Page 72 of Throne of Secrets

Star ducked as the entire poleshook.

For a split second, all she could do was stare.

Then she exhaled shakily as her heart sank. Where did the wires go? She stood on her toes to see a powerline sagged right next to the shed. She could hear the sizzle and arch of the live wire, but she didn’t know how close the end was to the shed. Carefully, she reached for a plastic bucket and put it upside-down on the wood. Carefully, she stood on the bucket and glanced at all the metal surrounding her. “Oh, man … you screwed yourself this time, didn’t you?”

CHAPTER19

Ethan's heartbeat thundered in his ears, the weight of his Glock solid and ready in his grip. Lycos advanced beside him. The cold steel of his weapon reflected the glow of flickering sparks coming from the live wires. The night reeked of burned ozone, the tang of smoke lingering from the exploded transformer Star had somehow taken out.

In front of them, pacing in front of the shed, was the man who thought he’d gotten away with taking Star.

Lycos’s gun was jabbed into the man’s back before he realized they were there. Lutz froze and spread his hands, palms open. “Boys, let’s not do anything rash. I’m a cop trying to do my job.” His voice was smooth, a snake-oil salesman in a uniform. Lycos patted down the bastard.

Ethan sneered, his gun leveled on him. “Save it. We know who you are. What you’ve done.” His fingers flexed over the grip of his gun, but his mind was laser-focused on one thing.

He cupped his hand to his mouth and yelled, “Star!”

“Ethan! Ethan, I’m in the shed! There are live wires, but I’m standing on a plastic bucket!” She was in the shed and surrounded by live power lines. It didn’t surprise him.

“Don’t move!”

“I’m trying not to!”

Every second wasted was another second she could make a move, misstep, and—No. Don’t think about that. Just work it.

Ethan’s eyes flicked to his father, who had the killer facing him and held at gunpoint.

Lycos smiled. It was the kind of smile that made men sweat—made battle-hardened warriors rethink their choices in life. It wasn’t a smile of mercy. It was the smile of a predator who had cornered his prey. Ethan had never seen that look before, but he knew many had, and they hadn’t lived.

“Seriously, I’m a cop. See the uniform?” He tried to lower his arms, but the silencer jabbed him in the gut. The man flinched and then tried again. “You’re going to be in real trouble.”

“You should worry less about us,” Lycos said, his voice pure gravel, “and more about your own sins.”

Lutz swallowed. Just barely. But Ethan saw it. The shift. The micro-expression of a man realizing the shadow of his death was standing right before him.

That was good enough. Ethan sprinted toward the shed. He activated his comms as he ran. “Max, kill the power gridnow.”

Max’s response was immediate. “Done. You’re clear in three … two … one—power is down.”

The world around them fell into eerie silence. The buzzing, the electric hum that had filled the air moments before, stopped.

Ethan didn’t wait.

He sprinted for the shed, his boots kicking up dirt and debris. The metal walls shimmered in the residual heat of the downed transformer and sparks still smoldered in the tangled mess of wires. A closed padlock hung from the door.

“Star, cover your ears. I’m going to shoot the lock off the door.”

“Okay.” Her voice was strained.

Ethan aimed and fired. The lock’s shank released and he yanked the fucker out of the handle. He slammed the door open. The bucket Star was standing on wobbled as she twisted to see him, her wide, frantic eyes locking to his.

“Oh my God, finally! I swear, if I have to stand on this stupid thing for another?—”

Ethan saw the jagged edges of the rusted metal surrounding her. “Star, don’t move!” His command was sharp, slicing through the panic rising in her throat.

She stilled immediately, hands half-lifted in exasperation. “I wasn’t trying to move. I may be cursed, but I’mnotan idiot!”

Ethan huffed out a breath—half frustration, half relief. Jesus, she was going to kill him some day.

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