aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) by Cynthia Clement Page B

living room. He picked up his cell phone and
made a quick dial. “Mark, we have a problem.”
    Niail
turned his attention to Kimi. She looked frozen with shock. He pulled her close
and rubbed his hand up her back. It was an unusual situation for him, but it
felt right. The tight rein he kept on his heart and emotions loosened as Kimi
eased against him.
    Jake
hung up and grabbed his coat. “How do you want to go about this?”
    “I
am putting Kimi in the truck.” Niail turned the door handle. “Then I will take
care of the intruders. You stay with your sister.”
    “And
let you have all the fun?” Jake shook his head. “Not on your life buddy.”
    “My
actions may not be legal.”
    “The
only thing that matters is that we get out in one piece.” Jake pulled a gun
from a chest of drawers by the door. “Mark will meet us on the reservation.”
    Niail
pushed Kimi behind him. The night was cool and dark. He rushed to the truck,
and within seconds, she was lying across the front seat.
    “Start
the vehicle and wait five minutes.” Niail put the keys in the ignition. “If we
have not returned, leave.”
    “Where’s
Mark meeting us?” Kimi turned to look up at her brother.
    “He’s
going to be at the main road into the reservation. Then he’ll follow us.” Jake
took the safety off his pistol. “We’re going to Grandfather’s sweat lodge.”
    “That’s
where I’ll go if you don’t return.”
    “Mark
will get you to safety if we fail.”
    “We
will not fail.” Niail reached for the guns he had stashed under the front seat.
“We might take longer than expected.”
    Jake
shook his head. “Where did you get this guy?”
    Kimi
smiled. “He found us.”
    “Five
minutes, no more.” He shut the door and turned to Jake. “There are three men.
Do not get in my way.”
    He
crouched and moved to the cover of the bushes that lined the driveway. Jake
followed. He did not have to explain the drill to him. The light came again.
Niail watched for a second flash and then motioned Jake in that direction.
    He
would take the first man and then wait for the next signal. Staying close to
the ground the two men inched their way toward their quarry. The sounds of the
night masked their approach. They were within a few feet of the watchers and
able to see the guns that were braced against their shoulders.
    The
guns were aimed at the truck.
    Waiting
was not an option.
    Niail
jumped the first intruder. He broke his neck before he could send off a warning
shot. Jake pulled the automatic rifle away from his opponent. The second light signaled.
Niail was upon the man before he could shout a warning. He smothered his cry
with his hand before choking him to death.
    That
left the third stalker.
    Niail
did not wait for Jake.
    He
pounced on the man and pulled the rifle up against his neck, holding it there
until the life had drained from him. Jake reached him, just as he threw the
body to the ground.
    “You
killed them all.” Jake’s whisper was incredulous. “What if they had been innocent?”
    “They
were not.”
    “You
don’t know that.” Jake raked his hands through his hair. “I can’t believe I’ve
gone from a peace officer to a killer.”
    Niail
stood. “I did the killing.”
    “Is
this normal for you?”
    Niail
picked up the assault rifle. “We do the killing.”
    “So
that makes you insensitive to it.” Jake sneered.
    “No
one gets used to death.” Niail walked to the truck. “Did you, when you were a
soldier?”
    Jake
shook his head, his shoulders sagging. “No.”
    “I
am not the enemy.” Niail reached the vehicle and opened the door. “These were
Kowal’s men and they meant harm.”
    Jake
climbed into the front seat beside Kimi. Niail folded himself into the rear and
leaned his head back. The adrenaline leaving his body was being replaced with
exhaustion. His head continued to throb and he winced at the sharp pain that
shot through his temple.
    “You
overdid it.” Kimi’s concern showed in her