Part 24 (1/2)
She took his silence for agreement. They went back to the Marquis, which they'd left in the alley outside the storage facility. The night air was cool for Vegas, a desert-scented wind sweeping the city. In the light from the dashboard, she read the address she'd scrawled. Mentally, she mapped it, and then started the car.
”Where are we going?”
Kyra didn't answer. She didn't want him here, didn't want his help. But she wasn't stupid enough to try this alone. Little as she liked it, she needed his expertise, so this would be the last thing they ever did together, and then she'd start forgetting he'd ever existed. She just wished it didn't hurt so f.u.c.king much.
They pulled up outside a martial arts studio. Kyra had checked the hours in the phone book ad, and they slid in just before the place closed. It was one of the few open this late. The last cla.s.s had already gone, and the sensei was getting ready to lock up. Master Li was a small j.a.panese man in his late fifties, his salt-and-pepper hair worn clubbed back in a plain elastic band. According to the credentials on the wall, he was also an eighth-degree black belt.
”Can I help you?”
Kyra offered a sweet smile. ”My husband was wondering if you had any positions open for instructors. He's studied Jendo, capoeira, and tarung derajat. Tell him, honey.”
Seeming not to mind, Reyes recounted how he'd studied in Brazil, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Then he executed a few katas, showing his stuff. Despite everything, Kyra still felt a traitorous pleasure in watching him move. He possessed all the dangerous beauty of a honed knife.
Master Li asked Reyes a few questions and then said, regretful, ”I don't have any openings at the moment, but your skills are most impressive. I wish I could help you.”
She offered her hand. ”Thanks anyway.”
The sensei shook it, sending a spike of pain straight through her temples. Kyra swayed and Reyes supported her. ”We need to get you something to eat. She has low blood sugar,” he added, presumably for Master Li's benefit.
By the time he got her out to the car, she felt a little better. Apex's skill and the combat expertise she'd lifted didn't utilize the same part of the brain, so this would be tolerable. The aftermath would be brutal, given that she'd be making contact with a lot of people in the melee, but Kyra would worry about that after they saved Mia.
”Give me the keys.”
For half a second, she considered arguing, but in truth, she needed the time to let things settle in her head. That would be easier with her eyes closed, doing relaxation and breathing exercises. So she tossed them to him, and he caught them in a jingle of metal.
Kyra slid into the car and leaned her throbbing head against the window. She breathed deeply, holding it for two beats, and then pus.h.i.+ng the air out through her nose. After five minutes or so, the pain had dulled enough to be manageable. She wouldn't win any spelling bees, but she could fight, and that was all that mattered.
”Better?”
”I'm fine,” she growled. ”Just get us there.”
Before I crash.
When they pulled into the neighborhood, it wasn't what she expected. No lavish mansions, no gated communities. This was an average middle-cla.s.s subdivision, each house more or less like its neighbor. She supposed he'd holed up at some unoccupied rental property; it wouldn't do for Serrano's own home to be spattered with blood. There were limits to what a cleanup crew could do.
”I'm parking here,” he said quietly. ”They know we're coming but there's no sense in making it easy for them. We'll go the rest of the way on foot.”
Kyra nodded mutely. From Master Li, she had taken an unexpected lightness of movement. Her bones felt liquid, as if she could flow from place to place like the wind itself. She followed behind Reyes as he set off down the street.
At their turn, he stilled, and then pointed to the dark Ford Expedition parked near the curb. It was only one of two vehicles on the street. Everyone else had garaged their cars for the night. He tugged her arm and they slid sideways, which gave her a better vantage. She saw two men in silhouette from a driver pa.s.sing in the other direction.
Lookouts.
Reyes motioned for her to get down, and she complied. By his gestures, he intended to take the driver, and he wanted her to get the guy on the pa.s.senger side. Kyra didn't need to be told this needed to be a permanent solution. The windows were rolled up, so that would make it tough hand to hand.
She tipped her head at the bag and he unzipped it silently. Within seconds, he'd fitted two guns with silencers. Reyes handed one to her, asking with his eyes whether she could use it. Kyra nodded. Then he gestured low. At first she didn't get it, but when he crawled under the SUV, she understood.
