The Betrayed Series: Ultimate Omnibus Collection With EXCLUSIVE Post-Shiva Short Story (96 page)

The Disciples did not seem quite the type to give it up so easily.

CHAPTER 18

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Alps, Slovenia

5:27 a.m. GMT

Rebecca let Bunny hug her, hard. Harvish and Talli were busy doing high fives. They’d done it. Somehow they’d navigated the maze of a plan, threaded the needle, escaped by a hair—whatever you called it, the sensation felt pretty damned good.

The Bombardier also seemed to be getting its second wind. The glorious machine ran smoother, actually going in a straight line. The broken strut sticking out like a proud scar. It was the luxury SUV snowmobile that
could
.

The only one not in full celebration mode was Brandt. A frown still etched his face as he looked in the direction those three had fled. It worried Rebecca as well, not knowing if that stupid sniper was one of them. But for this fleeting moment she shoved all concern aside and simply enjoyed a moment of pure victory.

Adding to the exuberance of the moment was the sight of Lopez and Davidson snowboarding toward them. Wait. Not snowboarding.

Lopez was in the lead, waving like a maniac. Through the broken windows he yelled, “Shield boarding! The X Games are going to eat it up!”

Of course he almost bit it, having to drop down to his knees, grabbing the leather straps to right his course. Even Davidson seemed bit by the shield boarding bug, weaving back and forth and showing off just a little.

The horror of the past day were chased away by the bright morning sun and the knowledge that they’d done it. Actually done it.

Then the sound of a shot filled the alpine air. Rebecca and Bunny dropped to the floor of the Bombardier, which had become almost a second home. But there was no return fire. Cautiously Rebecca lifted her head to find the men searching the surrounding area.

Which meant it must be the sniper. Somehow he’d found them again and set up far from them.

Another loud shot rang out, but no bullet materialized. She lifted herself up to look out the window, checking on Lopez and Davidson. They were far more vulnerable out there. While both were crouched down, hugging the metal, neither seemed injured.

The sniper was too damned good to miss both men and the Bombardier. So what was he up to?

The next loud shot was answered by a bone-chilling
crack
.

Bunny’s eyes dilated. “No!”

Rebecca looked to Brandt, whose head whipped to the right.

“What’s going on?” she asked as the sniper fired again, and another crack filled the air. Then, reluctantly Rebecca figured it out.

Farther up the steep slope, a huge sheet of snow slid down the hill, putting pressure on the other loose snow, dislodging it. At first the snow’s movement was slow, almost like a lazy yoga move, but with each passing moment the snow slide rapidly developed into a full-on avalanche.

“Get in!” Brandt yelled to Lopez and Davidson, throwing the passenger side door open. Davidson, being the closest, maneuvered his shield over. Brandt grabbed him by the back of the jacket and hauled the younger man inside.

Lopez though was much farther away. “Go!” he yelled, waving them off. “To the trees!”

Rebecca followed Lopez’s finger. A stand of pines wasn’t far off. That might be able to break the avalanche’s momentum.

Brandt looked like he wanted to argue with the corporal, however Lopez had already turned to the right, increasing the distance between them. The sergeant turned to Harvish and said, “Floor it.”

Beneath her feet, Rebecca could feel the Bombardier’s engines rev, but the thing had been put through snowmobile hell. It strained, you could hear it in every cycle of the pistons, however they didn’t go any faster. The rogue snow picked up speed, filling the air with the sound of a brewing storm. At first a quiet whooshing that built to a menacing rumble that reached a crescendo.

That sonic quake more than anything told Rebecca they’d never make it to the trees in time.

* * *

Davidson watched in silent horror as the avalanche advanced on Lopez. He should have stayed out there with him. The snow tumbled upon itself, building force and speed. Just as it was about to overtake Lopez, the Bombardier’s engines kicked in.

The vehicle surged forward, clearing the trees. The sound of branches torn from their trunks reverberated. The snow chewed through the small patch of forest more efficiently than a buzz saw, but not so efficient that it could catch them.

Harvish gunned the engine, getting them around the edge of the trees and back toward Lopez. Davidson searched the area as the avalanche poured down the slope not a few feet from them.

