Hollow Veins: A Dark Reverse Harem Romance (Sabre Security Book 3), page 35
“Our messiah knows where to find us. Searching is futile. You have twelve hours before the ritual will commence.”
The message ends, and even I can tell that it leaves deathly silence in the room. Foster is turning a very dark shade of purple as he stares at the wall where the image of his son was projected.
Twelve hours. We can waste it searching for the ghosts who have slipped through our fingers or align ourselves with a vicious murderer in order to save an innocent life.
This is it.
The rapture has arrived.
Slipping free from our embrace, Harlow begins to shout and rave, demanding immediate action. I know instinctively what she wants.
Her brother, alive. Regardless of the price. It’s taken us years to track Abaddon down, and now that we’ve got him, he’s playing his final hand to escape his sentence.
“We cannot surrender Abaddon,” I announce. “He will butcher more innocent lives, and that will be our fault.”
She rounds on me and signs, “My brother.”
“There has to be another way.”
“No,” Enzo speaks and signs.
Staring at him, defeat burns in the pits of his hopeless eyes. I simmer with anger.
“We can make that sick son of a bitch bleed and beg for death until he reveals their location. I’m not playing his games. Not like this.”
Even saying it aloud, I know it won’t work. That man doesn’t feel pain or regret. He’s as empty as his false idols.
Grabbing a handful of my shirt, Harlow gets close to my face so I can’t mistake her words, laced with desperation.
“Can’t ... lose … too.”
“We can’t give Abaddon what he wants. Do you want more women to die like your friends?”
Her distraught expression fractures further. “No … choice.”
Everyone in the room is on her side, waiting for me to crack. Even Enzo nods in reluctant acceptance. I know what he’s thinking. We follow Abaddon to these lunatics then blow them all to hell.
If it goes wrong, we could lose them all. We’d be breaking every remaining rule in the book by taking Abaddon from our custody and using him in a prisoner swap.
This will end our careers. There’s no coming back from this. Stomach twisting, I crumple beneath the weight of the world. At least we’ll go out with a bang.
“Fine.” I sigh, feeling an inappropriate smile rise. “Fuck the rules. Let’s go find the kid.”
CHAPTER 30
HARLOW
BURN DOWN MY HOUSE – ARCHITECTS
Moonlight illuminates the suffocating darkness, offering glimpses of light. Midnight strikes, and the dawn of a new day doesn’t relieve the pressure sitting on my chest, determined to strangle me.
Theo’s hand is slowly turning white as I grip it hard in my lap. It’s taking all of my strength to sit in the helicopter without moving. I want to throw myself from it to escape the man sitting opposite me.
Michael doesn’t need a headset to communicate. Ankles and wrists handcuffed with a chain between them, his wide smile drips with anticipation, and his eyes refuse to stray from mine.
“Bearing east,” Enzo announces from the cockpit. “The coordinates are taking us to a remote village on the Scottish border.”
He’s flying one of the three helicopters taking us to our destination, following the instructions that Michael was more than happy to give once we submitted to his plan.
This won’t be a simple trade that allows him to disappear into the night. I know that Hunter will put a bullet through Michael’s skull long before he allows him to escape and hurt anyone else.
“Stick to the plan,” Theo advises from his seat next to me. “The Cobra and Anaconda teams will move first to circle around. Then we’ll bring Abaddon in with Hunter and Enzo.”
Sat on my right side, Leighton is adjusting the straps on his bulletproof armour. “Don’t leave my damn sight, Harlow.”
“We’re walking into a trap,” I point out.
“A trap isn’t a trap if we know it's coming.”
“Then what is this, Leigh?”
His dark brown eyes meet mine. “This is a showdown.”
Even though being in Michael’s presence should reduce me to a sobbing, terrified wreck, I take each of my guys’ hands and stare straight ahead without an inch of fear.
He stares back.
Lip curled.
Eyes hard.
