The Belial Stone(60)

CHAPTER 47



Saint Paul, MN



“You’re not going.” Jake glared down at Laney.

She glared right back. “Last time I checked, that decision wasn’t up to you.”

Jake tried a different tack. “Look, I know you want to help. But I think this is just a little over your head. You should go home and–“

“And what, Jake? Darn some socks? Cook up a lovely meal?”

Jake groaned. Okay, definitely not the right approach. He wasn’t sure how everything had gone so wrong. After Laney had come out of the shower, he’d held her until she’d fallen asleep. They’d lain curled up together for a few hours. When she’d awoken, he had told her it would be safer for her to go back to Baltimore. And then all hell had broken loose.

“I didn't mean it like that. I meant you’re not trained for this.”

“Really, Jake? And how much of your military training covered battles with fallen angels? Was that part of basic or did they save that for SEAL school?”

Jake stared at her, his mind scrambling to come up with an argument that would work. “Laney, you’ve nearly been killed what, four times?”

She gave him a pointed look. “The key word there is ‘nearly’. And I could make the same argument about you. And who in this room actually took out a fallen? I’m pretty sure it wasn't you.”

Jake turned and headed for his duffel, which sat on the coffee table. “You’re not going."

“Careful, you don’t want to scrape your knuckles too badly as you drag them along the floor,” Laney muttered.

Jake whirled around to reply when his phone rang. He yanked it out of his pocket. “What?!”

“Um, Jake?”

“Henry, this really isn’t a good time.”

“Well, it’s not been a great one here, either. The compound was attacked.”

Jake’s anger evaporated, replaced by concern. “Is everyone okay?”

Jake watched the color drain from Laney’s face. She crossed the room to him to stand next to him.

“We’re okay. But the security unit was almost completely taken out.”

Jake closed his eyes and breathed deep. He’d recommended half the unit at the headquarters. “Damn it. Was it…” he couldn't bring himself to say “fallen angels”. He just couldn't get the words past his lips.

“They were human,” Henry replied. “But they have a record. They were Russian nationals.”

Jake’s head jerked up. “Same as ours.”

“Yeah. I think it’s only going to get more dangerous as we move on. We need to end this, Jake. I need you two in Montana ASAP to see what you can find. Danny and I are going to see if we can track down a photo of the attacker from the church. Patrick’s going to see what he can find out about the stone and these men’s abilities. If Montana is the end game, Patrick and I will join you there.”

Jake knew Henry was right. They needed to pick up the pace. Things were getting too dangerous. “Okay, Henry. We’ll call you when we have something.” He disconnected the call.

Laney placed a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry about your friends.”

“You get all that?”

She nodded.

“All the attackers were normal humans.” He shook his head. “Why?”

“I’ve been thinking about that. If this Belial Stone is the weapon it’s purported to be, Montana really is the end game. And not just for humanity, but for the angels’ existence here as well. And I think Paul’s companion may be on his own. In our research so far, there’s nothing that suggests the angels all get reincarnated back together. They could be spread across the planet. He may have spent lifetime after lifetime looking for a way out of here. Now, he’s close. Really close. I’m guessing he couldn’t take the risk of coming here himself. If he died, who knows where the Belial Stone would be when he finally re-emerged?”

Jake nodded. “But he can’t honestly believe that after murdering billions of people, that he’d be rewarded with what he wants. Can he?”

Laney’s smile was grim. “Madness generally isn’t logical.”





CHAPTER 48



Havre, MT



Gideon stood in the guard tower watching the men scurry around below him. Lights glared across the space, making it look like a movie set. Although Gideon hadn’t slept, he felt energized.

“All these little men, running around like ants,” he murmured. They were close. He could almost feel it. Finally after all this time, it would end.

“Did you say something, sir?” the guard on the other side of the tower asked.