“So decide; make it quick, because if you chose wrong, I will end you. You have to know that. If you make the right move, and help us stand against Williams, you’ll have gained a family, like I did.
Slider hung onto every word Creed said. He was piecing together all that he had gathered from life at the Facility with what he was being told and had to admit there was a lot of truth to what this guy was saying.
“What’s your take on this?” Slider nudged the barrel of his gun into the back of Gavil’s head.
“Me? Hell, I'm just here for the free drinks,” he growled.
Slider wasn’t in the mood. He cocked his gun and said, “Don’t screw around with me, Gavil. I know how much you hate your brother. You can’t fake years of beatings. Why are you taking his side now?”
Gavil rolled his eyes, “Yeah, I hate the golden boy. Always have. But this time we have the same enemy. Williams is number one on my hit list, and my reasons for that are my own. We take out Williams, then we all go our separate ways. Let pretty-boy over there have the white picket fence and house in the ‘burbs with snot-nosed mutant meta kids. I don’t give a shit. All I want is Williams’ head on a damn stick.”
Slider hesitated for a moment before stepping off Gavil’s back and lowering the gun to his side. “I’ve seen some seriously messed up shit at the Facility myself. I just want my freedom. If I went AWOL, Williams would hunt me down. I know that. Yeah, I have reasons of my own to want his ass dead.” Slider grimaced slightly.
“I know you know this is a serious decision. Once made, there’s no turning back. If you betray us, I’ll make it my life’s work to hunt you down and kill you. Clear?” Creed’s blue eyes crackled with a blaze of fire as he felt an overwhelming wave of protectiveness for the people in the next room. He had no memories of them other than the dreams of the dark-eyed beauty, but somehow he knew he would lay down his life for them. He was walking on faith now.
Gavil stood his full height, dusted off his fatigues and rolled his shoulders working out the tension there from being held to the floor with a bullet trained to the back of his head for the last ten minutes.
Creed watched Slider’s face for signs of treachery, but only saw a look of resolve. The three soldiers, who had been sent to kill the Winter clan, stood in a loose triangle. Creed held his hand out to Slider who regarded it with thought before slipping his weapon into its holster, freeing his right hand, and reaching out to meet Creed in the middle. They clasped hands and shook on their agreement.
“I’m not looking for a family, but we have the same goal. I’m in.” Slider cocked his head thoughtfully before adding, “You have my word on it.”
Creed nodded, respecting the soldier’s stance.
“Great. Glad we got that settled.” Gavil reached down and picked up the nearest weapons, securing them in the holster at his waist.
Creed turned and walked back to the people in the other room, desperate to see the girl. The two metasoldiers followed.
She was laying on her back next to the two other metahumans—her brothers. She wore black running shorts and a black T-shirt. He had the impulse to reach out to touch her skin, but didn’t. Somehow, touching her when she was unconscious seemed very wrong. Instead, he crouched beside her and studied her face. She was absolutely beautiful in her sleep. Her suntanned skin was perfectly smooth. Her lips were shaped like a bow, plump and soft. He wondered if he ever kissed those lips and frowned as he tried to remember. How could he forget kissing this angel?
“We’re going to have to contact Williams soon. He’s expecting us to check in,” Gavil’s voice interrupted Creed’s thoughts.
Creed nodded, not removing his eyes from the girl. “Yeah, we need to buy some time. The female here may wake soon. The males will need at least another thirty minutes before they wake. The humans are going to need more time.”
“You know he’s going to want to hear from you,” Gavil prompted after another moment of silence.
Creed stood abruptly, ripping his eyes away from the girl of his dreams and pulled his cell phone from one of the many pockets in his fatigues. He punched one number, and the speed dial handled the rest.
“Yes?”
“Sir, Creed Young checking in.”
“Mr. Young, tell me you have good news for me.”
“The ranch is secure; we caught them completely off guard and suffered no casualties ourselves during the siege. All three metahumas have been tranqued. Margo Winter is dead.”
The wicked scientist was actually giggling. Creed wanted to reach through the phone and choke the life out of the bloody monster.
“Excellent, Mr. Young. Please put your brother on the phone.”
“Yes, sir.”
Creed held the phone out to Gavil who took it with a grimace. His voice gave nothing away. “Gavil here, sir.”
“Gavil, my boy! Is everything Creed said, true? Have you captured the three metahumans? Is the woman dead?”
“Yes, sir. We’re working on loading the metahumans into vehicles for transport.”
“Wonderful! You have truly proven yourself, Gavil.”