Shadows Strike(55)

Ethan took it, a genuine smile dawning at last. “Thank you.” Leaning down, he pressed a quick, hard kiss to her lips.

Richart appeared, Jenna in tow. Aidan appeared beside them a moment later with Étienne and Krysta. All but Aidan were coated in blood and looked exhausted.

Richart eyed Ethan. “Ready?”

Ethan nodded.

Aidan stopped Richart when the latter took a step toward Ethan. “Go get cleaned up. Infuse yourself. Get something to eat. I’ve got this.”

Richart nodded, curling an arm around his wife. “Thank you.”

Aidan crossed to Ethan. “You ready?”

Heather stole another quick kiss before the duo disappeared, and wondered how long it would be before she saw them again.





Ethan checked the clock on his phone, confirming that the sun had risen.

Aidan had teleported all of the immortals save Ethan, David, Lisette, and Imhotep to David’s place. According to the latest text from Darnell, most were bunking there for the day.

Ethan glanced at Lisette. Brow furrowed, she conferred with David.

Neither one of them had heard from Seth or Zach. It scared the hell out of Ethan.

Seth must know how concerned they all would be. He wasn’t one to ignore that. And Zach sure as hell wouldn’t want to worry Lisette. What had happened?

They would all know it, wouldn’t they, if something had . . . if the two had been . . . ?

He couldn’t even finish the thought. But they would’ve felt something, right?

Unsettled, relieved that Lisette couldn’t read his thoughts and the anxiety housed within them, he looked around for a distraction.

Ed, Sheldon, and Tracy had elected to remain at the base and had worked wonders as far as easing the soldiers’ fears. Ethan surmised that seeing the human men and women treat the immortals the same way they did each other went a long way toward making the immortals seems less intimidating. The Seconds did a damned fine job, too, of skirting the soldiers’ questions in order to avoid disclosing information David would just have to bury later.

David went quiet and looked toward the ceiling. “The network is here.”

Ethan ambled down to the surveillance room, deserted on General Lane’s orders, and watched helos arrive and land within the base’s walls. A massive cleanup crew disembarked, all the faces unfamiliar to Ethan. Chris Reordon’s crew had been too far away, so they had enlisted the aid of the network nearest the island. Ethan recognized the network head who arrived in one of the helicopters. A tall, rugged Latino man, Alejandro bore the same air of authority and command that Chris did.

Aidan suddenly appeared in the men’s midst, Chris at his side.

Lucky bastard. Because he was so old, Aidan could withstand exposure to direct sunlight for a time. Since dark clouds had rolled in with the dawn, Aidan could probably remain outside for a couple of hours or more. And did, teleporting equipment and people in and out at the network leaders’ commands.

The two network leaders worked well together. There was no butting of heads. No stepping on toes. No pissing contest. No resentment on either man’s part regarding the other’s presence the way Ethan expected there would’ve been had they instead headed different human law enforcement agencies. Ego never came into play, he was pleased to see. Efficiency reigned supreme as the two parties worked together to keep the vampire attack a secret from the rest of the world, to put a plausible cover story into play, and to ensure that the soldiers who had lost their lives would receive the honorable burials they deserved.

Ethan returned to the cafeteria or mess hall in which everyone in the base, save the prisoners, had gathered. General Lane nodded to Ethan, then ordered the soldiers to turn in and get some much-needed rest.

For the first time, Ethan thought the soldiers would defy the general. Every man present wanted to stay and ensure their fallen friends were taken care of, the bodies handled with respect.

Then they all yawned and began to weave where they stood.

As one, they shuffled off down a hallway Ethan hadn’t explored.

Even General Lane appeared surprised.

“Thank you,” David said, looking at Imhotep.

The powerful telepath nodded.

General Lane looked back and forth between them. “What did he do?”

Imhotep answered. “I commanded them to sleep. It will be easier for David to alter their memories if they aren’t conscious, and doing it himself would have just taxed him further.”

“You really think this will work?” General Lane asked, his expression skeptical.

“It should,” David said. “Chris has never failed us.”

