Page 22 of Haunted By the Alien
“You’ll get caught. Your mission is over.”
The grud sharpens one of his knives against the stone windowsill, ignoring Nelson. Spider arms flap all over the placeas Nelson advances on the grud, pulls him away from the window, and spouts off in a language I don’t recognize.
“Krav anja vekk zyanthan,” the grud replies. Both males fall silent and stare at me.
I stop sawing and freeze. Have they noticed my movement? Even if I cut through before they touch me, how the hell will I get past them?
“Does Kobrik know where you live?” Nelson asks.
“Y-yes,” I stutter, not liking where this is going.
Nelson fishes through my jacket—which matches that of my kidnapper, shoulder spikes and all—until he finds my ID with my home address. He slams the card against the grud’s massive chest. “You’ll find him here. Meet me at your ship once he’s dead.”
The grud leaves, shockingly quiet given his size. The second the door shuts, Nelson turns his attention to me.
“Still not removing the mask?” I goad to buy time while I finish cutting through the rope. Hopefully, he’ll turn away and ignore me.
Nelson rips the mask off, revealing brown hair and eyes and an unremarkable face. Except, now I’ve seen him. I can identify him.
I swallow hard, fear shooting through me as I read the truth in those cold eyes.
Nelson doesn’t intend to let me live.
CHAPTER TEN
KOBRIK
Idouble check the address Kenzie wrote on my palm. 3572 Birch Avenue. The four-story structure with graffiti all over the door lies in an unsafe area of the city. Only one of four street lights works and several males hide in the shadows of the garbage-filled alleys.
Kenzie is missing and time is not on my side.
I need backup I can trust, not the incompetent military of this world. Galactic Intelligence has marshals stationed in Los Angeles, including a fellow warrior I trained alongside on Zyan. I need only ask for Zirkov’s help, and he’ll give it.
Before I pull him away from his duties, I must verify Kenzie did not merely give up waiting for me and return home.
The security panel on her apartment building won’t allow me to enter. I draw my blaster and shoot it. Problem solved. I’ll replace the unit later,afterI find Kenzie.
I race up the stairs, taking them three at a time.
When I reach the third floor, a sense of impending doom threatens to steal my focus. I press my ear to the door marked 3A. No sound comes from inside.
I pound on her door.
No answer.
No sign of life.
With a single kick, the door shatters beneath my boot. My heart races, fearing what I might find as I enter Kenzie’s apartment.
Inside, I barely detect her scent. She hasn’t been here for hours.
I tap my comm and search for Zirkov’s code as I fly down the two flights and leave the building, forgetting the very basic rule of being in a hostile environment. Always remain vigilant.
With my focus on my comm, I never see my attacker, but I recognize that putrid odor.
Grud.
Out of reflex, my left arm goes up, blocking a knife from stabbing me in the chest. The move saves my life, but the blade slices across my forearm.
