Page 26 of Under a Wicked Moon
Someone had successfully navigated the maze of tunnels in their headquarters to make it to the depository room, and the same person made it past the four sets of security doors, a sixteen-digit combination lock, and magical wards? Impossible. Had to be an inside job.
That meant their handler might be compromised.
The German called out, “You Arschlöcher, now die.” He beganan incantation.
A blast detonated like an invisible energy bomb, throwing them several feet.
He blinked, his brain going in and out with dark spots. Voices around him.
“He’s bleeding bad.”
“Went through his fucking arm.”
“Ky, come on. Don’t pass out right now.”
Ky’s head complained as he oriented himself and pushed up to a sit in the snow. Vivi had his arm in a vise clamp.
“Piece of metal went through your arm.” Her brow wrinkled, and she bit her lower lip as blood flowed around her fingers. “I can’t…not again. It’d knock me out.”
“Don’t,” he whispered. “I’ll live. Can’t carry you, though.”
“We’re not equipped to deal with any of thistoday,” Roman said. “I need options.”
Flynn rocked his head back and forth and groaned. “I vote we take our chances and run for the car.”
“I can lay down cover fire while you two run and take Vivi with you,” Ky offered.
That got him two you’re-shitting-me stares from his brother and a no-way from Vivi.
Without a hint of uncertainty, Roman said, “Flynn and I are going to pull a Reykjavik, and you two will run for the car.” He pressed the keys into Ky’s hand. “I need you to be on your feet in ten seconds. You have to make it to the white Toyota SUV. Passing out isn’t an option, Ky. Getting shot or otherwise killed also isn’t acceptable after we risked our asses to get you out of that place.”
“Seriously? A Reykjavik?” Flynn said. “With a dude who’s holding that disc?”
“I’d have Ky do this instead of you, but he can barely stand, he’s bleeding again, and he’s distracted today,” Roman said.
“I’m not distracted,” he muttered.
Roman put a matchbox-sized explosive in Flynn’s hands. “No chitchat to engage him. I’ll put up an invisibility barrier to shield those two as they run to the car. Detonate and then we’ll bolt. Ky, pick us up at the northeast corner. Everyone, go!”
Vivi had to lift to get him on his feet. He muttered apologies twice. They shuffled toward the SUV at far slower than a run.
“Your feet,” Ky said.
“I’ll make it to the car.”
Roman waved his arms in a way indicating he was setting up the invisibility spell. Ky trusted his ability to keep them from being seen. Roman was the best at magic. It came instinctively to him, sort of like shooting did for Ky. Sometimes, Roman’s magic came inexplicably, as if his subconscious understood what spell was needed. Or as if some deity granted him the ability.
“Your brother just cast a spell? What the hell are you guys?” She paused to watch Roman.
“Monsters who chase far worse monsters,” he rasped out and tugged her into movement. Each step to the car wobbled his mind and took colossal effort.
“Good guys, though?”
“Eh. Good…bad…who’s to say?” He wheezed it out, since each breath hurt through his chest, probably from the cold.
“What’s a Reykjavik?” She shook him. “Talk to me. Stay alert.”
“Hold on.” They reached the SUV by some miracle. He slid into the driver’s seat.
