The Belial Stone(76)

“I think you know the layout, Laney.”

“I know. I just want to make sure.”

He sat down in a chair across from her and reached over to take her hand. “You know, you don’t need to be part of this. You’ve done enough. We can handle the assault tonight without you.”

“We’re going to need every hand. Even with the men and weapons Henry and Jake are picking up, we’re still going to be cutting it close with manpower.”

“You’ve played your part in this fight. Let us handle the rest. We’ll have enough men without you, okay?”

Laney squeezed his hand and then pulled hers away. “Uncle Patrick, I know you’re trying to keep me safe. And the best way for that to happen is for all of this to end. Let’s just enjoy the peace for now, because lately, it’s been pretty rare.” And it’s usually followed by gunfire, she thought. Out loud she said, “I spoke with Kati about an hour ago.”

“Are you sure that was wise?”

“Jake arranged it. He gave me a burner phone and I called her father. They can’t trace it back here. She took Max swimming. She said he's a natural in the water.”

Patrick smiled. “I’m not surprised. He’s a smart little monster.”

“He’s worried that he’s going to miss his first school play. He plays a carrot.”

He chuckled. “Hmmm, I remember those school plays when you were in them. I have to say, I’m not sure I’m going to be upset at missing a bunch of four-year-olds forget their lines and sing out of tune.”

Laney scoffed good-naturedly. “Who are you kidding? Kati told me you made her promise to record it so you could see it.”

“I was just being nice.”

“Which is why you gave her your video camera?”

Yoni interrupted Patrick’s response with a question from across the room. “Hey, what do you think of a baseball theme?”

At Patrick’s perplexed look, Laney explained. “He’s looking at bedding for the nursery. He’s trying to find the right theme for his son.” She walked over to Yoni and glanced at the screen. “It’s kind of cliché.”

Yoni nodded and turned back to the computer. “I don’t really like baseball anyway,” he muttered. “Hey, what are those, farm animals?”

Before he could expand the image, an icon started flashing in the top right hand of the screen. He clicked on it and a schematic of the trip wires he’d placed around the property appeared.

Laney's heart raced. The wires had been activated about a thousand yards in front of the house.

Yoni leapt up and grabbed the assault rifle he’d placed on the desk. He pushed Laney towards the kitchen where the stash of ammunition was piled. “We’ve got company coming up the front. Grab as many weapons as you can handle.”

Laney hesitated, shock momentarily anchoring her in place. Then she grabbed a Beretta off the table, shoving three clips of ammunition in her pockets. She grabbed the automatic rifle off the counter. She slipped out the magazine, checked that it was full, and then slammed it back in place.

Patrick grabbed an extra handgun and ammunition from the stash on the kitchen counter as well. “Plan?”

Yoni paused at the bottom of the stairs. “Patrick, take position at the front of the house. Laney, you take the back. I’ve got a three hundred and sixty degree view from the widow’s walk upstairs. We just need to hold them off for a little while. With some luck, Jake and Henry will be back any minute with reinforcements. Until then, we have enough ammunition to hold off a small army.”

Laney nodded, amazed at the change in Yoni. There was no trace of the easygoing man she’d come to know. He was all soldier.

“Take positions,” he ordered before sprinting up the stairs.

Laney flattened herself against the wall by the back window. Her uncle smashed out one of the front windows and Laney did the same to the back, training her M4 on the backyard. Nothing moved.

She jumped as she heard the retort of Patrick’s machine gun. She kept her eyes peeled. A movement to her right drew her attention. She pulled the trigger and the man creeping through the trees dropped.

Another two men appeared over the hill to the right. She took aim and they dove for the ground as her bullets raked where they had stood.

She took aim again when a projectile clattered to the floor behind her. She turned as smoke began to pour from the soup can sized object.

“Tear gas,” her uncle yelled as he crossed the room, his shirt pulled above his mouth. Laney pulled her shirt up as well.

“Need to go,” her uncle said as he reached her side.

Laney nodded, her eyes already beginning to sting.