Chapter Forty-Four
Tony watched Hauke hold the moonstone high above his head and slow to a stop. “This is the place. It ends here.”
They had found the passage miles back with little problem, but the exit to the cave could prove to be more difficult.
The area they stood in wasn’t quite as large as the Pool of Life entrance or as high. Roots weaved through the ceiling in no particular order, and the smell of earth hung heavy in the air.
“We’re no longer underwater,” Tony pointed out, moving to stand on a large boulder.
Hauke stared up at him. “Do you see an opening anywhere?”
“No. It’s grown over by grass and trees.”
“How are we going to get out?” Naura asked from below him.
Tony took a determined breath before meeting his mate’s gaze. “We dig.”
Jumping to the floor, Tony picked up his bag and pulled out his largest knife before glancing at the tired faces of Abbie and Naura. “Hauke and I will dig while you two get some rest.”
“I can help,” Naura demanded, retrieving the knife from the waistband of her pants.
Tony shook his head. “I would rather you rest. Once we break through to the surface, we will be on the run until I can reach Melvin. And then we still don’t know how long it will be before he can line something up.”
“But—”
“Baby, please. Rest for me.”
Naura nodded and put her knife away. “I will sit with Abbie. But if the digging becomes too strenuous, I demand to help.”
“Fair enough,” Tony relented.
* * * *
“I can see moonlight.” Tony brushed the dirt from his face and peered up at the night skies through a small opening above him. He pushed at the packed dirt, widening the hole enough to squeeze his body through.
“I’m going first,” he told the room at large. “To make sure it’s safe. Everyone keep extra quiet… I have no idea where this comes out.”
Grabbing a large root for leverage, Tony pulled himself up through the hole, his sore muscles screaming in protest. He’d been digging for hours.
He rolled to his side, quickly scanning the area for signs of a threat. A light blue two-story house sat to his left, surrounded by a tall, wooden privacy fence. A colorful swing set and a swimming pool full of algae made up the yard.
He got to his feet and ran across the yard to the back door of the house only to find it locked.
Turning to the side, Tony shattered a pane of glass with his elbow, reached inside, and unlocked the door.
It appeared the house had been abandoned for quite a while. All the cabinet doors stood open, and a musty smell permeated the air.
Satisfied he was alone, he hurried back to the hole and dropped to his stomach. “Naura? Give me your hand.”
Tony pulled Naura through the opening and stood back as Hauke emerged with Abbie and Arcanum on his back.
“Damn,” Tony muttered. “Your strength never ceases to amaze me, Hauke.”
Hauke grinned and set Abbie on her feet. “That is how I feel when I listen to you speak.”
Tony shot him a smirk. “Come on. Let’s get inside. I didn’t check to see if the electricity was on, so we may have to take cold showers.”
Hauke and Naura stared at him as if he’d sprouted wings.
Abbie began walking toward the back door of the house. “They practically live in cool water, Uncle Tony.”
“Yes,” Tony agreed. “But the bathhouse water was always warm.”
Arcanum began to whimper as everyone filed into the house. Abbie handed him to Hauke and dug out a cloth diaper from her bag.
Tony watched as she retrieved a pack of wipes. “I’m assuming that Vaulcron gets you the baby wipes?”
Abbie sent him a humorous smile. “Yes, of course.”
“What are you going to do when he needs vaccinations or any other kind of help for childhood illnesses?”
“Bracadyte children don’t get diseases like humans do, Uncle Tony. But they do acquire injuries from time to time. I had started a list of things for Vaulcron to begin bringing back on his Cuba runs, but that’s all changed now.”
Tony’s heart ached for her and all the Bracadytes forced from their home. “None of us know what the future holds, Abbie. We’re alive, and that’s the most important thing at the moment.”
He kissed her cheek and moved to step around her. “I’m sorry about Henry.”
“Thank you,” Abbie whispered, turning away.
Tony knew that Abbie attempted to hide her tears from him. He was also aware that she blamed herself for Henry’s death. He didn’t need to be psychic to see the guilt swimming in her eyes.
“What happened to your father is not your fault, Abbie.”
“If not for me, none of this would be happening, and Henry would be alive right now.”
“Oh, horse shit,” Tony growled. “Henry was a grown man. You didn’t send him off on his own that night. He left because he couldn’t accept your tie with the Bracadytes.” He nodded toward Arcanum. “And truth be told, if not for a Bracadyte, you would have died as a child yourself.”
Fishing out the cell that Melvin had put in his bag a week ago, Tony popped a piece of gum in his mouth and strode back toward the door. “I’m going to hide the gaping hole in the yard just in case someone comes through this way.” He paused with his hand on the knob. “Naura? Please get some rest.”
“You will not be long?”
He shook his head. “Give me ten minutes.”
Once outside, Tony dragged a kiddie pool over the hole and powered up the cell. He pressed the number-one key and hit send.
“Yeah?” Melvin’s voice sounded tense and clipped.
“I need safe passage for four people and a baby to Playa Pilar. We’re hungry and have very few weapons.”
“Where are you?” Came the terse reply.
Tony rattled off the address. “We just arrived a few minutes ago.”
“Stay put. I’ll have you out of there before daylight.”
“Melvin? I’ll owe you.”
A quiet laugh came through the line. “I’ll collect one day.”
Tony ended the call and trekked along the tall wooden fence to peer through the half-inch slats.
He could see a few other homes scattered about, but no lights were visible in any of them.
Satisfied they were safe for the night, he made his way back inside and filled Hauke in on his conversation with Melvin before climbing the stairs in search of Naura.
She laid on her stomach in the middle of a king-sized bed, with one arm hanging over the side. Her soft, even breathing told him that she slept.
Tony removed his boots and climbed in next to her. His stomach tightened with fear as he gazed at her moonlit face. If something happened to her, he would never come back from it.
Brushing his lips across her cheek, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He’d didn’t have long to sleep before Melvin’s cavalry would be arriving.