Chapter 15

MARISSA WAS RIGHT.

A battle was too risky.

It was dangerous and yet the thought of being separated from her was like a knife to his heart. He would protect her with his life, but that didn’t mean she should deliberately put her life in danger. Now that Norcott was caught, there would be no chance of him or the Albireons having her kidnapped again.

“Is there someplace where you will be safe?” Firbin’s eyes narrowed. “You will not have us to protect you.”

“I’ll go home.” Marissa shrugged. “There is no danger there.”

“Your home has been staged as a crime scene.” Firbin shook his head. “That won’t work. What if the police follow you there?”

“My parents are in San Francisco. I could arrange to visit them.” Marissa bit her lip. “I could contact my older brothers. They’re both at Fallon. I don’t think I could find a place more secure.”

“You can stay here,” Vadim offered. “My hotel is virtually impenetrable. I will be holding Norcott in lockdown in one of my safe rooms until I get the go ahead to give him to the authorities.”

Firbin watched Marissa shudder. He sensed that the Galactic Grand had too many bad memories for her. Being near to her former boss didn’t help either.

“Can your brothers keep you safe?”

“Yes.” Marissa exhaled a loud breath. “Charles is a fighter pilot and Jack is in the Seals. They would never let any harm come to me.”

Firbin tried to stop the tingle of unease he felt at letting her out of his sight. He glanced at Niail. “Is this wise?”

“She would be in more danger on the mission.”

Marissa straightened her shoulders. “I can take care of myself. It’s only a couple of hours away.”

“I will send one of my security men with her.” Vadim nodded to one of the men. “This is Sean. He is ex-marine and the head of my security. He will protect you with his life.”

Marissa glanced at Sean and nodded. “It is settled. Sean will drive me to Fallon and then when you’ve defeated the Albireons, you can contact me there.”

Firbin was still unsettled about this arrangement, but the alternative was worse. Marissa might be harmed in the fight that was going to take place. He couldn’t guarantee that wouldn’t happen. Sending her to her brothers meant that she was far away from where the battle was going to take place. It was the best decision.

“I will contact you as soon as things have been settled.” Firbin had no intention of letting Marissa disappear from his life. He had just found her and he meant to convince her about the bond they shared.

“Then let’s get this show on the road.” Marissa stood. “Douglas won’t be able to contact anyone, and the helicopter should get you there in good time. Sean, do you think we can take my car?”

“Mine is faster.” Sean took her arm and led her from the room. “You might want to phone your brothers first.”

Marissa dug into her purse and pulled out her phone. A few clicks and she was talking to her brother. Firbin noticed the tension in her shoulders lessening as she chatted with her brother. A couple of minutes later, she turned back and smiled.

“Jack has the day off, so we’re going to meet at the gas station just as you enter Indian Springs. He’ll drive me from there.” Marissa smiled. “That will save Sean having to drive me the whole way and I’ll get to visit with my brother.”

“It will be safe?” Firbin tried to ignore his unease. He knew it was probably the thought of being separated that was triggering it, but he still had to be certain.

“Yes.” Marissa threw her phone back into her purse and nodded to Sean. “Jack can protect me. I’m ready when you are.”

Firbin had no other option but to let her go. It was the wisest thing to do. She did not belong in the middle of a battle and he couldn’t protect her and concentrate on destroying the Albireons. All the other mates, except Darrogh’s mate Tamsin, had taken refuge in their secret compound in northern Canada. He wasn’t even certain that Marissa was his bond pair, let alone his mate.

Still, he needed her to be safe.

Getting her out of the line of fire was the best solution. She’d be miles away from the battle and in the care of a security expert and her brothers, who were both trained military men. It was the best solution. He watched her walk out of the door and had to force aside his feeling of despair. He would see her again.

“The helicopter is ready.” Vadim’s voice brought Firbin back to the strategy. “I can have my pilot leave you near the area, but it’s heavily guarded and a no-fly zone. You won’t be able to get any closer by air.”

“That is good enough.” Niail had pulled a satellite aerial map out of his pocket. “It was never part of our original plan, but it looks as if this base may be more significant than Nellis.”

“There is very little chatter from it.” Thero pointed his finger on the map. “This is as close as we can get to the access point.”