Then a whoop filled the air as Lopez crested the roiling snow. He held his leather strap in one hand and held his other high above his head. “Avalanche riding!” he yelled as he streaked past them. “Tell me when my eight seconds are up!”

Davidson didn’t want to tell him, but the only way he was able to stay upright was that the avalanche was losing steam. The slope had leveled out, presenting less downward trajectory for the snow.

They had dodged not just a bullet, but a snowy death as well.

Then another shot rang out.

No.

The snow, which had seemed content to stop its descent, shifted again.

Another shot hit halfway up the mountainside, dislodging a large drift of fresh snow. It let loose almost with glee, barreling down the slope. This avalanche’s sheer volume crushed the trees, leveling them within moments, leaving nothing between its fury and the Bombardier.

* * *

Brandt didn’t get pissed off at God for much, but
seriously
. Two avalanches? He could only pray that the thick metal of the vehicle could take the brunt of the blow. They were fresh out of tricks.

Lopez veered off to the right, dropping out of sight. Whether taken by the avalanche or performing some stunt, Brandt wasn’t sure.

Then the first wall of snow hit them, picking the back of the Bombardier up and forcing them onto their front struts. Only there weren’t two struts, so the force of snow crashed them over onto their right side, then flipped them end over end.

The front windshield, already riddled with bullet holes, shattered. Talli was thrown free. Harvish wasn’t far behind as the backseat’s bolts sheared off, slamming the seat through the dented metal of the Bombardier’s roof. Inside was no longer the safer option.

“Evac!” Brandt said, grabbing Rebecca’s elbow. Davidson urged Bunny to the other side of the vehicle. As the metal ripped open revealing a pinkish sky, they got the hell out of there.

Outside wasn’t much better as the snow tumbled and pushed. Brandt found his feet and headed perpendicular to the flow. Just like a riptide, an avalanche was only powerful if you were in its path. He could see a rocky overhang ahead. Not far. They could make it.

They
had
to make it.

Then Rebecca’s legs were knocked out from under her as she fell to one knee. They didn’t have time for her to gain her feet. Brandt gripped her wrist hard enough it probably felt like he was going to break it as he dragged her behind him.

It was only a few more feet.

Then another loud crack pierced the air.

This time it wasn’t a wall of snow coming, it was a steamroller aiming straight for them.

Okay.

Officially, the fucking plan had come unstuck.

* * *

Aunush watched through her binoculars as somehow the weak researcher finally got up and ran alongside Brandt. They sought the shelter of those rocks, but the torrent of snow the sniper had created in a
directed
avalanche overwhelmed them both.

With eager anticipation she watched as tons of snow poured over their location. Sweeping to the east, the others of his team were in similar dire situations. The only one who seemed to come out of the multistaged avalanche was the corporal. He was still riding high upon his shield.

She went back to Brandt and Monroe’s position. They were the only ones who mattered. Aunush needed to be certain that she had truly cut off the head of the snake. Without the researcher they would not have the historical acumen to follow any path Nikolay might have set them upon. And without Brandt they would not have the might to see the mission through.

The avalanche slowed and then finally stopped. A ringing silence filled the air. Not a bird chirped. The wind died down to nothing. As if Nature herself was waiting to see the results of her handiwork. Aunush scanned the area where the jutting rocks
used
to be. They were so buried that she could not even know exactly where they lay. All the better.

Let it be an unmarked grave.

“We must go down and finish them off,” the
wei
insisted.

Aunush checked the perfectly smooth snowfield. Not a sign of movement.

“And how exactly do you plan to dig through thirty feet of snow?” she asked, cocking her head. “Especially when the others are still at large?”

The man’s cheeks blazed red. Or was that from the cuts and scratches that covered his face? “I am done listening to your—”

The
wei
never finished his thought since he no longer had a mouth. A sniper shot from this close? The man was lucky to still have his head. As the
wei
’s body crumpled to the ground, Aunush turned to his two remaining men.

“Would anyone else like to object to my leadership?”

Both men promptly shook their heads.

The braver of the two cleared his throat. “What do we do now?”

She was so glad he asked.

“We wait to see if we need to activate our secondary protocol.”

The man looked like he wished to know more, but Aunush only grinned. It was too delicious to share.

