Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)(92)

"I could perpetrate a mind attack," Nick said. "But it'll take you guys out at close quarters, and I won't be able to shoot during. If they rush me . . ."

"No. I shift." Demons could attack minds, but Bear needed his intact to get out of this. He drew in air. "It's the only way."

Something banged against the front door. Hard.

Static came across the comm units. "Get to the back of the room. Now," hissed a hoarse demon voice.

"Logan?" Garrett asked.

"Yeah. Get ready." An engine roared, and suddenly the entire front wall of the bar crashed in. Bodies went flying. Garrett shoved a gun into Bear's hand, and they all three stood, firing in every direction, running for the truck.

Logan shoved open the passenger-side door, firing through the window toward the bartender.

Garrett jumped inside and fell over the center console to the back seat. Bear shoved Nick in and then jumped in behind him, turning and firing. A bullet pierced his arm. "Go, go, go."

Logan slammed the truck into reverse and punched the gas. They squealed out of the bar and flipped around.

Men stumbled out of the demolished bar, two still firing guns. Bear plugged one between the eyes, while Nick caught the other in the neck.

The bartender ran out, pumping his huge gun. Bear and Nick fired simultaneously, hitting the asshole in the head. He went down, his gun flying into the air. A head shot wouldn't kill him, but he wouldn't be shooting at anybody for a while.

"Where is Lucas?" Bear asked.

"Dunno," Logan said, leaning over the steering wheel. A purple knot swelled on his temple. "When they locked the back door, he told me to take point, and he ran around the front." Logan flipped the lights on.

Bear looked frantically around. "God. There he is." Lucas's legs stuck out from a side alley. He had to be okay. Bear leaped from the truck and ran over to his friend, grabbing him up. "Luke? Luke." He shook his second-in-command.

Lucas's head lolled, and he blinked. A raw gash bled across his entire forehead. "Bear?"

Thank God. Bear dragged him back to the truck and lifted him inside, jumping in after him. "Go, Logan. Go." 

The kid stomped down on the gas, and they lurched down the street.

Nick grabbed a cell phone out of the jockey box. "I'll call it in." He dialed and held the device to his ear. "It's Veis. We-" The demon stopped speaking.

Tension, raw and fierce, rolled through the cab. Horrible pain and images slammed into Bear's brain, and he shut his eyes. "Nick."

The demon mind attack stopped. Bear opened his eyes, feeling as if a boulder had landed in his gut. "What?"

"We're on the way," Nick said, disengaging the call. "Attack on headquarters-from the air. Both Simone and Nessa were hit."





Chapter 29

Nessa settled Simone on the wide bed in the master bedroom, fluffing her pillows. Simone groaned and clutched her stomach, pulling up her knees.

Panic choked off Nessa's breathing. "You'll be okay." She shucked her sweater, leaving only her blouse. "Hold on. Take deep breaths." The dart she'd taken was slowing her movements, and she tried to shrug it off.

"It's too early," Simone gasped, her face twisting in pain. "Even for immortals. Four months is too early."

Nessa soothed the hair back from her face. "Deep breaths."

Jasper came to the door. "We've secured the premises and ordered the helicopters up for air support."

Nessa tried to calm herself. "Thanks. I need my uncle. Send Boondock."

"He's out cold, Nessa. Took several knife wounds to the neck and upper chest." Jasper wiped blood off his chin. His face was a bruised mess, and his lip double its usual size. "Boondock will be out cold for hours. Can I do anything?"

"No." Nessa shot him a smile, her body seizing. "Just shut the door. Thanks."

He shut the door quietly.

Nessa moved up the bed to sit next to Simone. "All right, Simone. Let's see what we can do to heal you." She kept her voice soft as she placed her hands over Simone's chest. Heat instantly burned her. "You have some Apollo damage going on, but we can fix that."

"W-why aren't you slower? I saw a dart," Simone panted out.

"Dunno," Nessa said. "The dart just glanced me. I feel fine. Let's work on you." Actually, she was nauseated and her head hurt like she'd been kicked in both temples, but she could do this. She had to do this.

Tears slid down Simone's aristocratic face. "I can't lose this baby. I just can't."

"Shhh." Nessa kept one hand on Simone's upper chest and placed her other one low on the woman's abdomen. She breathed in and shut her eyes, trying to feel the damage.