No matter what happens next, Michael won’t get to take another innocent life. Ulrich doesn’t belong in the middle of this mess. Giana already died for her so-called sins, and I won’t let her son do the same.
As the miles tick by, the atmosphere in the helicopter thickens. Anxiety dances in the air, and we clutch each other a little harder. We have no idea what we’re walking into.
“I’m flying a drone over the area ahead of us,” Theo says into his headset. “Detecting a huge heat signature.”
I look over at the tablet in his lap, relaying the data. “What does that mean? People?”
He shakes his head. “Not necessarily.”
Opposite me, Michael starts laughing. Deep, belly-vibrating laughter that bounces around us despite the roar of the helicopter.
Leighton tenses in his seat, holding himself back from pummelling his face into an unrecognisable paste that won’t get us anything in return.
“I think…” Theo hesitates, frowning at the screen. “It’s fire.”
My heart freezes into a lump of ice in my chest. With Michael staring at me without saying a word, his voice still manages to slither through my mind. I vocalise the words he used to repeat out loud.
“In flaming fire, we will inflict vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord.”
Michael watches my mouth move with satisfaction, his silent nod a recognition of his agreement. We’re not walking into a hostage situation.
No.
This is a war zone.
As the helicopter begins to descend with the other two accompanying us, darkness fades, but it doesn’t lift entirely. Instead, a warm, orange glow overtakes the night sky, belching ash and smoke.
“We’re going to need the fire brigade,” I whisper into the headset’s microphone.
“Already alerted them,” Theo responds. “But we’re descending into thick woodland. It’s going to take time for them to arrive.”
“Holy fucking shit,” Leighton curses. “Look.”
Leaning over his black-clad shoulder, I gape at the awaiting sight. Thick, impenetrable trees smother any hint of life. But instead of luscious greenery, there’s a canopy of flames.
The woods are on fire. Burning, razing, almighty fire, spreading in all directions. The flames reach so high, they kiss the atmosphere and engulf us in smoke. Blackness swallows our line of sight.
“Fuck!” Enzo curses.
Careening through the ash clouding the air, we swoop low and all strain against our belts, preventing us from falling out of the sky. A column of heat rises and causes the temperature to spike.
Into the darkness we go.
Down. Down. Down.
Emerging in the mouth of hell, there’s a tiny break in the flames and thick woodland. Enzo aims for it, guiding the rest of the convoy to relative safety.
We touch down in an adjacent field with an inelegant thud, barely making it without crashing into something while lost in the smoke. Enzo rips off his headset and takes a breath.
“Everyone out. We’re here.”
Packing up our stuff, I hop out of the helicopter into the acrid air, trying hard not to cough. Hudson and Kade appear to help Enzo remove our prisoner safely, leaving me to locate Hunter.
Beneath his bulletproof vest, all-black combat gear and multiple layers of weapons, he’s hardly recognisable as the gentle, sweatpants-wearing man I’ve come to know beneath his harsh exterior.
We all look like soldiers going into war, unsure if we’ll make it out alive. Michael has driven us to the point of no return and left us with nothing but insane choices.
“Not a goddamn word,” Hudson barks as he wrestles Michael out in handcuffs. “Play by our rules, and you may live to see tomorrow.”
All he can do is laugh hysterically. Michael’s mind has fractured, and beneath the still-visible bruises that mar his face, his madness is palpable. He’s waited years for this very moment.
“Alright, listen up.” Enzo gathers the teams together. “You all know the plan. Nobody makes it out, including this son of a bitch.”
With a snarl, Hudson slams Michael back into the side of the helicopter again, attempting to knock the laughter from his lungs.
“We will find them and locate the kid,” Enzo continues. “As soon as we have a visual, the Cobra and Anaconda teams will advance from the west to close the perimeter.”
Kade nods, a hand resting on his semi-automatic gun. “Affirmative.”
“We’ll do the exchange, and that’s when we make our move. I want them all apprehended. Dead or alive. They cannot be allowed to escape with the suspect.”
