go through the first time. When I'm back and the bastards show up, we'll be ready."
Ryland nodded grimly. "Good. I hate running. Let's take these fuckers down." His eyes flickered toward Sarah. "How's the angel?"
"Not good."
Ryland met his gaze, flecks of green in his dark eyes. "I can't believe you're the one who can help her. Lucky bastard."
Kane grinned. "It's because I always go to church on Sundays."
Ryland snorted. "Hah. You've shed more blood on hallowed ground than any of the rest of us. You should burn in hell for even touching her."
"You can take that up with her when this shit is done."
"I will." Ryland's eyes darkened, and he set his hand on Kane's shoulder. "I don't like bullies who try to hurt angels. Let's bring these bastards down."
"You got it."
Kane.
His heart jumped at the soft voice, and he looked down at her, hoping to see her looking at him, but her eyes were still closed, her body limp in his arms. Sarah?
Don't kill my brother. He has to live.
Kane grimaced. Sweetheart, he's the one who's bringing those assassins to you. He has to be stopped.
Her agony filled him, slicing through him like a great wall of pain. No, he has to live. Promise me.
The intensity of her voice was so strong, Kane knew he couldn't say no. I'll try, but if I have to choose between you and him, it's going to be you. He wanted to offer her the world, but he wouldn't lie to her. If he had to make a choice, there was only one decision he would make.
You're my only hope, Kane. You're all I have. Her eyes flickered open, and he felt his soul stop at the anguish in those blue depths. Please.
He swore, and looked at Ryland. "She says her brother has to live."
Ryland grinned, respect flashing in his eyes instead of the aggravation Kane had expected. "That's just like an angel, isn't it? Wanting to save the man who's trying to kill her?" He slapped Kane's shoulder, his amusement fading. "This chick is so going to get fucked up hanging out with us, Santiago. We need to get her away from us as soon as possible. I won't destroy an angel."
"Yeah, me either." Kane tucked Sarah more closely against his chest. Tremors were wracking her body, and he knew that they were almost out of time. Could she even survive the next fifteen minutes that he had planned for her?
She had to. He would make sure of it.
Chapter Four
Kane stumbled as he materialized for the second time in the courtyard of Dante's mansion, the former abode of their deceased leader that had become the working headquarters of the Order of the Blade. Ryland caught him as he almost went down, his black eyes blazing. "We're ready."
His head still spinning from the magnitude of energy he'd had to expend to keep teleporting himself and Sarah, while ensuring their safe recovery each time, Kane looked around and felt intense relief fill him at the sight of the Order of the Blade surrounding him. His boys had his back, as they always did for each other.
Almost the entire team was assembled, weapons out, battle stances engaged. Ryland. Quinn Masters, their acting leader until Dante's replacement could be identified. Gideon Roarke. Thano Savakis, with his damned arrogant grin that hid a lethal talent that far surpassed the thirty-five years he'd been alive. Elijah Ross, who had finally begun to put on weight since his ordeal. Zach Roderick and Gabe Watson rounded it out. All accounted for except Ian Fitzgerald, who had vanished several weeks ago, carrying the body of the woman who looked like his dead sheva . No one had been able to find him since, and that wasn't good. Ian was a dedicated team member, and to have him disappear without a trace was an indication of something being seriously wrong.
Standing with the team were two new additions: Drew Cartland, Dante's son, who had more powers than any rookie should and his uncle, Vaughn McIntyre. Drew was a major concern for the team: as the son of their former leader, one of the greatest warriors ever, he should have fit in
Ryland nodded grimly. "Good. I hate running. Let's take these fuckers down." His eyes flickered toward Sarah. "How's the angel?"
"Not good."
Ryland met his gaze, flecks of green in his dark eyes. "I can't believe you're the one who can help her. Lucky bastard."
Kane grinned. "It's because I always go to church on Sundays."
Ryland snorted. "Hah. You've shed more blood on hallowed ground than any of the rest of us. You should burn in hell for even touching her."
"You can take that up with her when this shit is done."
"I will." Ryland's eyes darkened, and he set his hand on Kane's shoulder. "I don't like bullies who try to hurt angels. Let's bring these bastards down."
"You got it."
Kane.
His heart jumped at the soft voice, and he looked down at her, hoping to see her looking at him, but her eyes were still closed, her body limp in his arms. Sarah?
Don't kill my brother. He has to live.
Kane grimaced. Sweetheart, he's the one who's bringing those assassins to you. He has to be stopped.
Her agony filled him, slicing through him like a great wall of pain. No, he has to live. Promise me.
The intensity of her voice was so strong, Kane knew he couldn't say no. I'll try, but if I have to choose between you and him, it's going to be you. He wanted to offer her the world, but he wouldn't lie to her. If he had to make a choice, there was only one decision he would make.
You're my only hope, Kane. You're all I have. Her eyes flickered open, and he felt his soul stop at the anguish in those blue depths. Please.
He swore, and looked at Ryland. "She says her brother has to live."
Ryland grinned, respect flashing in his eyes instead of the aggravation Kane had expected. "That's just like an angel, isn't it? Wanting to save the man who's trying to kill her?" He slapped Kane's shoulder, his amusement fading. "This chick is so going to get fucked up hanging out with us, Santiago. We need to get her away from us as soon as possible. I won't destroy an angel."
"Yeah, me either." Kane tucked Sarah more closely against his chest. Tremors were wracking her body, and he knew that they were almost out of time. Could she even survive the next fifteen minutes that he had planned for her?
She had to. He would make sure of it.
Chapter Four
Kane stumbled as he materialized for the second time in the courtyard of Dante's mansion, the former abode of their deceased leader that had become the working headquarters of the Order of the Blade. Ryland caught him as he almost went down, his black eyes blazing. "We're ready."
His head still spinning from the magnitude of energy he'd had to expend to keep teleporting himself and Sarah, while ensuring their safe recovery each time, Kane looked around and felt intense relief fill him at the sight of the Order of the Blade surrounding him. His boys had his back, as they always did for each other.
Almost the entire team was assembled, weapons out, battle stances engaged. Ryland. Quinn Masters, their acting leader until Dante's replacement could be identified. Gideon Roarke. Thano Savakis, with his damned arrogant grin that hid a lethal talent that far surpassed the thirty-five years he'd been alive. Elijah Ross, who had finally begun to put on weight since his ordeal. Zach Roderick and Gabe Watson rounded it out. All accounted for except Ian Fitzgerald, who had vanished several weeks ago, carrying the body of the woman who looked like his dead sheva . No one had been able to find him since, and that wasn't good. Ian was a dedicated team member, and to have him disappear without a trace was an indication of something being seriously wrong.
Standing with the team were two new additions: Drew Cartland, Dante's son, who had more powers than any rookie should and his uncle, Vaughn McIntyre. Drew was a major concern for the team: as the son of their former leader, one of the greatest warriors ever, he should have fit in
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