Page 40 of Bite of Vengeance
Pax was saying the same thing to the other PARA guy, and when I broke the entrancement, I caught Warner gaping at me.
“You’re putting me in charge of them?” he asked slowly. “Why?”
“Because you’re not going into Project Hope. Keep them under control for at least five hours. If you have to go to Deadwood, then let them go first.” I slid the goggles over my eyes. “You heard the word I told him?”
“I heard it,” he muttered. “Kali’s favorite fruit.”
If I wasn’t so stressed about what me and Pax were about to do, I probably would have been far more irritated that he knewthat. Though, I shouldn’t be surprised. Other than me, he knew Kali better than anyone.
“I don’t have to tell you why this is important,” I warned him.
“Because you’re threatening Kali,” he hissed.
It took everything in me to stay still as I glared daggers at him. “Not me. My father. I’m doing this to make sure he doesn’t hurt her. When are you going to get it through your fucking head that I care for her?”
“We don’t have time for this,” Pax cut in impatiently. “We need to meet up with PARA before they go back to the convoy.”
“Don’t do anything stupid,” I snapped, backing away from Warner before I did something I regretted.
Pax and I headed closer to the river, following the voices. I pulled my backpack in front of me, unzipping it and pulling out the two small pouches. We’d taken these from a PARA warehouse months ago, and they were finally going to be useful. I squeezed, hearing the pouch crackle before handing one to Pax. These tiny heat packs were what the government used to keep warm when they were out patrolling. They used it mostly for their hands, but it would help us get past the temperature check at the gate of Project Hope.
Pulling off the goggles, I pulled up the mask far enough to slip the heated pouch under it, placing it on my forehead, and then pulling the wool fabric back in place. Pax was doing the same, and a minute later we were ready to go.
“If they have hawthorn in their system, this isn’t going to work,” Pax muttered as we walked between the trees.
“After the warehouses we’ve been burning down, their supply is low. I doubt they’re giving it out to everyone.”
“Let’s hope so.”
I spotted the pair of PARA members talking quietly to each other with rifles in their hands. Even though it was daylight, Iwas sure they were loaded with wooden bullets. I peered around, throwing my hearing to make sure no one else was close.
“There you are,” one of them said, impatience in his voice. “We need to go. It’s almost sunset.”
“Sorry,” I replied casually. “Got lost.”
He tilted his head, not recognizing my voice. I took one more step, and then reached forward, knocking his goggles off. The other guy let out a surprised yell when Pax went after him. The man raised his gun at me, but I grabbed his arm, forcing it back at his side as I pushed my own goggles up before catching his gaze.
“Calm down,” I said in a low voice. “Do not fight me.”
Relief flooded me when he complied, proving he didn’t have hawthorn in his system. Pax already entranced the other guy, and we quickly gave them orders to act like we were the men they knew and came out here with.
“Lead us to the convoy,” I ordered, stepping back and putting the goggles back on.
“That was the easy part.” Pax said as we followed them. “The security will be at an all-time high where they’re keeping Keeva.”
“We expected that.”
“Zan…” He trailed off, sounding hesitant. “Even if we are successful, and bring her back to Dad, he’s not going to let Kali go. He wants both of them.”
“I know that,” I snapped. “What am I supposed to do, Pax? I can’t come back to the property until we get this done. Right now, I can’t even fucking see her.”
He didn’t respond, and I clenched my jaw, feeling the pity radiating from him. I was barely holding it together after being away from her for days. If I thought about it too long, I was going to lose it. I knew that Amaros wanted both Kali and Keeva. I was more than aware that it had something to do with the war against PARA. But right now, I only cared about one thing—seeing Kali again. If that meant I had to bring her twin back to my father, then that was what I would do.
Chapter 16
Zan
“Here we go.” Pax opened the door of the armored vehicle.