“Great plan,” Michael chokes out between laughs. “Can’t even honour your word. The Lord will punish your deceit.”
“You don’t need a tongue to be exchanged,” Hudson hisses in his ear. “Shut up, or I’ll cut it out to keep as a fucking trophy.”
“Keep each other safe.” Enzo raises his voice above them. “Remember your training. Stay focused. Every single one of us walking in there is coming out alive. Understood?”
Everyone chimes in their agreement with varying degrees of optimism and apprehension. Even Ethan and his hardened team look afraid of the unknown facing us.
“We see this through, and the first round of beers is on me tonight.” Enzo summons a weak smile. “Move out.”
Whispering goodbyes and clasping hands, Hudson, Kade and Brooklyn’s replacement, Hyland, take off first. Ethan and his team follow, leaving us to approach head-on with Michael.
Hunter takes over, grabbing his shoulder and shoving him forward. “Where are we going?”
Michael gestures ahead towards the north. Right into the path of the raging fire. “This way.”
“One wrong step and I’ll blow your brains out without hesitation,” Hunter threatens. “Start walking.”
Keeping in a tight formation that leaves no one exposed, we creep forward into the burning midnight hour. Michael leads a path through the smoke, grinning the entire time.
We should be thankful that his supporters don’t seem to give a shit about Daphne. Like every other woman who’s come in touch with Michael, she’s outlived her usefulness and been discarded.
The closer we get to the forest fire, the hotter it burns. Heat lashes against my face, stinging and searing until my eyes stream with tears.
Michael bears left, skirting around the flames and leading us farther from safety. Keeping their guns up, Leighton and Enzo press into my sides, leaving nothing exposed.
“There’s some activity ahead.” Theo checks the tablet in his hands, connected to the drone overhead. “Signs of life.”
“How many?” Enzo barks.
“I can’t tell. The fire’s messing with the drone’s surveillance program. All I can tell is there’s something going on.”
Terrifying, unknown something. Scruffy jaw tightening, Enzo nods and crashes the back of his gun into Michael’s skull.
“What are you planning?”
“My people understand the concept of loyalty,” he snarls back. “They’re earning their passage to the heavens while the rest of you will be left to burn.”
“I’m sure God appreciates you setting his bloody forest on fire.” Leighton laughs bitterly. “Makes total sense.”
Michael throws him a vicious look. “This earth must burn before it can be reborn. I will be here to lead a new generation of humanity.”
“He’s even more unhinged than before,” Enzo mutters. “We’re going to take great pleasure in executing every last one of your people in front of you.”
Unbothered by the threat, Michael continues with stilted steps, his ankles still imprisoned by the cuffs connecting to his wrists.
“We’re in position.” Kade’s voice hums through our earpieces. “There’re some abandoned buildings along the west side.”
“Copy that,” Enzo answers. “Ethan?”
“Approaching now,” he replies with a crackle. “Nothing here. Just fire and ash. This thing is getting out of control.”
“The authorities have been informed.” Theo tucks the tablet under his arm. “Backup is on its way.”
When the outline of a crumbling building rises on the horizon of a large clearing, our hackles rise. The nearest town is miles away, leaving ruins to fall into disrepair amidst the thick trees and shrubbery.
“Grant me your strength, Lord above,” Michael calls out. “I am your loyal servant, and here lies my offering to you.”
“Eyes sharp,” Enzo orders.
When the first figures emerge, cutting through smoke with their painted masks in place, all guns rise to meet them. My horror intensifies as even more appear.
One after another.
Dozens of them.
We’re surrounded on all sides by even more people than we anticipated, all dressed in their matching black robes and homemade masks. The sight of them makes me sick. He’s indoctrinated them all.
“My angels,” Michael calls out gleefully. “Your messiah has returned to reward your efforts.”
Enzo butts him with his gun again, creating a gash that oozes fresh blood. “Silence. I have no qualms with gunning them all down.”
