Page 221 of On a Fault Line

“We’re about thirty from the airport,” Nic volunteers.

“We’ll need time to get into the car and race to the facility,” Graham adds. Then his eyes lock on mine through the screen. “If you arrive before us, which it appears that you will…please protect our sister.”

I swallow hard. “I’ll protect her with my life.”

And I will without hesitation.

Despite what they think about Penny and me entering into a sexual relationship, I’ve always tried to do what was best for her. Maybe tonight will prove that I’ll always put her life above my own.

There’s a silence that transpires between us, but so much is said without words that a part of me finds hope that we will work things out after this is all over.

We have to work this out.

The connection goes staticky, and I end the call.

Looking out the helicopter window, I only see dark clouds and no sign of the city or neighboring towns yet.

C’mon.

Time is ticking and the longer I’m away from Penny, the higher the chance there is that I won’t find her alive.

And it’s that realization that has my heart in a choke hold.

* * *

The helicopter lands after a rocky descent on the roof of Soulful Mind.

I gather my bag of supplies, just in case I need to do some breaking and entering.

The entire aura around this place feels eerie, and I’ve never felt this way before now. Any other time I’ve visited here, I’ve felt at peace.

Not tonight.

I disconnect my seat belt and bump fists with the pilot.

“I appreciate you getting us here safely,” I say with pride. “You’re one hell of a pilot.”

He dips his head forward, accepting my praise. “I’ll be here in case anyone needs another lift.”

“Sounds good.”

I take off running toward the staircase entrance. The perk of being in the air for an hour was that it gave me the chance to map out my plan. I already had physical copies of the layout for the building when the Hoffmans first brought Penny here. The security protocol has always been top-notch.

I just hope that those measures don’t come back to bite me today.

Because right now, I need to go and find Penny and eradicate this world of any monsters set out to do her harm.

Trying the door handle, it’s locked.

Swinging my bag to the side, I unzip a compartment and pull out some lockpicks I like to keep on me for times like this.

Then I go to work trying to manually unlock the door.

Turning the pick, I feel the click, but when I try the door handle, it doesn’t budge.

Fuck.

My eyes search the premises, looking for another entrance point.

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