Part 29 (2/2)

”She must be a remarkable woman.”

”Thatas one way to describe her,” he mumbled.

She started downhill.

When she looked back he was gone.

She ran the last steps to the top of the cliff, ran so quickly she almost skidded offa”which would have solved the problem of protecting her, for the cliff was seventy-five feet high, with great boulders at the base. Solved the problem, yes, but would have ruined her day.

Behind her, she heard another shot, a human scream, and the deep-throated howl of a wolf.

Stupid to know that battle was joined, that her man and his brothers were fighting for their lives, and hers, and yet her mouth was dry and her hands shook as she hooked herself into the harness and fastened the rope to a tree.

Shouldnat the bright, new, s.h.i.+ny fears trump the old, silly, worthless fears?

In the logical part of her mind, she noted that the cliff was sheer granite, with almost no handholds and no way to save herself if she fell. Which was ridiculous, because she had tested the rope. She hoped she managed to keep her eyes open long enough to find the cave. As she inched her way over the edge of the cliffa”

”Go! Go! Go!” She heard Warlord yelling, and looked up to see him racing toward her. ”Jasha and Rurik are holding them, but Innokenti split the group. Theyave found a way down. Weare surrounded!” He climbed into the harness and fastened his rope to a rock. ”Iam your defense in the cave.”

She found she was over the edge, in the L shape, her feet firmly planted on the cliff face. She launched herself with a jump, let the rope play out, launched herself again. Her heart thrummed frantically. Her hands sweated. But she could do this. She could definitely do this. ”Iam fine,” she yelled. ”Hurry!”

Below them someone gave a deep, ululating war cry. The hair rose on the back of her head.

Her hand slipped. She froze. She looked down. Five Varinskis swarmed out of the woods.

One had a face like a Neanderthal, a body like a tank, and wore machine bolts for earrings. He looked up at hera”and grinned.

Innokenti.

Midair, Warlord pa.s.sed her, speeding down the rope face-first, shooting with cool marksmans.h.i.+p.

No way would she let him be braver than she was; perhaps Jackson Sonnet wasnat really her father, but head imbued her with his compet.i.tive spirit. She leaped as hard as she could.

At the top of the cliff she heard shots, doglike growls, and the sounds of battle.

Below, Innokenti gestured to his men. They spread out.

One took wing as an eagle.

Innokenti staggered back as one of Warlordas bullets. .h.i.t him in the chest, then straightened again.

Kevlar vest, she thought, and hoped it was true.

He took up a position, legs braced. He lifted his pistol, took aim, and shot.

Warlord collapsed. Began to fall. Brought himself up. Collapsed again. Blood covered his forearm, and he struggled to control his descent.

Infuriated, Karen screamed like a banshee. ”a.s.shole. Innokenti, you a.s.shole!”

Warlord struggled to stay in place.

She leaped toward him. Realized the futility. Vaulted toward the cave.

She was rappelling like a pro.

Below her Innokenti laughed, great, booming roars of amus.e.m.e.nt.

Hail struck her face. No, not haila”bullets riddled the cliff around her, and rock chips blasted her.

”Hang on,” she screamed at Warlord.

She jumped hard enough to land in the cave. Stripped off her coat. Freed her pistol. Stepped out on the ledge.

Warlord struggled with the ropes. If he lost tension, he would fall right into Innokentias arms.

Innokenti aimed at Warlord.

The eagle dive-bombed toward her, cruel eyes fixed, talons out.

She looked down the sights at Innokenti. Her finger tightened on the trigger.

And a blast blew the bird out of the air.

Feathers flew. The eagle screamed in pain and rage.

Jackson Sonnet stepped out of the forest below, a .30-06 rifle against his shoulder. ”Take that!” he shouted. ”No oneas going to hurt my G.o.dd.a.m.n daughter.”

Chapter Thirty-two.

Karen shot as Innokenti turned to wave his men at Jackson. The bullet blasted a divot in the side of Varinskias neck.

Innokenti fell, blood pumping from the wound.

The wolf pack charged Jackson.

”Daddy!” Karen screamed.

Jackson shot one, smacked another in the head with the b.u.t.t of his gun, and as he fell beneath the onslaught, she saw his hunting knife flash.

The animals squealed, not deada”impossible, for Jackson might be an old son of a b.i.t.c.h, but he wasnat a demon. But head hurt them.

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