Part 15 (1/2)

Turning his back, he didnat say another word about it.

Nadia moved into position as I followed behind Ace with Eli stepping in behind me.

THE MOUTH OF THE CAVE resembled a nightmare Iad once had when I was little. It just screamed of monsters and other things that went b.u.mp in the night.

Biting back a wave of hysteria, I forced my feet forward, keeping my fingers wrapped up in the bottom of Aceas s.h.i.+rt until Oliver came to a stop as the darkness sealed us in.

Aceas hand came back to settle on my arm as a beam of light came from Oliveras hand.

aItas blacker than a well diggeras a.s.s in here,a Oliver hissed, moving the light around the floor of the cave.

aHow far back do you think it goes?a Ace asked, pulling out his own flashlight and clicking it on.

aNo telling,a Oliver answered, moving forward again.

Peeking around Aceas shoulder, I caught a flash of something as he swung the light in front of him from right to left.

Grabbing his arm, I tugged to pull the beam back to the right. aWhatas that?a as.h.i.+t!a Oliveras light joined up with Aceas as he rushed over to where Grantas unmoving body lay on the ground.

Ace slapped his flashlight in my hand, joining Oliver beside Grant. aPulse?a aFaint. Help me get him up. We need to move him to the front of the cave where Eli can take a look at him. Airen, I need you to guide us out,a Oliver said, moving to lift Grant up.

With shuffling steps, we made it back to the cave entrance where Ace and Oliver set Grant down gently.

Eli stuck his head in the cave, noticing Grant immediately. He bent down, running his hands over Grantas arms and legs. Blood welled from a spot along his forehead.

aFlashlight,a Eli called out, not taking his eyes off Grant.

Oliver handed his over and Eli lifted Grantas eyelids, s.h.i.+ning the light in one, then the other. aJust a nick along the temple. Add his fall and Iad say it knocked him out. He should come around soon.a Eli s.h.i.+fted, handing the flashlight back to Oliver. aWeare good here.a Oliver looked to Ace. aLetas go. G.o.d only knows what heas done to Aiden.a My stomach dropped. aYe knew he was hurt?a aComs were sketchy once they entered the cave. We knew something had happened. I didnat expect that though,a Oliver answered as we fell in step behind him.

aSo ye have no idea if Aiden is alive?a I asked, pus.h.i.+ng myself to speak loud enough for him to hear me.

aNo, I donat,a he answered, keeping a steady beam of light ahead of us. aBut weall find out soon enough.a How could he sound so colda so callous?

Aceas hand went to the holster on his side, popped the snap, and pulled his gun out, holding it up alongside his flashlight.

aDonat get trigger happy back there. One wrong shot and weall all be diving for cover,a Oliver said, reaching into the waistband at the back of his s.h.i.+rt, pulling out his own pistol.

Ace and Oliver worked as a team after that. When Oliver swept his gun/flashlight combo to the left, Ace swept his to the right as we continued further into the cave that seemed to have no d.a.m.ned end.

What it did have was a sheer drop off to my left. Ace swept the flashlight down, losing the beam to the blackness below. He whistled through his teeth as my mind raced with worry.

Had Aiden fallen over the side? And if he did, how the h.e.l.l would we know unless we climbed down?

aHeas not down there,a Oliver said over his shoulder.

aHow do ye know?a I asked.

aBecause I lost communication with him just after I heard Robert speaking to him. Keep moving, this cave has to end somewhere,a he said, not giving the drop off another look.

That didnat mean he hadnat pitched Aiden over the side. Just because head heard them talking didnat make Uncle Robert any less crazy.

aYou ever see one of those movies where a giant spider pops up out of nowhere and eats everyone?a Ace asked, running his flashlight over a jagged row of stalact.i.tes.

aNow is not the time to call up s.h.i.+t like that,a Oliver grumbled, following it up by saying, aI f.u.c.king hate spiders.a My head bobbed in agreement even if they hadnat included me in their conversation.

aWell, s.h.i.+t, looks like the path splits here,a Oliver said as we came to a halt.

aYou take left, Iall take right?a Ace asked.

aYou see him, take him out. Donat give him the chance to run or even talk. Okay?a Oliver asked, running the flashlight beam over the opening to the left.

aWait! Isnat it dangerous to split up? Shouldnat we just stay together?a I asked, grabbing Oliveras s.h.i.+rt sleeve as he pa.s.sed by me.