Firbin glanced at the map. It was a mountainous area and desert. Not the best options for survival, but they had dealt with worse. He traced a line over a path from the base to an area on a hilltop and frowned.

“This looks as if it’s in use.”

“Then we will make use of it also.” Niail folded the map and put it back in his pocket. “Gather as many arms as you can handle. We may have to use them to gain access.”

Norcott began laughing. “You guys are crazy if you think they’ll let you waltz in there without resistance.”

“We always expect the worse.” Thero’s voice was dry. “We’ll drag you along as collateral.”

“They won’t care.”

Firbin glanced at Niail. “Do we need him?”

“He’s given us what we need.”

“Let me kill him then.”

Vadim cleared his throat. “Might I suggest another option?”

Niail raised an eyebrow. “You want him alive?”

“He might have information that you can use later.” Vadim’s voice was matter of fact. “I do boast the best security in Las Vegas. Let me keep him in one of my detainment rooms.”

“It is very secure,” Firbin agreed. As much as he wanted the man dead for what he had done to Marissa, he couldn’t deny that they might need insider information that only he was able to give them. “I don’t think Norcott has the capability to fight his way out.”

“Trust me. The man will not escape.” Vadim’s voice was dry.

Niail nodded. “See that it is done.”

Vadim motioned to four of his security men. “Lock him up. We’ll decide what to do about his residency here later.”

Norcott struggled against the men as they dragged him away. He started to scream and one of the men gagged him again. He still fought their hold, but they kept him subdued as they left the room.

“Are you certain that you will be able to keep him hidden?” Niail asked.

“This is Las Vegas.” Vadim crossed his arms. “Nothing happens here that we are not aware of. In my hotel, I am the only person who issues orders. He is to be detained until further notice. There will be no breach on my end.”

Niail nodded. “Good. If he is a problem, let us know. We will kill him.”

“If it comes to that, I still remember some of my training.” Vadim motioned to the last remaining security man. “Make certain the helicopter is ready.”

When they were alone in the room, Vadim turned back to Niail. He handed him a phone. “This is a throwaway cell. Use it once only and then destroy it. If you need my help, do not hesitate to contact me. My number is the only one programed.”

“Can we not communicate through mind connect?” Firbin asked.

“Connecting with you was the first time I was able to communicate in such a way since being on Earth. I thought that the ability was lost to me.”

“You were out of practice.”

“Perhaps.” Vadim shrugged. “I received major head injuries that took me almost a year to recover from. I always assumed that my ability to communicate with my brothers was lost or they had all perished.”

“We will try mind connect first if we need you. If not then the phone is a good backup. You seem to be prepared for all eventualities.” Firbin grinned. “Your life on this planet must have been interesting.”

“I have had great success here.” Vadim’s voice was dry. “Unfortunately that means encountering things that are abhorrent to most races. Subterfuge and violence are common place on Earth.”

“Greed is universal.” Niail pocketed the disruptor that Norcott had tried to use against Marissa. “The Albireons are proof of that.”

“I like this planet.” Vadim’s voice was sincere. “That is why I think it is important to protect it. I know that the Albireons will not allow any humans to live once they have taken what they need.”

“We will stop them.”

“Good.” Vadim picked up Norcott’s computer. “I will have one of my best computer hackers go over this. I am certain that there is encrypted information on it.”

“You have been a great help.” Niail gripped Vadim’s shoulder. “I will let Ardal and Lorcan know that you have survived. We will be in touch.”

“I am here.”

Vadim opened the door and ushered them out of the villa. There was a butler and security guard at the desk. The door was unlocked and they entered the private casino room. It was empty now and Firbin glanced at Vadim.

“Where are your patrons?”

“We have ushered them into a much more private area.” Vadim continued to lead them through the opulently decorated gaming room. “When the problem of Norcott has settled down, we will reopen this room.”

“We have caused you great trouble.” Niail’s voice was apologetic.

“I am always available for my brother Hunters. I may have been raised human, but I have not forgotten my training.”

“By Cygnus and Warrior, we will succeed and make this planet safe.” Firbin’s words were the vow that all Hunters had agreed to when they had decided to defeat the Albireons.

