AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Once Elijah started breathing deeply, she quieted her song to a hum, stopping only when he started to snore. Leaning over, she kissed Czar’s head. “You watch over him, okay?”
She rose and turned to Kaj, and her breath stuttered. He was staring at her like she’d hung the moon. Which didn’t suck, she had to admit.
She reached out her hand, tugging him to his feet when he took it. Silently they made their way downstairs to the living room, where she crossed her arms over her chest, feeling suddenly vulnerable.
“Heather used to sing to him,” he said, voice unsteady. “Thank you.”
“He’s a sweet little boy. You’re very lucky.”
“I know.” He scrubbed his palms over his face. “What are you going to do now?”
“Check with Burke, then grab a few hours’ rest so I can take over duty later. Burke’s doing perimeter checks twice an hour and Antoine will be monitoring the cameras while I sleep. Czar is with Elijah, so you don’t need to worry.”
He regarded her soberly for a long moment. “Thank you. I’ll sleep with my door open. Yell if you need anything. I’m a pretty light sleeper.”
Bayou des Allemands, Louisiana
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 10:30 P.M.
Corey studied Zach and Allyson. She looked the same as she always did. Tense, but level. Zach was twitching, moving in his chair like he couldn’t sit still.
“Ed, can you put the map on-screen?” Corey asked.
Ed did so, then tossed the pointer to Corey. “All set.”
“Thanks. This is the road from Bella Butler’s house. This part here”—he pointed to an area close to Bella’s house—“is where we’ll strike. Allyson, you’ve said that she’ll be riding in the middle SUV of three. One in front and one in back to guard her. Is that still accurate?”
“Yes,” Allyson said.
“Good. This part of the road has no streetlights. The rest of her security force won’t see the threat until it’s too late.” He pointed to the exact place they’d scoped out. “Your job, Allyson, is to get yourself assigned to the first car. Do whatever you have to do to make sure her car slows down as she’s passing over this spot. Zach, you’re in the last car and you make sure that she can’t back up or get away. That’s all you have to do. We’ll take care of the rest.”
The “rest” was the planting of the roadside bomb that would take out Bella Butler’s SUV.
Allyson remained stone-faced, but Zach swallowed hard. “What are you going to do?” the medic asked in a voice that trembled.
“Not your business,” Corey said brusquely. “Your jobs are clear. Allyson makes sure she slows down over that patch of road. You make sure she doesn’t back up.”
Zach licked his lips, his skin gone pale. “You said you were going to hit Bella’s car.”
“Yes. That hasn’t changed.” Corey tilted his head. “What has changed, Zach?”
“You’re going to kill her,” Zach whispered.
“They were always going to kill her, you idiot,” Allyson snapped. “That’s what this has always been about. Haven’t you been paying attention? Why else would they want to know her every movement? Why else would they want to know when she’s leaving her house for the trial? Good God, man. Are you stupid?”
“No,” Zach snapped back. “I just thought that it would be a car accident or something. Something she could survive.”
“Well, it’s not something she’ll survive.” Allyson looked away from him. “Just do your job, Zach. I don’t know what they have on you, but I don’t want my secrets exposed.”
Corey leaned into Zach’s space. “What has changed?” he repeated.
Zach swallowed again. “Bella was going to leave her husband and daughter back at the house for the trial, but she changed her mind. They’ll be in the car with her.”
Allyson flinched, but immediately returned to her normal, cold demeanor. “So?”
Zach jerked his head sideways to stare at her, appalled. “So? We can’t let them hurt that little girl. She’s only six.”
Allyson pursed her lips. “It’s either that or a court-martial for me. I’m choosing myself.”