* * *

Rebecca clung to Brandt as the darkness threatened to consume them. Her ears rang so loudly that it was difficult to know if the avalanche had really stopped or if it was just wishful thinking.

Brandt’s hand moved to his belt as he unhooked his light and turned it on. She went to speak, but he put his finger up to his lips. Right. Sound could set off another avalanche.

He swung the beam around them. The rocks had kept the avalanche from crushing them outright, however even the stone groaned under the snow’s weight. On every other side the snow walled them in. Brandt put a hand against the white barrier, but it didn’t give at all.

She gulped back panic. They were alive. They had oxygen. Not a lot though as she looked at their tiny enclosure. Brandt clawed at the snow and got a bit to move, but it piled up at his feet.

He turned to her, sorrow in his eyes as he shook his head. There would be no digging their way out. Given how long the avalanche had sounded overhead, Rebecca could bet there was way more snow above them than they had room to store it.

Brandt put his hands on her shoulders and whispered, “We’ve got to stay calm. Conserve oxygen.”

And heat. Rebecca was already shivering. She noticed that Brandt didn’t promise anything like how soon they would be rescued or how everything was going to be fine. He wasn’t that guy. He wouldn’t lie to keep her spirits up. While she wasn’t well versed in avalanche statistics, she did watch the news. She did know how low the rescue rate was even under the best of circumstances. With dozens upon dozens of workers using heavy equipment. All they had was the other five members of their team, if they had survived the avalanche. And what equipment did they have besides Lopez’s shield?

Wordlessly Brandt sat down against the rock and spread his arms. Rebecca lowered herself beside him, allowing his arms to wrap around her. If they were to die, at the least it would be together.

* * *

Davidson dug through the snow, finding a hand. He dug faster, shoveling snow with both hands.

“Hang on,” he reassured as those exposed fingers wiggled. She was alive. Talli joined him as Harvish dropped to his knees and helped despite a ragged, bleeding bullet wound to his shoulder.

Within moments they had her torso uncovered. She wrapped her frigid arms around him as he pulled her from the snowbank. Davidson rubbed her back as she snuggled her head against his neck. Talli threw a blanket over her.

Bunny looked up into Davidson’s eyes. “I think I’m done with the snow.”

Then she leaned in and kissed him. His lips didn’t know how to respond.

“Get a room,” Harvish teased as she pulled away. “Or spread the love, I’m just saying.”

Bunny shook her head before burying it against Davidson’s skin.

Davidson held her stiffly, not really knowing what to do or say.

“Hey!” a shout came from behind, saving him from the awkward moment. Lopez trudged up the slope dragging his shield behind him. “Save a little for the next X Games champion!”

The corporal’s smile fell though as he surveyed their group. “Where’s Rebecca?” he asked. “Brandt?”

Davidson held Bunny closer as he answered. “We have no idea.”

* * *

Brandt kept his breathing low and shallow. At such high altitude that was a recipe for blacking out, but he wanted to take in as little oxygen as possible. And give off minimal carbon dioxide. In tight, enclosed spaces like this carbon dioxide poisoning would probably get them before they ran out of oxygen.

Not exactly a pleasant thought.

Rebecca stirred in his arms. She’d fallen asleep after the first hour. The stress and the trauma had taken its toll. He stroked her hair, soothing her restlessness.

God, this was so fucked up. The worst part wasn’t even that they were trapped with little oxygen and even less hope of being rescued. No, it was because while they were physically together, they would die apart.

Even after everything that Brandt had seen, the dark hearts at the center of religious zealots, he still believed with all his heart in Jesus’s promise. He believed in the sanctity of marriage. For him, his vows truly were a covenant with God.

And he had made it with a woman besides Rebecca.

Brandt couldn’t even picture Maria’s face in his mind’s eye. She was a stranger.

His child though? His son? That he could see as clear as day.

Carefully so as not to disturb Rebecca, Brandt flicked back on the flashlight and opened his chest pocket. Tenderly so as not to rip the edge, he took out the picture of Maria’s last sonogram. To be able to see a life before it was even born was practically a miracle in itself. Although they didn’t have long to wait. The baby’s due date was in a few short weeks.