chapter 25
Raven knew Mace was about to explode, and pacing the living room floor wasn’t lessening that urge. Mace didn’t like Viper or his two wingmen, Steel and Shadow. But Will was right: if they weren’t in this together, they had little hope of success. Vessler would be ready for them. That advice would be easier to follow, however, if these three dark Halflings made any attempt to seem like team players. At least they’d arrived after tracking down Vegan and getting help for the rescue. But that’s where the appreciation ended. There was too much wrong with all three of them. Viper was a control freak, and once a plan was made, he’d try to take the lead. No one would be heading this mission … but Mace. Raven knew Mace would take the lead as soon as the moment presented itself. That meant his poor brother also had to cooperate with Will’s infuriating instructions.
Like a freshly caged tiger, he looked around the room until he saw Raven, who crossed the space to stand by him.
“We’ll get her, brother,” Raven assured.
But they both knew what Nikki faced. “He won’t waste any time. Raven, he could do anything to her.”
“I know.” He cleared his throat, because it would help for Mace to hear the fear in his tone.
“We need to go now.”
Raven tucked his hands into his pockets. “You know I’m never one to sit around and wait. But, Mace, I think we have to this time. Vessler has all the cards. He’s got Nikki and he’ll be ready for us.”
Various conversations filled the room around them as they discussed the best strike time. They’d all agreed they would depart at five in the morning, which according to Raven’s prior research was an hour before Vessler’s morning crew arrived, which also meant the nightshift patrol would be tired by then. But that opportunity was hours from now, which meant waiting patiently. Raven didn’t like sitting around, and neither did Mace.
“Raven, promise me we’ll get to her in time,” Mace choked.
“I promise.” But the look in Mace’s eyes showed the words were just that — words. His brother was fighting the urge to focus on the worst scenerio.
He couldn’t blame him.
Raven knew the lab. He just hoped he wasn’t lying about being able to get to Nikki.
Nearly thirty Halflings filled the large, Victorian living room as they plotted out the exact rescue plan, and moved into three groups based on Mace’s instructions.
Glimmer turned to Raven. “Can we leap inside?”
“Probably not.” He ran his fingers through his long side bangs. “The lab is a long tunnel lined with rooms. From what I’ve seen, few of them are large enough to allow all of us to enter at once. And leaping in one at a time puts us at a disadvantage — they catch one of us, and the rest are target practice. Besides, I have a feeling the walls are fortified with titanium.”
Mace paced the available floor space near the stairs. Halflings were sitting, standing, blocking most of the area, but Mace had carved out a path.
“We could draw them out,” Glimmer said.
Mace immediately rejected the idea. “Vessler won’t fall for it. We have to go in.”
Raven agreed. “He’d lock down the cell where he’s keeping Nikki and Zero.”
“You think they’re together?” Mace asked. “Seems like he’d split them up.”
“Seems like,” Raven said. “But I did a little recon awhile back, remember? Vessler has only one cage fully lined with titanium, so it’s by far the most fortified. It’s big, and it’s at the farthest corner of the lab. Difficult to reach and even more difficult to infiltrate. That’s where we’ll find them.”
Mace’s eyes narrowed on him. “How do you know all this?”
“You kind of pick up a few details when you stake out a lab facility in order to distract yourself from reality. But to fully answer your question, I had Zero run some files awhile ago. I know the amounts of titanium Vessler’s mined in the last few years and how he’s using it. Even found a blueprint for the cage.”
“So Vessler owns titanium mines?” Mace said.
Several Halflings shuddered.
“Plus, we know he’s got a ton of wingcuffs. I just don’t know how many. Everyone will have to be careful.” Raven’s gaze drifted from one to the next. “And remember, don’t kill any humans.”
“Speak for yourself, Lost Boy,” Viper said. “Some of us are already doomed. If corporal punishment needs to be carried out, we’ll do it.” He waved a hand, encompassing himself and two other Halfings. “Steel, you stick close to the group stationed outside. Dispose of any stragglers that try to flee.”
