

The man let out one last gasping breath and went still, his arms falling to his sides. Henry gently lowered the man’s head to the floor.

Patrick came through the pantry door with his gun drawn, Danny close behind him. “All clear?”

“Yes,” Henry replied his mouth set in a grim line. “Danny, you okay?”

“Y-y-eah,” Danny stammered out, his eyes the size of saucers as he took in the scene.

“That’s all of them," Kevin said from his spot on the floor, a pool of blood developing around him. “Assuming you got the guys that came in the front.”

Patrick nodded. “They were not as gifted as some others we’ve come in contact with.”

Henry’s eyes shot back to Patrick’s. He was right. Focused on the immediate threat, he hadn’t considered the nature of their attackers. These attackers were not superhuman. The attack must be related, but why send humans? What had changed?

Kevin closed his eyes. “A small force for a quick-kill mission. Plus the helicopter pilot, although he’s probably long gone.”

Danny grabbed some kitchen towels from a drawer. Dropping to the floor next to Kevin, he pressed the towels against the Kevin's shoulder wound with a shaky hand. “He needs a doctor.”

Patrick leaned down to help Danny. But Henry noted he let Danny take the lead and he was thankful. Danny obviously needed to feel as if he was doing something constructive to stave off the fear racing through his system.

Henry pulled out his cell phone and called for help, even though he could already hear the sirens in the distance. While he was talking to the 911 dispatcher, his mind was racing. They had to be getting close to something for someone to take this bold a step. These men were trained professionals.

Henry knew that the only reason they’d survived was because the hit squad had expected the only resistance to come from the security force. And the security force had been taken out with brutal efficiency. Jake and Laney had been equally lucky in surviving the attack on them last night. How much longer, though, could everyone’s luck last?





CHAPTER 47



Saint Paul, MN



“You’re not going.” Jake glared down at Laney.

She glared right back. “Last time I checked, that decision wasn’t up to you.”

Jake tried a different tack. “Look, I know you want to help. But I think this is just a little over your head. You should go home and–“

“And what, Jake? Darn some socks? Cook up a lovely meal?”

Jake groaned. Okay, definitely not the right approach. He wasn’t sure how everything had gone so wrong. After Laney had come out of the shower, he’d held her until she’d fallen asleep. They’d lain curled up together for a few hours. When she’d awoken, he had told her it would be safer for her to go back to Baltimore. And then all hell had broken loose.

“I didn't mean it like that. I meant you’re not trained for this.”

“Really, Jake? And how much of your military training covered battles with fallen angels? Was that part of basic or did they save that for SEAL school?”

Jake stared at her, his mind scrambling to come up with an argument that would work. “Laney, you’ve nearly been killed what, four times?”

She gave him a pointed look. “The key word there is ‘nearly’. And I could make the same argument about you. And who in this room actually took out a fallen? I’m pretty sure it wasn't you.”

Jake turned and headed for his duffel, which sat on the coffee table. “You’re not going."

“Careful, you don’t want to scrape your knuckles too badly as you drag them along the floor,” Laney muttered.

Jake whirled around to reply when his phone rang. He yanked it out of his pocket. “What?!”

“Um, Jake?”

“Henry, this really isn’t a good time.”

“Well, it’s not been a great one here, either. The compound was attacked.”

Jake’s anger evaporated, replaced by concern. “Is everyone okay?”

Jake watched the color drain from Laney’s face. She crossed the room to him to stand next to him.

“We’re okay. But the security unit was almost completely taken out.”

Jake closed his eyes and breathed deep. He’d recommended half the unit at the headquarters. “Damn it. Was it…” he couldn't bring himself to say “fallen angels”. He just couldn't get the words past his lips.

“They were human,” Henry replied. “But they have a record. They were Russian nationals.”

Jake’s head jerked up. “Same as ours.”

“Yeah. I think it’s only going to get more dangerous as we move on. We need to end this, Jake. I need you two in Montana ASAP to see what you can find. Danny and I are going to see if we can track down a photo of the attacker from the church. Patrick’s going to see what he can find out about the stone and these men’s abilities. If Montana is the end game, Patrick and I will join you there.”