The Belial Stone (The Belial Series #1)(82)

CHAPTER 76



It was just before dawn as the assault team crept towards the enclosure. They had broken into two groups of fifteen men. The first group, led by Henry, took out the truck patrols. The second group, led by Jake, hightailed it to the enclosure.

Patrick watched behind him for the first group to join them. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw them appear from the darkness. Together, the two groups advanced on the enclosure. So far they’d been lucky. They hadn't encountered any guards. They must all be at the compound itself.

Patrick’s pulse quickened as the enclosure came into view. A wind blew towards them, bringing the scent of body odor and death. The thought of Laney being held in there chilled him to the bone. He gripped his Glock more securely. He would get her out. Nothing was going to stand in his way.

He nearly tripped as he counted the guards at the site. They seemed to have tripled in number. He shoved aside the doubts that tried to crowd his mind. They would succeed. They would get Laney and Tom out of there.

Patrick watched Yoni move towards the transformer, using the shadows as cover. Almost time. In one minute, Yoni would blow the transformer and back-up generator. The darkness and chaos would, hopefully, provide the assault team with enough time to subdue most of the guards.

Patrick crawled up next to Jake. Making the sign of the cross, he said a little prayer for the upcoming assault. He hoped that Gideon was nowhere nearby. This was going to be tough enough without that obstacle.

He looked over at the sleeping cage where Laney slept. He had to hold himself back from springing for it.

Jake reached over and grasped Patrick’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Patrick. We’ll get her out.”

Patrick looked into Jake’s eyes and read the commitment there. Jake would not let Laney be harmed. He was as determined to get her out as he was.

He nodded. “Yes, we will. And Tom, too.”

The radio beeped and Yoni’s voice called out softly. “Ready to go. All teams in place?”

The teams all called in their affirmatives.

Yoni counted down. “Darkness in 3, 2, 1.”





CHAPTER 77



Yoni leapt away from the transformer. The explosion blasted through the metal casing, sending shrapnel in every direction and a fireball straight up.

A wave of heat blew over him and he rolled farther from the flames. The site was pitched into darkness.

Yoni pulled out his M4 as silence descended and all work stopped. He imagined the guards, looking around, trying to figure out what had just happened.

Gunfire broke through the silence. Yoni got to his knees, ready to join the fight.

“Shit,” he yelled as gunfire peppered the ground behind him. He dove behind the wreckage of the transformer. The guards had recouped faster than he’d expected. He looked up at the gun tower and saw the sparks of light that the shooters set off with each shot.

“Shit,” he groaned again, struggling to figure out a way to avoid the enemy, who had the higher ground.

“Yoni, get down!” Jordan dropped to a knee and sent a surface-to-air missile into the guard tower.

“Shit!” Yoni threw himself to the ground, covering his head as a shower of tower debris rained around him.

Jordan ran over, pulling him to his feet.

Yoni slapped at a small fire that had started on his sleeve. “Next time, send the debris inside okay?”

Jordan took a shot at a guard that appeared in the enclosure’s entryway. “Sorry about that, Yoni.”

A second explosion at the other guard tower drew Yoni’s attention.

Yoni slapped Jordan on the shoulder and gestured to the smoldering ruins of the other tower. “Learn something new every day. Both surface-to-air missiles and grenade launchers are effective at taking out guard towers.”

Jordan’s reply was cut off as a conveyance of ten guards appeared behind them. Jordan yanked Yoni to the ground.

Bullets whistled above their heads. They scrambled for the cover of the destroyed transformer. Yoni switched the M4 to automatic and let loose a spray of bullets. The guards ran for cover.

He turned to Jordan with a grin. “So, how do you think the assault's going so far?”





CHAPTER 78



Jake sprinted from his hiding spot as the transformer exploded, Patrick keeping pace next to him. Jake took out the guards at the entrance of the sleeping cage with two shots.

Then Patrick slammed into him, tackling him to the ground, as automatic fire chewed up the ground behind him. Simultaneously, they turned, taking out the solitary shooter.

“Thanks,” Jake said.

Patrick nodded as the guard tower above them exploded with Henry’s grenade hit.

Jake scrambled to his feet, seeing Patrick do the same. Side by side, they sprinted for the sleeping cage. A guard appeared around the side of the enclosure with his gun raised. With a fluid motion, Patrick pulled his shotgun from around his back and shot the man, practically slicing him in two with the blast.

Jake grinned. The priest could definitely hold his own.

Jake held his position, covering Patrick as he ran for the cage.

A padlock secured the gate. Patrick took aim and blasted the lock. Flinging the shotgun back over his shoulder, he threw open the door and yelled.

“Laney!”