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When Wit’s stare remained on Relay, it didn’t go unnoticed.
“Seriously, Wit?” Relay scolded. “If it were me, it would be pretty obvious since I haven’t left this place in days and moved in once Killion’s kids were born so he could be a dad and care for Rainy. I’m not the evil genius you’re looking for.”
“I know. We all know,” Cane said, glaring at the two brothers. “This has been building for a long time. Someone who’s been watching us and the Dozen for years. They must know a little bit about all of us to get as far as they have. They know our strengths and our weaknesses.”
“How long before they take this guy out? You really think we’ll get the witness to one of our sites and keep him safe?” Killion questioned. “Or did they already anticipate this move from watching us? Specifically, me? I mean, I just called the shot on that one. Did they already assume my move? Know what location our team is housing the arsonist in? Have they already wired it with micro explosives? I mean, if they know my every move, and yours, and the teams…”
Cane pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re right. We need this witness because we need a break in the case. Just a hint… it’s all we need. This has to stop.”
Killion leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and watched the fires across the screens on the wall. “It’s not going to stop. Not until they get what they want. Nobody is safe in Portland. Not until they get me.”
20
Five days. It had been five days since trouble started for Killion, and they were no closer to getting to the root of it all. He sat in the Lair, early for yet another briefing, waiting for good news but anticipating bad. Frustration consumed him, anger took over him, and now he was defeated. The worst part was knowing that he had to know the person responsible but couldn’t put a finger on who it was. He’d racked his brain, gone through files, compared cases, looked up every contact he’d made for the past decade, and there was nothing. He’d even considered it could be an inside job. Someone close to him. The theory made sense, but he couldn’t even connect the dots there. It was anyone’s guess.
Portland was under siege, and the majority of its residence didn’t know it. The crimes seemed endless, and they were all designed to draw Killion out. Like the city was being held ransom, and he was the payout. Miscellaneous buildings had been set on fire, robbed, or held at gunpoint to rile the patrons. Rip, a Keeper and owner of Rose City Ink lost his shop in an arson fire. The O’Reilly Pub across from Watermark had a similar fire started, shutting them down until further notice. There were handfuls of other businesses the O’Reillys, Killion specifically, frequented or was somehow connected to, including some of their Security clients.
Chaos wasn’t unpunished. There had been multiple arrests. Some too easy. Some requiring a chase. Though many were from Lindstrom’s crew, many weren’t, which begged the question, were they working for someone else? Was there another hunter in their midst after the same thing? How many enemies were on the prowl, and how many were circling in? They were crawling out of the woodwork for an unknown enemy, or two, determined to destroy Killion’s life and take everything he had, no matter the cost.
There had to be a way to surrender. Give them what they wanted— or a faux version –– use it as a trap to draw them out and take them down. Killion would design it. Set it in motion. At the end of the day, he knew it would solve the immediate problems, but only until the next one took the last enemies place… like they were next in line, racing for the crown Killion wore. He was the key to it all. Because of him, no one would be safe. Killion had a target on his back and so would everyone and everything he cherished.
He was a ticking time bomb. This would be their lives –– on repeat –– every time the wind blew. Until the next threat presented itself and raced for his throne.
The predator –– perhaps predators –– knew too much, and it was driving Killion to the edge. The guy with all the answers had none. Not even a damn clue. Just a half-assed plan and a hope and a prayer. The only thing helping him keep it together was Rainy. She and the babies were everything to him. They were his whole world and gave him the hope he clung to like it was the air he needed to breathe. She’d listen to him, troubleshoot with him, plot, and brainstorm with him –– she was a fair match when it came to technology and operations alike. He valued her opinions and craved her affections as they were the only things that took the edge off and calmed the aching nerves trying to bring him to his knees.
Rainy was the reason he continued to fight. Their babies were the reason, too. They deserved better than they were getting from him, and he intended to work harder to end the chaos and give them a normal life. He was willing to do just about anything to accomplish that –– even consider a deal with the devil himself if Killion could trust him. Which he couldn’t. So there was that. Still no endgame. Not one that protected his family and the greater good.
An alert pinging on his phone pulled him from his thoughts and launched him into operative mode once again as he raced to his computer and pulled up the security feeds around the building. The room began to fill with team members, and he heard the pings hit their phones, one after the other. As each entered the room, their gaze was trained on the screens and what was happening outside their building. They were under attack.
“Shit!” he yelled, running across the room. “Rainy.”
“Go,” Wit said, studying the screen. “Go get her.”
“What’s happening?” Brody asked as he ran in, nearly passing Killion.
“We’re about to be breached,” Killion warned, yelling across the room for all to hear. “We have two at the front entrance, the underground garage access point, and I see two approaching the back –– I think they’re going for the atrium.”
“They’re attaching Breachers Tape,” Brody yelled, following Killion out. “Secure the floors, protect the families here. We’re about to explode.”
Killion made it to the elevator just as it opened, and others got off. Brody slapped the down button to send him off and began to update the operatives unloading while Killion hit the ground floor, headed for the atrium where he assumed Rainy would be. The ride down was slow, per usual when the stakes were as amped as they were. She’d mentioned taking a walk and spending time in there with the babies, and he prayed she hadn’t made it there yet or was already headed for home.
If she was in the atrium, there was no telling if she’d have a view of the breach. The place was massive with so much vegetation, she could easily miss it, especially while tending to the babies. It was a perfect distraction. From the outside, the atrium wasn’t obvious. The glass had a one-way view, and it was out. The target was too specific to be calculated. Whoever ordered the attack knew of the place and knew she frequented that spot, usually alone with the babies.
He couldn’t get to them fast enough. Killion grasped his chest as it began to tighten while he filled with fear and an anxiety he’d never felt before. Was this a panic attack? He didn’t know, but the lights began to dim and breathing became labored while his ears began to ring. Taking deep breaths, he moved back and forth, refusing to pass out because that was how he felt as the sweat beaded across his face, trickled down his neck, and pooled at the center of his back. He needed to get to them before those explosives detonated.
Killion jumped up and down as if his weight would be enough to move the elevator faster. A primal roar of anger escaped him while beating a fist against his chest like a war cry. This was what this was… war. A war against time. A war against a faceless enemy. A war with himself.
“No!” he yelled. “No! No! No!”
He was fighting against the fear that consumed him, the darkness surrounding him, and the threat headed straight for his heart. Rainy and the babies. With his nostrils flared, he breathed so heavily that moisture dripped from his nose and leaked from the sides of his mouth through tightly gritted teeth like a rabid animal ready to kill because he was ready.
He’d forgotten his comms were on until Wit came through. “I see her. She’s safe. You have time.”
“What?” he growled, looking around until he realized Wit’s voice was in his ear.
“I can see her and the babies. They’ll be right in front of you when you get off that elevator across the atrium. You’ll see them as soon as the doors open,” Wit said. “Collect yourself, brother. Don’t let her see you like this. You know why.”
“I-I…” Killion shook his head and took in Wit’s words. He knew exactly why he couldn’t behave this way in front of her. “I can’t, man. I can’t turn it off. My chest…”
