Chapter Eleven
Feralyn
The sudden and jarring metal tapping of rapid-fire rounds echoed, rousing me from unconsciousness to subconsciousness. But then an explosion shook the concrete floor, the heavy metal door fell in, and its forced landing thumped like a magnitude seven earthquake.
Death. Finally.
I opened one eye to face it head-on, but I didn’t see death.
Fully armed, huge rifle aimed, tactical gear all over his body, Ghost stepped over the blown-out door and into the room. Our gazes met through smoke and dust, and for one suspended moment, he froze.
Then his rifle went up, he tapped his ear, said something I couldn’t hear, and came right at me.
I recoiled.
No expression, he kept coming. The half brother of death. The SEAL. The Tier One with scar-faced enemies.
The high-pitched screaming started, and it didn’t stop.
Animal. Piercing. Dying. Anguished. Terror-stricken.
All of a sudden, he sliced into the room like an angel of death with the tactical precision of an assaulter.
His weapon was bigger. His shoulders were wider. His muscles were larger.
His expression was pure rage.
Helios spat fury at Ghost. Then he was in front of him, on his knees, taking my face in his hands.
His full, uncracked lips moved. His deep voice blanketed.
His words jumbled. “Feralyn, it’s me. I’m here, Haven.
I’m fucking here. Look at me. Look at me.
” One hand left my face. He reached to his thigh.
A giant knife glinted. A ghost stood behind him.
The screaming got desperate.
Helios’s voice got louder. “Fucking look at me, Feralyn! I’m cutting you loose, Haven.
That’s all.” My ankles released. My hands released.
“I’m getting you out of here.” He sheathed his knife.
He unshouldered a backpack. He pulled something out.
He issued a warning. “Don’t take your eyes off me.
” He kept holding my face with one hand.
The ghost behind him moved. He came away with a cell. “Calling ahead to the hospital.”
The very first words I’d spoken since a phone call with Ares a lifetime ago dragged like nails up my throat. “No ghost. No hospital.”
Something thin wrapped over me.
The ghost swiped on his phone.
I screamed, “NO GHOST.” Pain shot through my entire body with the effort, and it was too much.
Helios, the ghost, the room, the man with the scar, they all disappeared.