They took an elevator to the top floor of the hotel and then walked up another flight of stairs to the roof. The helicopter was waiting for them. The blast of wind from its blades sent gusts of sand and debris flying about the rooftop. They crouched beneath the blades and boarded the aircraft. It took off as soon as they were onboard.

It was a short flight.

The pilot flew low so that they wouldn’t be so easily detected. When they reached the boundary of the restricted flying area, he hovered about five feet above ground and waited while they dropped to the ground. It was safer this way. There was no chance his vehicle would be traced and set off alarms about their incursion onto the base.

Once the helicopter was gone, it was time to enter the base’s restricted zone.

They kept low.

They moved fast.

It took about two hours of non-stop running to get to the access point that Norcott had told them about. It was similar to the others. They had already broken into the one that led to Nellis, so this should be easy.

“Wait until we know the guard schedule.”

Firbin nodded. They were hiding behind a small outcrop of rock. The sentries didn’t disappoint. After thirty minutes, they had their schedule mapped out. There was a patrol every ten minutes. That gave Firbin more than enough time to blow the lid off the air shaft.

He slowed his breathing.

He eased the tension in his shoulders.

When the guard had passed the access shaft, he scrambled out of his hiding place and rushed over to the shaft. It was locked. A deadbolt, a magnetic locking mechanism and an electronic alarm. It was extreme, but showed the value that was put on the security.

He disarmed the alarm first. The deadbolt was a matter of a small amount of explosive and a tiny detonator. The magnetic locking mechanism was trickier. It took a bit of rewiring and explosives, but it finally released with a low whir. Once the wire cage was open, Firbin felt along the edges for any booby-traps or other alarms.

It was clear.

“Ready.” He connected with Niail.

“We’ll wait for the next patrol. If they see nothing amiss, then we’re a go.”

Firbin put the steel grating back in place and picked up the pieces of the destroyed locking mechanisms before leaving the shaft. He moved back into hiding beside Niail and Thero and waited for the next guard to pass.

Five minutes later and they were in the clear. The guard hadn’t noticed anything amiss, so they waited for him to pass out of sight and then started down the shaft. Niail was first, then Firbin and lastly Thero, who replaced the grate over the shaft.

There was a ladder and the shaft descended at least one hundred feet below ground. As they approached the end, Niail called a halt. Firbin stayed in place and eased his breathing. This was the most dangerous part of their mission. They were dropping into the unknown. He had successfully broken the locks, but that didn’t mean that he hadn’t triggered a hidden alarm somewhere else.

They were far enough away from the base that this shaft probably led into a tunnel.

It could be another guarded area of an underground base. A new one that they were not aware of. Niail eased down the last rungs of the ladder and surveilled the area.

“It is a tunnel.”

There were two quick shots in rapid succession of Norcott’s weapon.

“The cameras are disabled. We are safe to descend.”

One by one, they dropped down into the dark, dank tunnel. It was dimly lit from spotlights that were set up at two hundred feet intervals. It was obvious this was not meant to be a regular method of travel. As with the tunnel system at Nellis, there was also an electromagnetic rail down the center.

“Norcott said that we needed to go north to find the second access point.” Niail pulled out the map and a small flashlight.

Firbin looked at the map and then the tunnel. “It should take about an hour to reach the second point.”

“We can’t shoot out all of the cameras.” Thero started down the tunnel. “I will set them up in a loop so that we are virtually invisible.”

They walked for about ten minutes until the next camera was in sight. Firbin boosted Thero up onto his shoulders and he was able to work with the camera, sending its feed into a continual loop. When he was done, they went to the opposite side and did the same with that camera. Now no matter what happened, they would be able to roam the tunnels without being discovered. It was doubtful that the security would come down this far for two cameras that were out of service, especially when they had working cameras within twenty feet.

They started toward their destination at a jog. Firbin hoped the exercise would ease his concerns about Marissa, but it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, his unease was growing. His stomach rolled with anxiety and his chest tightened as a sudden and intense fear ripped through him. He had to stop as he struggled to get a breath of air.

He bent over to stop the nausea threatening to overwhelm him.

He inhaled a sharp breath and then felt as if he were choking.

Niail and Thero both stopped and walked back to him.

“What is wrong?”

“I can’t breathe.”

“Have you injured yourself?”

Firbin shook his head.

He knew exactly what this was.

“Marissa is in trouble.”