Wildfire (Hidden Legacy #3)(88)

He thought about it. "Kurt said it might help to deal with it."

I held up the USB stick. "We need a TV."

We all stampeded into the living room, where I plugged the USB stick into the TV. The images of Leon and me walking filled the screen. The Vault vehicle charged into the parking lot. I paused the video.

"We got the Vault bus. It's parked out back."

Grandma Frida's eyes lit up. "Good girl."

"Press play!" Arabella ground out.

I pushed the button. On screen we spun around and ran for the door, Leon sprinting past me. Frank Madero popped into existence right in front of me. The family gasped.

On screen the shockers' lightning looked like feathers. Fine white feathers that flickered into existence and licked Frank's skin.

It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

Frank dropped to his knees. I let him go. He collapsed facedown. I stumbled, groping for my gun. People were running toward us.

Leon dashed into the frame next to me, the Sig 210 in his hands. He raised it and fired. I thought it took only a second. It was more like two or maybe two and a half. He fired as fast as he could pull the trigger.

Eight people dropped as if cut. The rest turned around and fled for their lives.

Nobody said anything.

"One shot, one kill," Mom said finally.

"You think he ranks around Notable, like your father?" Grandma Frida asked her.

Mom squinted at the recording. "That's what, fifty meters between them?"

"He's higher." I got out my phone and showed Mom a picture of two of the bodies.

Her eyes widened. "Every single one?"

I nodded.

"What?" Catalina asked.

"He shot them all between the eyes," Mom said. "Instant kill. He did it at a fifty-meter distance, rapid fire. He is at least Significant."

Grandma Frida whistled.

Bern grabbed Leon and crushed him into what could've been an excited brotherly bear hug or a judo submission hold. It was hard to tell for sure.

"This is special, Leon," Mom said. "You're special."

Leon turned red in the face.

"You're choking him," I told Bern.

Bernard let go.

"Are you going to register for trials?" Arabella asked.

"No," Leon said.

"What the hell is wrong with this family?" Arabella waved her arms. "Why would you not register?"

"Because I don't need to," Leon said. "It's better that I don't."

"Why?" my sister wailed.

"Kurt explained it to me."

Mom looked at me.

"Ex –Navy SEAL," I explained. "Rogan's PTSD specialist."

"Sometimes bad shit happens, and you have to protect the people you love," Leon said. "It would be nice if you can do that and keep your hands clean, but life doesn't work that way. Life is messy, and sometimes you must do what needs to be done to keep your family safe. It doesn't make you a bad person."



       
         
       
        

I'd have to thank Kurt.

"One day some other Prime will threaten our House, and when that day comes, I'll kill him."

What?

"I'll do it quiet and clean, and nobody will ever know." Leon smiled. "I'm going to be a dark horse, House Baylor's secret. I'll be the best assassin. A legend. They'll never see me coming."

I would kill Kurt. I would strangle him with my bare hands.



I stomped up the stairs to the second floor of Rogan's HQ, where Heart and Bug waited for me. Napoleon saw my face and ran behind Bug's chair to hide.

"Where is Kurt?" I growled.

Bug blinked. "I'm not sure I should tell you this information."

"Bug!"

"Kurt is a valuable member of the team, and you have murder on your face."

"What did he do?" Heart asked.

"He talked to Leon, and now my sixteen-year-old cousin has decided to be an assassin when he grows up."

Bug pondered it. "Well, you have to admit it's not a bad option for someone with his particular skill set."

"Bug!"

"What else is he going to do? Competitive shooting?"

I looked for something to throw at him, but nothing was close.

"I doubt Kurt would suggest Leon become an assassin," Heart said. "That's not Kurt's philosophy."

"And, before you go on a warpath," Bug added, "your dinner is in seventy-two minutes, so you'll have to hunt Kurt down after your date with Garen."

"It's not a date."

"Pardon me, your worship. I meant your business meeting in a romantic French bistro with a young single millionaire Prime for which you're wearing a sexy pantsuit," Bug said.