Steel shot him a frightening smile.
Raven took several steps toward Viper. “Look, by murdering humans, you could implicate all of us.”
Viper fisted his hands, puffed his chest, and squared himself. “Shut up and stop your hand-wringing. You’ll be judged for your own acts, same as always. We’re not afraid of the punishment we’ll receive. But we won’t let Halfling killers go free. If you don’t like the plan, don’t go.”
When Raven stepped closer to Viper, Mace put a steadying hand on Raven’s shoulder. “We’re all in this together. If you choose that path, Viper, we won’t try to stop you. But we also don’t approve. What matters right now is saving Nikki and Zero.” Mace’s eyes leveled on Viper. “Don’t take any unnecessary chances.”
Viper’s bright, white smile contrasted sharply with his jet-black hair. “Never do.” He motioned to the third Halfling in the dark trio. “Shadow, stay with group two. If we have to fight our way through the tunnel, they’ll need a backup who isn’t afraid to do what he has to.”
Visibly shaken, Winter stepped to the center of the army. “Those who live by the sword —”
Viper put a hand up to silence her. “Yeah, yeah, we know. Die by the sword. We’ve already killed, chicklet. So back off. It’s too late for us to worry about it.”
Mace stared at Viper a moment before he took a deep breath and addressed the crowd. “Group three, we’ll need to infiltrate the deepest cavern of the lab. I’ll lead, and try to draw the first fire.”
“No.” Raven pivoted to face his brother. “I’ll lead. You follow me in. You need to get to Nikki and get her out while I draw fire, and Vegan and Vine can get Zero. Once everyone is out safely, I’ll leave. First in, last out.”
Mace didn’t like it, Raven could tell. Maybe because he still considered Raven a loose cannon. Or maybe it was something else entirely. Whatever, it didn’t matter. Raven planned to make sure Mace was the one who rescued Nikki.
“Promise me one thing,” Raven said to Mace. “You’ll get them out. No matter what.”
For a moment of time, there was only Mace and Raven, two brothers — not by blood but by choice.
“Promise me,” Raven repeated.
Mace nodded. “I’ll see them to safety.”
Good. Because Raven was working on a side mission. Once he got the others inside and he knew Nikki was on her way out, he’d put his plan into action. “Now, all we have to do is wait.”
Raven scooted the cold latte to the edge of the table. The waitress kept trying to catch his attention, and it was testing his nerves. He should have gone somewhere else. Somewhere private. Problem was, the house was out of the question — too many eyes would be curious about why he was drawing a detailed diagram of the lab. And every other location he could think of meant larger crowds and thus more nosy strangers.
The girl in the green apron paused at his table again. “Can I take this?” Fingers reached for the cup. Her red polish was chipped.
He nodded but didn’t look up.
“I can get you some paper if you want it. Those napkins must be awfully hard to write on.”
“No, I’m good.” Please, just leave me alone. She smelled like too much vanilla. She’d probably gone to the back and bathed in it while he let his latte get cold.
“Did you not like your drink?” She let out a soft laugh. “I can make you anything you want—on or off the menu.”
Can you make yourself disappear? “It was fine.”
“Okay,” she said.
How can she not get the hint? He felt her lean closer. “Looks like a cool building. You an architect student? Guys like you are always sketching on napkins, bits of paper.” She cocked her hip, as if settling in for a long conversation.
Out of habit his gaze clawed its way up to her face. Blue eye shadow that was way too dark; slick, glossy lips in a shade so bright you could see it from space, and a flirty smile that proclaimed she was trying too hard. He almost felt bad for her. “No. I’m not an architect. I just have to sketch something out, and came here because at home people kept interrupting me.”
Her smile disappeared, the twinkle left her eyes, and her chest deflated. She spun from the table and nearly sloshed the drink on him in her rush to leave.
