Page 36 of Betrayed in Blood
“They’ve breached the perimeter at the main entrance and two other points a quarter mile due north and south of the entrance.” Simone’s voice was calm and measured. “The shifters have retreated to the first checkpoints with the Alpha security team.”
Devon nodded, his gaze moving to the window and the sky beyond. Ten minutes into the ride, Devon, Simone, and Sergi all moved closer to a window. We must be getting close. Devon put his arm around me, his cheek next to mine, as we watched more than a dozen vamps move from the perimeter inward. There were probably the same number, if not more, at the north and south breeches.
Several glanced up as the copter approached, and when one pointed something larger than a rifle at them, the copter banked hard to the right. I closed my eyes, waiting for the impending explosion, but nothing happened.
I opened one eye. Simone, who sat across from me, wore a wide grin. I stuck out my tongue, which was completely immature, but I didn’t want to say anything over the mic. Her smile widened, and the tips of her fangs dropped.
I rolled my eyes, sticking with the immaturity. It worked so well for me. “Was that a rocket launcher?” I glanced at the others.
“A grenade launcher,” Sergi replied.
Oh, great. So much better.
I caught the movement of a wolf racing behind scrub oak as we passed, then the first of the buildings coming up fast.
The sound of an explosion was muffled by the headsets.
I twisted around to see if I could see anything, but all I saw was the chaparral landscape.
Another explosion. Then another.
“What was that?” I asked.
“They just crossed the first checkpoint,” Sergi answered.
When I looked at Devon, he shrugged. “C-4. It won’t get them all, but it will slow them down.”
“What about the wolves?” I asked.
“The explosives are remotely detonated. Alpha team would have waited for the wolves to join them before setting them off.”
“What if they ran over them without knowing where they were?”
Devon shook his head. “The C-4 requires a shockwave to set them off.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat. Devon meant business. He’d never mentioned using explosives as part of the security plan.
The copter made a slow circle as it landed several hundred yards from the manor. Everyone exited quickly, heads down, as we ran for the building. The rotors sounded as if they were slowing, but I couldn’t be sure.
When we reached the manor, two vamps were waiting for us. I recognized one as Marta, who used to work at the coastal manor. Her smile was grim as she nodded at Simone and Devon.
“So far, the only activity has been along the main gate. We have three wolves watching our exit roads, and they’re backed up by Delta team.”
“Why wouldn’t Lorenzo attack from more than one side?” It made sense to me.
“The north side of the property runs along a rocky gully, making it difficult for vehicles to approach,” Simone answered. “There’s a single road that runs along the gully before branching out on both ends. It would be easy to ambush trespassers on either end of the road. There’s no road on the south side, but we’ve added fencing with razor wire for a mile to discourage anyone coming on foot.”
“I don’t remember any of this when we discussed Oasis as a fallback from our raid of Shadow Island.”
“We installed it shortly after.”
I wondered if that was when the C-4 was added, but decided this wasn’t the time to ask. “So, what’s the game plan? I assume everyone who isn’t security has been moved to the manor, and the human staff is in the panic room.”
Simone nodded. “All according to Level One security.”
“So, do we wait to see how many make it here?”
“Hardly.” Devon walked to a patio table where Sergi had set down a duffel bag. He removed several swords, a dozen daggers, and four handguns. Mateo placed a hard-sided case on the table and opened the lid.
