Page 216 of Darling Wildfire
Demetrius said he was here, all we had to do was locate him. We entered a massive ballroom. Across the space along one wall were platforms. This must have been where North was taken for the fight he told us about when he killed Kai. But my attention quickly shifted from the room, to the man standing in the center of it. Even though the room was massive, the man seemed to take up the space—his presence large and intimidating.
His suit was immaculate and he stood with his hands clasped behind his back as though he didn’t have a care in the world. As though he was maybe even waiting for us to find him. He didn’t even flinch as we quickly killed the five men guarding him. He slowly turned to regard us—a look somewhere between smugness and disinterest on his face.
“This him?” Cal asked.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “That’s him alright—Albatron.”
Albatron looked me over, his head tilting slightly.
“I would think very carefully about your next move, gentlemen,” Albatron said.
“I don’t think you’re in a position to negotiate,” Atlas said with contempt.
A smirk pulled at his lips as his intense gaze jumped between all of us.
“Oh, I would have to disagree, Atlas,” Albatron said.
Atlas was taken aback. “Do you remember me?”
A sound very close to a laugh escaped Albatron although his expression didn’t change.
“I know all of your names,” he said. “And I have something to discuss with Theron North.”
“What makes you think he wants to hear what you have to say?” I scoffed.
“He told you to take me alive,” Albatron said. “I think you’ll all benefit from my little chat. And here’s the thing—I have something of yours—” Helooked at Knight pointedly. “—and I have something of North’s and if you kill me, there won’t be anything you can do to get them back.”
“Them?” Knight raised his eyebrows.
When Albatron didn’t answer, Knight grunted in irritation and waved his hand. Atlas took out zip ties and walked behind Albatron so he could jerk his wrists tightly together to secure him. I didn’t know what to make of the threat, but regardless he was right—North did want him alive.
“Then let’s go,” he said. “You’re lucky he wants us to take you alive, cause I remember what you did to his little girl.”
Albatron didn’t reply as Atlas grabbed his upper arm and jerked him towards the door. I fell into step with them and made our way back through the house.
111
THERON
My body was screaming at me. I’d forced it way beyond when it should have failed. But I wasn’t done. Vetticus and I had fought our way out to the large terrace along the front of the house. It was lightly raining and the ground was slippery with water and blood. I’d lost all of my weapons. My knife was behind Vetticus and my gun was inside the double doors. I had only my fists. Vetticus walked over to my knife and picked it up, shoving his hair out of his face, he leered at me.
“You never did know when to stay down,” he taunted. “Just can’t get enough of me, even now.”
He beckoned me to come at him and I growled and attacked. The knife came for me but I quickly landed a hit to his jaw, slammed my knee into his face and he went down dazed. I disarmed him and fell to one knee, heaving in air and unable to keep my feet.
“It’s over, Vetticus,” I said in a ragged gasp.
Vetticus lurched to his knees but fell back onto his hand.
“No…” He snarled.
“Your men are dead…” I stood and grabbed him by the hair, turning his head up to me with a yank. I pressed the knife to his throat, for a moment living off the high of seeing him onhisknees. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and watched a smug look take over Vettitcus’ face.
“Looks like not all of them,” he said. “Shoot him!”
But no gunfire came.
“I don’t think so.”