He nodded to Ace. aBe careful. Iave got her,a he said, wrapping his hand around my wrist.

aYouall just let him go off on his own?a I asked, keeping pace with Oliver as we moved down a path that blew cold air hard against our faces.

aHe can handle himself. The only thing that matters right now is the target.a Not Aiden? My stomach squeezed hard, making me want to double over from the twisting pain. aAre ye no even concerned about Aiden?a aI know Aiden. And I know what heas capable of. Worrying about him wonat make the outcome of this situation any different. Now keep moving and stop talking,a Oliver said, tossing a dirty look over his shoulder at me.

I fought the urge to tell him off. Fighting with him wouldnat help Aiden and if I started shrieking, it would definitely alert Uncle Robert to our presence.

My palm smacked against my forehead with a snap. Oliver stopped so quickly that I bounced off his back.

aWhat was that?a he asked, s.h.i.+ning the light up my entire body until the beam forced me to blink the floating white spots from my vision.

Putting my hand up, I pushed the light from my eyes, practically bouncing on the tips of my toes. aI have an idea!a aGreat. Keep moving.a Oliver turned his back to me, but I wasnat going to be ignored.

Tugging on his s.h.i.+rt sleeve, I dug my feet in until the material pulled taut. aHear me out,a I pleaded, stepping around him to block his path.

With nostrils flaring, he dipped his head for me to continue. aOut with it, so I can tell you no and youall stop being a pain in my a.s.s.a I doubled up my fist, clenching it tight to my leg to keep it from swinging out and connecting with his gut. aYou want Robert, aye? And Robert wanted me for some reason, aye? Well, here I am, and here he isa somewhere.a His eyebrow quirked as he leaned in close. aI know what youare saying and the answer is no. Are you f.u.c.king delusional or something? You canat just walk in and start yelling for him. Youall get us both killed.a He pushed me to the side as he stepped around me. Pulling in a deep breath, I let out a bloodcurdling screech.

Oliver spun around so fast that I ended up tripping over my own feet and landing on my a.s.s.

Jerking me up by my s.h.i.+rt collar, he lifted me off the floor as if I weighed nothing at all and shook me.

Growling, he said, aI should kick your a.s.s for that.a Pressing my lips together, I fought to keep my breathing under control. I very well could end up becoming another person who just up and disappeared from the property. The next unexplainable death on my family tree. Because as surely as I was standing inside a cave, I had infuriated a man who could snap me in half and toss me into one of the many black holes.

Anger rolled off him in waves, but he returned me to my feet. Sticking his finger in my face, he was ready to release another warning, or threat, when we heard it. The sound of footsteps coming towards us. The flashlight in Oliveras hand clicked off and he moved to stand in front of me, s.h.i.+elding me with his body.

Leaning down so that his lips touched my ear as he spoke, he said, aTake the flashlight. If itas him, blind him with it when he gets close. Iall take it from there.a And then he was gone, shrinking off somewhere behind me.

I fought every instinct to run, but I couldnat run. Aidenas life could very well depend on me holding my ground and facing off with my uncle.

The closer the footsteps came, the clearer it became to me that it wasnat just one person. I wanted to voice my thoughts, but I had no idea where Oliver had slunk off to.

My entire body shuddered in place as the footsteps came nearer and the sound of a girlas sob broke as if shead been holding it back.

A hand clamped over my mouth, cutting off my scream, as Oliver brought his mouth up next to my ear. aSomethingas not right. Bring the flashlight up and s.h.i.+ne it right at the spot you hear the footsteps. Okay?a When I nodded, he moved his hand and I brought the flashlight up, fumbling with the on switch.

Light shot out, highlighting the last person I ever expected to see again. aLiv?a Her head snapped up as Aiden pulled her behind him. aAiren? What are you doing here?a Oliver reached out, taking the flashlight from me and pointing it down. aWhereas Robert?a Aiden went to shrug, gasping from the movement of his arm.