Niko(Love Me Harder #2)(50)

“Niko? Did the scientists intend to kill the created when they were finished using them?”

“Yes.





Chapter Twenty-nine




“Lights off. We are five minutes out.” Aran’s voice rang in her head. She heard the replies of his brothers as they checked and gave their positions.

She shook herself free of the memory that Niko had shared with her. Things were making sense now. Maybe the scientists had hired one of the created or even a family of the created to hunt the others down. He may have promised them life if they were willing to destroy the others.

She looked out of the window when she felt the rumble of the jeep end. They were in a highly wooded area. A cabin was sitting in the shadows caused by the moon’s glow. It was a good size one. It could have been someone’s weekend retreat.

There were one or two lights lit inside. The bulbs were dimly lit sending just a peak of light through the windows, as if whoever was on the inside wanted enough light to see, but didn’t want to draw attention to themselves.

“We will do this in two waves. Sergey, Dante, Ash and Nicolas. You are the first wave. Blend in, so whatever is in that house won’t be able to see you. The rest of us will be the second wave. Remember, our mates cannot blend, so we will be going in knowing we can be detected. Mates, now is the time to arm your weapons. Remember, aim only at the enemies.” He gave them a warm laugh and then communication went dark.

The first wave was approaching the cabin. She wasn’t sure how she knew it. It was like being gifted with an extra sense. She could feel them as they moved. She could almost tell you exactly where they were.

As the first wave hit the door, Niko silently got out of the jeep. She followed suit, moving up to his side with her weapon firmly in her grasp. She wasn’t going to be anyone’s victim ever again.

The first shots that rang out had Niko falling on her. His large body covered her making sure she wasn’t a target and inhibiting her ability to breathe.

“Get off of me. Can’t. Breathe.”

He rolled over, but kept a hand on her to keep her from getting up. Like she was going to stand and shout ‘Over here you missed me. Wanna go for two out of three?’

She listened to the laughter on the wind, laughter she knew. She had heard this laughter when the crazy created had held her. He had tormented her and laughed with a gleeful joy as he did it. The very sound of it reminded her of horror films and demented humans all wrapped up into one eerie package.

“Dee, we are too open here. We have to get to cover. Follow me.”

He was using his elbows in the dirt showing her how to propel herself forward. She mimicked his moves, as he followed behind her. It was nowhere as graceful, but it got the job done. He stopped her when they reached a thick set of trees with heavy foliage on the ground. It gave them a perfect view of the front door. When it opened on oiled hinges that made no sound, she saw it. When nothing entered, or for that matter opened the door, she knew it was one of the brothers who had blended in. He looked as if he was invisible, impossible to pick out in the environment.

The silence felt like it lasted years, when in reality it only took them a few minutes to search the first floor. Ash whispered ‘clean’ through their mental link and Nicolas let them know they were headed for the basement.

She followed Niko as he stood, then crouched and started for the door that was standing wide open. She tried to place her feet in the spots he stood in before her. She felt when her foot tangled with a vine. She pulled on it, even as she heard Niko shout stop in her mind.

She heard a series of shots go off, as small explosions happened around her. Once again Niko’s body was covering her. This time he was careful, making sure she could breathe.

It was rigged to blow. The evil son of a mechanical womb had rigged the place to blow and she had walked right into the trap. It had looked like a vine, green with leaves attached. How was she supposed to know? That wouldn’t help the brothers that had died because of her.

She was finally in a family and she had killed her brothers or maybe even her best friend. Some people weren’t meant to be part of a team. She sent out a mental sorry to all of them, wondering if they could even still hear her.

“Are you finished feeling sorry for yourself?” Rena’s voice was one part laughter and the other part exasperation.

“I was enjoying this.” That voice belonged to Ash.

“Really Rena, we have so little fun.” Nicolas was laughing.

“Some people weren’t meant to be part of a team was rather amusing since she is a part of us.” Hale was enjoying himself.

“Ok, stop it.” This came from Niko.