Raven heaved a breath. He’d barely gotten back to the drawing when he became aware of the three walking in. He rubbed a hand over his face. Great. Now all I need is a neon sign proclaiming I’m up to something. Keeping his back to the door, he folded the small piece of paper and slipped it under the table.
“What’s your plan, Halfling?” Viper dropped into the chair across from Raven. Steel and Shadow moved where he could see them, but chose to stop at the bar near the barista, who’d quickly recovered from his rejection. She was running her hand up and down the counter, and they looked like they wanted to swat her like a pesky fly. Raven assumed they thought having all three sit at his table would show too much respect, too much of a “let’s be friends” attitude. Well, he wasn’t really in the market for more friends, though he did appreciate them drawing Pesky Girl’s attention.
“Plan? I don’t know what you mean.”
Viper leaned his weight on the table and stared at Raven. “I recognize the look in your eyes. It’s called desperation, and it is usually followed by action.”
Raven tilted back. “Dude, you don’t know me at all.”
Viper shrugged. “Maybe. But I know that look. You’re working on something. If it has to do with going after Zero early and ditching this whole take-time-to-plan idea, we want in.”
Raven chewed on the inside of his cheek, considering the offer. “It doesn’t. And I work alone.”
Viper laughed out loud, causing Raven to blink. The Halfling flipped his hair back, jet-black strands catching the light. “Sorry. It’s just that usually people who say that fail.”
Fail. Not an option.
“Look, we owe Zero.” Viper nodded for the other two guys to come over and sit. An act of compliance? Showing they’d let him be in charge? If Raven let them in on his plan — and that was a big if — that’s the only way it’d go. Some things weren’t negotiable.
Silence dominated the space around them. They weren’t going to beg; also good. He didn’t need a bunch of wimps on his side.
Viper stared at him, waiting.
And Raven let him wait. He glanced over at Steel. The guy looked capable. In fact, all three seemed pretty tough, and pretty determined to save Zero. But would they do the same for Nikki?
Shadow rubbed his hands on his jeans. “You going in early at the lab? We were thinking it could probably be done if we went in the middle of the night.”
Raven’s eyes narrowed. If these fools thought he’d trust Nikki’s fate to three Halflings who he just met, they were as stupid as they looked. Especially Viper, with his weird dark hair and dark eyes. Raven wasn’t sure he should trust them at all. At the same time, if he succeeded in getting his plan together, he’d need others on board. Mace would never go for this. And there was no way Raven was going to get Vine messed up in this. If anything went wrong — and with a plan like his, that was pretty likely—humans could die. Three doomed Halflings is the best I can get … and I could end up doomed as well.
“Look.” Viper leaned back. “We care about Zero. If you care about Nikki or Zero half as much, you know we’re all in for the win.”
This guy could never understand how much he cared about Nikki. Raven chuckled. “All in for the win, huh?”
Viper shrugged, and one side of his face creaked into a smile.
The tension in the air changed, now charged with anticipation.
“I’m not going in early. But I’m also not planning to leave the lab standing after we get Nikki and Zero out.”
“Explosives?” Shadow asked, and the other three gave him wide-eyed stares. He shrunk back a little. “Sorry. Guess that’s obvious.”
Raven pulled the paper from under the table and spread it out for them. “I need enough to blow the whole place. Problem is placement. We need to give people time to get out.”
Viper shrugged one shoulder. “Why? They aren’t letting Zero and Nikki out. Why do they get any consideration?”
Raven folded the paper and pressed his hand firmly against it. “I’m not going to intentionally kill humans. If that’s what you’re here for, forget it. Too much can go wrong, and you may be willing to gamble with your eternity, but I won’t gamble with the other Halflings’. We’re all going into the lab. And despite what you proclaimed back at the house, that means we may all be held accountable for what happens as soon as we enter the lab.” Raven waited while Viper and his two minions digested his terms. One wrong comment from any of them and this discussion would be over.
Steel shook his head. “How are we going to get all the people out before the blast? If your diagram is right, it’s a huge facility.”