“So what’s the plan?” Ethan asked. He had been so distracted helping Ed and the other Seconds put the soldiers at ease that he had missed it.

“All evidence will point to one of two theories,” David said. “A terrorist cell hacked into the mainframes of both this compound and the information hub Seth shut down earlier. On this one, however, they managed to gain control over the utilities as well and sparked several natural gas explosions, killing the soldiers whose lives were lost tonight.”

“Who will be blamed?” Ethan asked.

“That has yet to be decided.”

“And the second explanation?”

“Hackers attacked the mainframes to prove such weaknesses exist in order to force the government to take action. The gas explosions were a repercussion they neither foresaw nor planned.”

“And who will take the fall for that one if investigators should pursue that avenue?” Ethan asked.

“Chris has a fall guy in mind. I didn’t have time to get the who and why. But I trust his judgment.”

As did Ethan.

David turned to Heather’s father. “General Lane, would you mind joining the men above? You know more about the military and how they will interpret things than we do, so we would appreciate your input.”

The general nodded. “I’ll head up there now.”

“Ethan, would you go with him and introduce him to Alejandro and the others?”

“Of course.”

“Once you’ve done that, you’re free to leave if you wish. Aidan can teleport you to David’s. Lisette, you, Ed, Sheldon, and Tracy can leave, too. I’m sure you’re all exhausted. Imhotep will stay with me and ensure the soldiers remain asleep while I alter their memories.”

Lisette nodded, face grave.

Ethan left the room with General Lane and headed through the labyrinth of hallways toward the only entry/exit. “How are you holding up?” he asked, thinking the general had done well so far.

General Lane cut him a glance. “Better now that I know my daughter’s boyfriend won’t die from his injuries.”

Ethan smiled.

Heather’s father arched a brow. “You are her boyfriend, aren’t you? I saw the way she clung to you before the battle.”

“Yes, sir. I’m her boyfriend.” At least, he thought he was. He wanted to be.

But how odd did it sound to say that, as if they were teenagers embroiled in their first crush and he had just given Heather his letterman jacket?

“We really do appreciate all of your help, General,” Ethan said. “I don’t think tonight would have gone as well as it did if you hadn’t taken control of things down here and backed us up.” Ethan had gained a healthy respect for Heather’s father. A hell of a lot had been thrown at him in the past forty-eight hours. He had handled it well.

General Lane nodded, his expression troubled. “I can’t say I’m comfortable with lying about how the soldiers died tonight.”

“I know. But you understand the necessity of it, don’t you?”

“Yes.” He sighed. “Good men and bad men can be found in every profession. The military is no exception. There are those who, if they learned the truth, would want to jump on the bandwagon and create a vampire army of their own. If they were to learn of immortals, too, and the special gifts you possess . . .” He shook his head, needing to say no more.

Light brightened the end of the corridor, where the two doors had been forced open.

Ethan squinted as they approached it. “You did a good thing, sir, protecting Heather and helping her hide her gift all these years.” Just thinking of Heather made Ethan feel warmer inside. “I don’t know what the future has in store for us, but . . . thank you for keeping her safe.”

General Lane studied him a long moment, then nodded. “Call me Milton.”

“Yes, sir,” Ethan said, then grimaced. “Sorry. Habit. My mother may have had her hands full raising five boys, but she drummed good manners into every one of us.”

They had nearly reached the open doors when General Lane grabbed Ethan’s arm and brought him to a halt. A couple more steps and sunlight, muted by clouds, would embrace them.

“Won’t going out in daylight hurt you?” he asked.

“Yes,” Ethan admitted. “The clouds will help, but I’ll only be able to stay aboveground for a few minutes.”

General Lane released his arm and clapped him on the back. “Then let’s do this quickly.”





Chapter Eighteen

Ethan jerked awake, his heart pounding.

He looked down. Heather slept soundly, curled up against him in bed, her bare flesh soft and warm.

As soon as he had returned to David’s, Ethan and Heather had retired to one of the quiet rooms in David’s home. He would’ve preferred to return to Lisette’s house, but thought Seth would probably want them to have the protection of David and the other elders.