“Save me!” Michael screams regardless.
Inching forward, the crowd of people shows no fear of the countless weapons trained on them. They’re protected by their beliefs. This is their holy war, and we’re their lambs to slaughter.
In the light of the rising fires from the forest, we meet on opposing sides of the battleground. Us, drenched in darkness, and their matching outfits lit by the glow of orange light.
That’s when I spot it.
The towering pile of wood.
Sickness rises up my throat and threatens to erupt. Leighton curses, and Theo almost runs into the back of me. Hunter and Enzo are the only ones remaining even remotely calm.
Behind his trained puppets, Michael’s ultimate revenge lies in wait. He’s determined to wipe the last speck of his bloodline from this earth. Not even Giana’s death sated him.
“I warned you,” he says over his shoulder. “You had the chance to join me. This is your punishment for throwing God’s grace aside.”
Secured to a tall wooden post around which branches and logs are gathered, Ulrich is secured to it with tightly bound rope. Tied. Gagged. Tear-stained and petrified.
Oh my God.
He’s going to be burned at the stake in front of us. It takes Leighton’s arm barred across my chest to stop me from attacking Michael, even if it would provoke his people to do the same.
He isn’t locked in a cell, awaiting to be exchanged. I’m staring at my brother on the verge of a public execution. They’re planning to burn an innocent child alive for their messiah.
“Stop there,” a voice calls as one steps forward. “Surrender, and we will let the boy go as promised.”
“That isn’t how this is going to work,” Enzo shouts back. “Release the child now, and we won’t kill your leader in front of you.”
Michael breaks out in loud laughter. “You think I am afraid of death, sinner? Do as you please. My legacy will outlive me.”
Enzo bares his teeth, desperate to sink a bullet into him. “I’ll kill you in front of them if need be. This ends tonight.”
“Then do it!” Michael shrieks.
Realisation of his plan settles in my mind. To him, this is the end of his mission. The culmination of all his hard work. The world is burning, and his angels are in place.
He can die safe in the knowledge that they will continue slaughtering on his behalf, even as he walks into the sunset to join his twisted false god in the burning heat of hell.
“Enzo, no!” I grab his shoulder. “Kill him and they set that bonfire alight. We have to follow their rules.”
Silently communicating with my eyes, I urge him to remember the reason we came. We can still pull this off. Our teams are in place and ready to strike. None of them are making it out of here.
“Why don’t you take your masks off and face us yourselves?” I yell at the crowd. “Only cowards hide their faces.”
Grasping their masks, glowing with the symbol that adorns my body, one by one, they begin to pull them off. My breath catches, and the guys curse colourfully around me.
They’re just normal people. Average men, women and even a couple of teenagers. Michael has captured them all. Bent their minds. Beaten. Manipulated. Warped and broken.
The ultimate cult.
Hidden in plain sight.
“Whatever he’s told you is a lie,” I try to reason. “You can still walk away from this. You don’t have to follow his orders.”
“The messiah has saved us from a life of sin,” a young woman drones in a lifeless voice. “We have cleansed ourselves before God.”
Enzo cocks his gun. “This is your last chance to walk away. All we want is the boy. I don’t want to kill you all, but I will.”
“And we would happily die for the cause.” A man steps closer, drawing a knife from his robes. “Give us what we want.”
I duck my head to whisper to the others listening on the line. “Be ready. This is going to get ugly.”
“We’re in position,” Kade responds.
“Now!” the man roars angrily, his face contorted with devilish rage. “Give him to us, or we light that bonfire up.”
“Enzo,” I beg desperately. “Just do it. Give him to them.”
With a sigh, Enzo unlocks Michael’s handcuffs. The moment he’s free, he takes a big, deep inhale, stretching his arms above his head.
He turns to face me. “I warned you this would end in blood, Harlow. The rapture is here, and your time is at an end.”
“Give us Ulrich,” I demand.