Raven removed his hand from the paper. “It is huge. But everything runs off this main hallway. When we storm the building, most of the humans are going to try to escape through the front doors. Even Will knows we need to keep the front clear of Halflings so they can get out. The fewer humans inside, the easier it will be to find Nikki —”
“And Zero,” Viper said.
“Yeah, and Zero.”
Viper reached for the paper. “So we need to encourage the scientists and guards to leave. That shouldn’t be too hard. But it will take time.”
Shadow rested his weight on his forearms, scrutinizing the drawing. “Why not multiple blasts?”
“Huh?” Raven pushed the paper toward the guy. He liked where this was headed.
Shadow turned the paper to face himself. “First blast in the very back of the lab right after Zero and Nikki are safe. That way any people in the lab will rush out, head for the main door or any door that will take them outside. If the blast is near the back, we won’t risk catching people in a crossfire. What’s this?” He pointed to the last exam room at the end of the long main corridor and the smaller room beyond it.
“That’s the titanium cage.”
The other three visibly shuddered. “It’s much bigger than I thought it would be,” Viper said, and actually leaned away from the paper. Raven swore the guy went pale.
Viper drew several deep breaths. “Is that where they’re keeping Zero?” The distress in his voice, though he tried to hide it, was evident to Raven. For the first time, he wondered if Viper was up to the task.
“That’d be my guess. Nikki and Zero are probably both there. No telling what Vessler’s done to them.” Raven had already run all the scenarios in his mind, but Viper’s reaction could tell him how viable each might be.
After a few moments, Viper yanked a hand through that ink-black hair and focused on Raven. “Okay. We’ll have to set the charge near the cage to destroy it. Titanium is tough. We’re going to need exact measurements for the explosives and the building size. And we have to make sure we give the other Halflings plenty of time to get Zero and Nikki out.”
“No joke. Especially if we’re thinking of setting off multiple charges,” Raven said.
“So, we’re in?” Viper’s brows rose.
“Yeah, you’re in.”
Viper nodded. “Good. I’ve always hated waiting around doing nothing. You have a connection for this much explosive power?”
Raven rubbed the back of his neck. “I sort of planned to tackle one detail at a time, and the first detail was figure out if this was even possible.”
“So you don’t have any way to get the charges we need?”
Raven swallowed and tapped his pen on the diagram. “Anything can be found, dude. You just gotta know where to look.”
“And you need the time to look. Which we don’t have.” Viper spun the paper and considered it while the seconds ticked past. “I know somebody. He can help us.”
So why the hesitation? One minute Viper was tough, the next he seemed to be playing at being bad. “It has to be someone you trust. Someone who knows explosives.”
“It is. He’s totally trustworthy, but, uh …”
“But what?” Raven pressed.
“He’s a little quirky. Kind of odd. Maybe even a little crazy.”
“Guy works with explosives, so yeah, you’d have to be a little on the crazy side.” Raven thought a moment. “Is he good?”
Viper nodded. “He can drop a twenty-story building and leave a brand-new car untouched across the street. He’s the best. Just don’t let his personality get to you.”
“I don’t care if he sucks on a pacifier, as long as he can get us what we need.”
“No problem, then.” Viper flashed a white smile. “Let’s go. Faster we talk to him, the faster we can start blowing that lab to bits.”
They all stood. Raven moved to face Viper. “How far away is he?”
“Not far by air, but we need to take a truck. I don’t know what explosives we’ll need or how much room they take up, so we better be prepared to drive it all back. If we can carry it in packs and fly back, we will. It’s about a four-hour drive from here. It’ll probably take him a couple hours to get everything together for us.”
“Can we call ahead so he can get started?”
“No. Andy doesn’t believe in phones. He thinks they’re all wired to record conversations.”
“Four hours back if we have to drive.” Raven ran the calculations in his head. “That gives us just enough time to get to the lab before the Halflings invade.”
“Not a lot of room for error,” Viper said.
“Never is.” Raven headed out the door with the other three on his heels.