The Belial Stone(90)

Sensing movement to his left Gideon rolled to his feet and swung around. A second shooter was coming around the other side. The man was caught out in the open.

“Amateur,” Gideon muttered disgustedly. He shot the man twice in the chest.

As the man dropped, Gideon stalked towards him, keeping his gun trained. He kicked the man’s weapon away and looked at his would-be assassin. The man was gasping for breath.

He calmly shot him in the face. A face he recognized. He was one of Kensington’s private security detail.

He strode over to the man in the driveway. He was already past help. Wishing he could kill him again, he emptied the rest of his clip into him.

He stomped to the front door and kicked it open, breaking the door frame. Seething, he stopped, looking around his home with narrowed eyes. How dare he. Who does he think he’s dealing with? And only sending two men to kill me? That’s just insulting.

He paused, halfway into his living room. Why would Kensington make this move now? It was bold. And Kensington was never bold, except when he felt he held all the cards.

He turned to his right and walked over to his bar. He pulled a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue off the shelf. Pouring himself two fingers worth, he downed it before re-filling his glass. The drink warmed his throat. Ah, Kensington. You foolish man. You’ve found the stone, haven’t you?

He emptied his glass. Placing it back on the counter, he looked around his home. It had been a good refuge. But if all went well, this would be the last time he saw it.

Smiling, he turned and walked back out to his car.





CHAPTER 76



It was just before dawn as the assault team crept towards the enclosure. They had broken into two groups of fifteen men. The first group, led by Henry, took out the truck patrols. The second group, led by Jake, hightailed it to the enclosure.

Patrick watched behind him for the first group to join them. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw them appear from the darkness. Together, the two groups advanced on the enclosure. So far they’d been lucky. They hadn't encountered any guards. They must all be at the compound itself.

Patrick’s pulse quickened as the enclosure came into view. A wind blew towards them, bringing the scent of body odor and death. The thought of Laney being held in there chilled him to the bone. He gripped his Glock more securely. He would get her out. Nothing was going to stand in his way.

He nearly tripped as he counted the guards at the site. They seemed to have tripled in number. He shoved aside the doubts that tried to crowd his mind. They would succeed. They would get Laney and Tom out of there.

Patrick watched Yoni move towards the transformer, using the shadows as cover. Almost time. In one minute, Yoni would blow the transformer and back-up generator. The darkness and chaos would, hopefully, provide the assault team with enough time to subdue most of the guards.

Patrick crawled up next to Jake. Making the sign of the cross, he said a little prayer for the upcoming assault. He hoped that Gideon was nowhere nearby. This was going to be tough enough without that obstacle.

He looked over at the sleeping cage where Laney slept. He had to hold himself back from springing for it.

Jake reached over and grasped Patrick’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Patrick. We’ll get her out.”

Patrick looked into Jake’s eyes and read the commitment there. Jake would not let Laney be harmed. He was as determined to get her out as he was.

He nodded. “Yes, we will. And Tom, too.”

The radio beeped and Yoni’s voice called out softly. “Ready to go. All teams in place?”

The teams all called in their affirmatives.

Yoni counted down. “Darkness in 3, 2, 1.”





CHAPTER 77



Yoni leapt away from the transformer. The explosion blasted through the metal casing, sending shrapnel in every direction and a fireball straight up.

A wave of heat blew over him and he rolled farther from the flames. The site was pitched into darkness.

Yoni pulled out his M4 as silence descended and all work stopped. He imagined the guards, looking around, trying to figure out what had just happened.

Gunfire broke through the silence. Yoni got to his knees, ready to join the fight.

“Shit,” he yelled as gunfire peppered the ground behind him. He dove behind the wreckage of the transformer. The guards had recouped faster than he’d expected. He looked up at the gun tower and saw the sparks of light that the shooters set off with each shot.

“Shit,” he groaned again, struggling to figure out a way to avoid the enemy, who had the higher ground.

“Yoni, get down!” Jordan dropped to a knee and sent a surface-to-air missile into the guard tower.

“Shit!” Yoni threw himself to the ground, covering his head as a shower of tower debris rained around him.