Page 37 of Betrayed in Blood
Dozens of over-the-ear earbuds were displayed in a foam insert. Devon selected one, turned it on, and stuck it in his ear. He tapped it, said something, then nodded to Simone, who took one, and then Sergi and the rest of the security detail each picked up one.
“Where did you get these?” I took one and slipped it over my ear.
“Friends in all the right places.” Devon already had a handgun in a side holster, a dagger on his belt, and his sword in a scabbard, but he picked up two more daggers and stuck them in his vest.
I had my dagger, but I picked up two more, refusing the sword. I’d started training with a short sword, but I wasn’t comfortable enough to use it in the field. “You mean friends in the military?”
Devon had provided vests, hi-tech body cams, and earbuds for Harlow’s team when they broke into Gheata’s rented house, searching for evidence to clear Devon of Boretsky’s murder. I’d never asked where he got them.
He smiled rather than answer my question. Instead, he pressed the earbud again. “Can everyone hear me?”
Multiple clicks came back. It sounded like more than the group standing on the patio. Devon turned to the group. “We move out in three teams. Central command, Charlie teams one, two, and three are ready to move out.”
“Team Rogue is in place with Alpha and Beta teams one and two, waiting for the word to be given.”
“Roger.” Devon nodded, and Simone and Sergi immediately ran off in different directions, each with a four-man security detail. The others moved out in backup positions. Then Devon nodded at me and took off, with me on his six. I’d always wanted to say that.
I felt the presence of the security detail behind me, though they made no sound as we raced toward the main entrance. I had no idea where the checkpoints were, not that it would matter since I knew little of the landscape and even less of the security updates. After today, that was going to change.
I stuck with Devon as we sprinted through the scrub oak and prairie grass. After a quarter of a mile, we slowed. The sun was behind us, and I questioned the wisdom of sending an invasion team that would be looking into the sun.
“Charlie Two has reached Beta One. Moving to the northern incursion group.” Simone’s voice was calm, low, and showed no signs of heavy breathing.
A couple minutes later, Sergi checked in. “Charlie Three has reached Beta Two. We’re moving to the southern invasion group.”
We ran several more yards when a wolf stepped out from behind a boulder. Devon stopped, holding up a fist. The shifter looked toward the west and made a chuffing sound. Devon nodded, and I assumed we met up with one of the teams.
“Charlie One has met up with Alpha team. All players are in position.”
“Roger, Charlie team.” I didn’t recognize the voice but assumed it was someone from the command center. “The targets are a hundred yards out, moving slowly.”
“How do they know that?” I whispered to Devon.
“Drones.”
I looked up but didn’t see anything, thought I knew they could be difficult to see. “I don’t hear them.”
“They’re flying at a higher altitude.”
I really needed to sit in on the security discussions.
“Let’s try to keep one or two alive,” Devon said over the comms. “Team Rogue, the word is given. Everyone move out.”
The word given was something I understood. Team Rogue was the wolves, and Devon just gave them the okay to take down as many of the enemy as possible—no survivors required.
We moved quietly. Would these be the same halflings Venizi had been sending before, or would these vamps be his true bloods?
I scanned the area in front of us, watching for any movement. Devon slowed as we reached a ridge. When I glanced to my right, I noticed the wolf working slowly several feet in front of Devon. He was using the wolves as scouts.
The wolf stopped, lifted its nose, then turned and nodded at Devon. I should have expected the human-like behaviors, having worked with them at the paper mill in my search for Devon when he’d been stuck in his beast form. It was still unsettling.
Devon nodded in return. “Charlie One has engaged the target.”
We moved on, my hand reaching for my dagger.
The ridge wasn’t much of one, and though the other side was filled with scrub oak, I caught movement. A shot rang out, and then another. Then we saw them. They’d brought rifles. An answering shot rang out from our side, and an enemy vamp fell. He wouldn’t be down long, depending on where he was hit.
Sergi and Simone both confirmed they’d also engaged the target.
