Chapter Fifteen
Naura paced alongside Vaulcron, wringing her hands and fighting back tears. She’d been keeping in touch with Braum throughout their escape, aware of all that had happened. “They are going to catch them, brother. I can feel it in my stomach.”
Vaulcron stopped and gripped her arms. “They will not catch them. Tony is smarter than that. He is capable of handling himself out there. Braum and Gryke are with them also. He is in good hands.”
“I hope you are right,” Naura whispered, wrapping her arms around her oldest brother.
He returned the gesture, embracing her in his safety and warmth. “I am. You have to trust that Tony knows what he is doing. He does not strike me as the foolish type.”
She pulled back to study Vaulcron’s face. “If something happens to him, I —”
“Naura?” Tony’s voice inside her head was a balm to her soul.
Vaulcron frowned. “What is it?”
She held up a hand for silence. “It is Tony.”
“Yes. I am here,” she quickly sent back, aware that it must be urgent for Tony to connect with her, not once, but twice that day.
“Get out of there now. They know about us. It will only be a matter of time before they piece together exactly what happened and come looking for their men at Henry’s house.”
“Where do you want us to go?”
“You are ten minutes north of the beach. Hit the woods and head south.”
“Hit the woods?” she asked in confusion.
“Go to the trees and follow them south,” came his impatient response. “Stay off the roads and you should be fine. Don’t stop until you are safely in the water. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Just do as I say and get the hell out of there.”
Severing the connection, she grabbed hold of Vaulcron’s hand and turned toward the door. “We must make haste.”
“Talk to me, sister. What is going on?”
“There is no time. I will explain on the way.”
“Wait.” Vaulcron disengaged her hold on his hand and ran into Abbie’s old bedroom, recoiling from the smell of urine coming from the soldiers on the bed.
“I am sorry,” he murmured, looking into their rage-filled eyes. “Your people will be here soon to release you.” He spun on his heel and nearly ran into Naura. “I am ready.”
She gripped his hand once again and allowed him to lead her through the kitchen and out the back door. They didn’t stop until they were safely surrounded by the cover of the trees.
“Run,” Vaulcron whispered, pointing her south. “Stop for nothing.”
Naura didn’t hesitate. She shot through the trees, dodging branches and fallen debris. She had one thing on the brain as she ran toward the beach…Tony.
* * * *
Glenn Anderson cringed as he listened to Doug Jefferies tear him a new asshole on the other end of the phone line. “How could you let them get away?”
“He wore a uniform, badge, and had an ID, sir. His hair was different, and he had no beard. There was no way to identify him as Vaughn. The coast guard has been sent out to find them. They won’t get far.”
“Those creatures live in the gulf, you idiot. The coast guard will never apprehend them if they’ve gone to the water.”
“There’s still a chance, sir. They’re in a boat with Vaughn and Sutherland in the bay.”
Jefferies exhaled an enormous sigh. “You better hope they don’t get away, Anderson. It won’t bode well for you.” He hung up without elaborating.
The veiled threat wasn’t lost on Glenn. He was well aware of Doug Jefferies’s power to have him punished. The guy might not be secretary of defense, but he had the president’s ear, and that was common knowledge in the political world.
Glenn replaced the phone receiver and turned to face Spivey. “Let’s pray that the coast guard finds them and soon, or you may be reading about me in the paper.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Spivey blurted, his eyes larger than normal.
“Hopefully nothing.” Glenn stepped around him as he headed for the door. “But Jefferies is pissed and looking for someone to blame.”
“Brandon allowed him inside, not you.”
Glenn stepped out into the brightly lit parking lot. “He’s a highly decorated officer. You do the math.”
* * * *
Vaulcron motioned for Naura to stop as they reached the back beach road.
“Why do we wait?” Naura whispered, scanning the area for possible threats.
“Something does not feel right. I am not certain what it is, but I smell danger close by.”
Naura’s heart pounded with fear and no small amount of exertion from the recent two-mile run. “We are nearly there, brother. I can hear the waves.”
“Stay here while I have a look.” He glanced up and down the street before shooting across, not bothering to wait and see if she obeyed.
Naura rested her hands on her knees, keeping her gaze glued to her brother’s retreating back until he disappeared amid the dunes.
“Tony?” she mentally called, briefly closing her eyes and concentrating on his essence. When no answer came, she tried again. “Please let me know that you are all right. We are close to the beach and will be in the safety of the water in minutes.”
No response. Why could she not feel him? Had he been captured, injured, or worse, hadn’t survived? “Tony? Answer me.”
Shots suddenly rang out, ricocheting off the surrounding condominiums that lined the gulf’s shore.
“Vaulcron!” Naura screamed, her heart in her throat as she raced headlong for the beach.
“Naura, go back!” The muffled shout could barely be heard over the crashing of the waves.
Another round of gunfire erupted, piercing the night with deafening explosions. Something slammed against Naura’s back, throwing her forward and into Vaulcron’s arms.
“Brother?” she whispered, clinging to his taller form, pain spreading through her body, taking her breath.
She tilted her head back to gaze into his horror-filled eyes, her mouth opening and closing with every attempt to speak. “I am sorry,” she managed before her world turned black.