Once they were in position, directly beneath pa.s.senger and driver, she rolled over and removed the safety. In unison, they sent a spray of bullets up into the SUV. She imagined them striking their targets, blood and bone spattering everywhere. Better she couldn't see what she hit. Through the heavy reinforced metal, she couldn't even hear them cry out.
On his signal, she rolled outward and returned the weapon as she circled back around the SUV. Kyra didn't look, but Reyes checked their handiwork through the window, dispa.s.sionate.
”They're done,” he said quietly. ”Let's roll out.”
From that point it was smooth sailing all the way up to the house. To her surprise, all the windows were dark. s.h.i.+t. Maybe they'd been set up. Maybe n.o.body was here, and if they opened the door, wired to blow, the whole place would go up in flames. How far did they trust Foster?
By his expression, Reyes was wondering the same. ”You think Mia's in there?”
”He said she was.”
”It's your call,” he said.
She wavered. ”Yeah. Let's check it out. But we're not going in the front.”
”One of the windows?” he suggested.
”Sounds good.”
They circled around back and found a bedroom window. Kyra liked ranch houses; they were easy to enter. Reyes cut the screen and then produced a gla.s.s cutter. He etched a small circle and used a suction cup to pull it out silently. Her hand was small enough to reach the latch, so she unlocked it, and raised the frame. Reyes went in first and checked the room. When he indicated it was clear, she slid in after him.
Two guys sat lounging in the living room, watching TV in the dark. Rey slid up behind one, and broke his neck. Clean, quiet. Kyra struck with both hands across his throat, her hands like steel wedges. This one was a shooter; she felt the tingle run up her arm and into her fingertips. Suddenly, she wanted to use the gun in her pocket, but it was too much. Security, karate, marksmans.h.i.+p-it all twisted through her, making her realize she was on the verge of a full seizure. She hadn't had one of those since she was a kid.
Red laced her vision, and she wanted to puke.
”You're going to-to have to finish it,” she choked out. ”Please. I paid you well enough. Don't let anyone hurt her.”
Reyes came over quietly, setting his hands on her shoulders. The warmth seemed to soak in through her skin, edging everything else out. Kyra concentrated on breathing, aware that she was wasting time.
”Stay with me,” he breathed. ”I never intended to take your money, but I knew you wouldn't trust me to stay the course unless you hired me. You're in this. You'll finish it. It won't be over in your head unless you do.”
G.o.d, he knew her so so well. She hated him for it. With his help she fought the seizure back. Who the h.e.l.l knew what would happen later? She'd been so careful up until now. The important thing was, she could go on. well. She hated him for it. With his help she fought the seizure back. Who the h.e.l.l knew what would happen later? She'd been so careful up until now. The important thing was, she could go on.
They just had to find Serrano. It was almost over. She should have been euphoric, but the suppressed pain made her feel nauseous instead. Kyra needed food and sleep . . . and Mia.
There were two more guards in the kitchen. Kyra shot one, knowing she couldn't take an extra theft tonight; she was saving the last one for Serrano. Reyes took his foe down in sweet silence, a flurry of kicks and punches so powerful the other guy hardly had a chance to respond, and then he caught the thug before he hit the ground.
Just hang on.
Serrano was in a back bedroom, talking to Mia in a low voice, trying to get her to tell him something about Kyra. So Foster hadn't lied. Mia sat tied to a chair, and her eyes were wide and dark with fear. She didn't appear to have any visible damage.
”I'll end her. I swear to G.o.d I will.” Serrano put the gun to Mia's temple, and Kyra froze. She hoped Reyes had the sense not to do anything rash.
”Am I too late?” Foster asked, sauntering in. He held a Glock in one hand, which he trained on Reyes. ”I hope I didn't miss the party.”
”Foster.” Relief colored Serrano's voice. ”Thank G.o.d. How the h.e.l.l did these two find me? I distinctly distinctly ordered you not to give them the go-ahead until morning when I had all my men in place.” ordered you not to give them the go-ahead until morning when I had all my men in place.”
”Let the girl go,” he said. ”Everything's under control now. Come on, Mia. It's almost over now.” He held out a hand.