Page 40 of Merciless
Old gods can learn new tricks after all,the snake mused, tail rattling gently.
Hades only responded with a soft growl before silence fell over the room. My men and I just sat for a few moments with the weight of this information. We had our answer now. Finally, something to act on.
Gunner broke the silence first. "We need to tell Finn." He looked at Jandro and I solemnly. "If the three of us going in is the only way, he has to know."
"My dad too," I said, my gaze shifting toward the bedroom where Dad rested. "If we don't come back, they both need to know why."
"If we don't come back," Jandro pulled my hand into his lap, "the Sha will come for all of them soon enough."
"Not happening," Gunner said with a low growl. "They've taken enough from us. We're getting everyone out—Reaper, Shadow, and Mari's mom."
"Don’t forget Andrea," I said.
"Andrea too," Gunner agreed. With that, he stood up, then turned around to place Horus carefully in a small nest of blankets on the couch. "Time to start making a plan. A real one," he said before heading upstairs to gather his maps.
Fourteen
GUNNER
Mari's dad reacted better than we could have imagined. Maybe he didn't remember it all entirely, but somewhere in his head he knew about gods, including the one who had controlled him.
"Yes, the snake!" Javier's eyes brightened once we finished telling him everything. "The snake kept your mom safe,mija.I remember now."
Mari, Jandro, and I were all gathered in her father's room, suited up for riding to meet with Finn at City Hall once we told Javier the news.
And once we told Finn, we'd be riding out to New Ireland. Depending on what the general decided, we'd either go alone or with the support of the Four Corners army. No matter what, we were getting everyone back. Tonight.
Mari reached across the bed and squeezed her dad's forearm. Her lip wobbled for a moment before she steeled her features. "We're getting Mom back. I promise."
Javier, too, had to compose himself before smiling at his daughter. "If anyone can, I know it's you,mijita."
Mari scooted closer, bringing her arms around her father in a hug. "I love you, Dad."
"Silly girl," he chuckled, but hugged her back fiercely. "You got this, it's a walk in the park. You'll be back before you know it." He held onto her tightly for an extra long second. "And I love you too."
When they separated, Javier's eyes were hard on Jandro and me. "You guys watch over my girl."
"We will," I said, my voice just as hard.
Jandro said something in Spanish, his tone hard-edged and determined. Javier nodded just as Mari came to stand between us.
"We'll see you soon,viejito," she said before the three of us turned and left the room.
Normally Mari would ride with one of us, but three separate bikes awaited us in the garage. Jandro and I had our most trusted steeds ready, while Mari borrowed a lightweight Harley from Noelle. We all had to anticipate carrying at least one extra person if we made it back alive.
Hades and Freyja also waited for us in the garage. The black cat, unsurprisingly, jumped onto Mari's bike and snuggled her way inside the front of Mari's jacket.
Hades sat like a regal statue next to my bike, whichwassurprising.
We will join you for the meeting with the general and see you off to the fortress.The death god's voice rumbled with authority in my head.
"What about Horus?" I asked, throwing a leg over my seat.
Quetzalcoatl will guard the falcon here. But I must tell you all...the dog cocked his head while Mari and Jandro paused to listen.We may not be occupying these forms when you return.
"What do you mean?" Jandro leaned forward over his handlebars. "You'll be just a dog?"
If you succeed, then I, Hades, will exist as I always have since my inception. But yes, the creature you're looking at now will only be a dog.
