Grim Vengeance Read online

Vance ignored him. “How did you find me, anyway? Tell me that. Or kill me. Hurry this shit up.” He sat back down on the couch and regarded them with an amused look.

  Everyone watched him, but nobody spoke, no one moved. Shawn threw a glance at Duncan, their rock, their leader. He stepped forward.

  “We need your help against Jaxon.”

  Vance’s eyes widened, then he threw his head back and began to laugh. His chest bounced up and down, his shoulders shook, and the sound bounded through the room, assaulting the group of heroes. And still, he laughed. The Russian hit his thigh with one hand, taking deep breaths when he no longer had the air to continue. Tears sprung from the corners of his eyes, and he clutched at his chest, fingertips burrowing into the fabric of his shirt.

  Shawn felt his face flush and his fists clench.

  “You piece of shit...” Mari growled. Stalking forward, she reached out and backhanded Vance across the face, sending a loud smack through the room.

  Everyone fell silent.

  Vance stared at her.

  Duncan lunged forward but was too late. The Russian was off the couch and on his feet quicker than anyone expected. His large arms wrapped around Mari and she was tossed into Lucas and Aaron before Shawn even realized she was airborne. The crime boss approached, a snarl on his lips and death in his eyes.

  Shawn leapt into action, grabbing the Russian and pinning his arms. He pulled Vance off his feet easily and slammed him against the far wall. Breath shot out of the big man’s mouth, and he gasped, flinching.

  God, I hope he broke something.

  “Hold him.” Aaron’s voice was hard. He stalked up to Vance and sunk his fist into the man’s stomach. “You fucking prick. You touch anyone in my family again and I’ll cut your eyes out.”

  “That’s enough!”

  Shawn blinked at the sound of Emma’s voice. He glanced over his shoulder, watching her come into the room, blue eyes flashing in anger.

  “Emma, my dear.” Vance coughed. His voice was hoarse, but a smile played across his lips. “So good to see you are in one piece.”

  “Stop this.” She directed her words at Duncan, who blinked back. “You keep saying we’re not monsters. We’re not like him. We came here to ask his help, not hurt him. Not kill him.”

  Duncan nodded. “She’s right. Let him go.”

  “What?” Mari screeched. She stepped up to Emma and got in her face, forcing her to step back. “We’re not like him? We? You’re including yourself in that statement?”

  “Emma, what are you doing with these people?” Vance muttered. Shawn shoved him against the wall once more, enjoying the sound the man’s skull made as it hit the wall.

  “You are like him, bitch!” Mari continued. “And now you’re defending this filth. Trying to get us to let him go so he can fuck us up!”

  “No, I’m not, dammit.”

  “Like hell you’re not.”

  “Enough.” Isaac stepped into the room, and Shawn grimaced. Oh shit. He turned just in time to see the realization hit Vance. The Russian’s jaw went slack, then he surged forward.

  “Kak ty smeyesh’?” Vance roared. Shawn held him back but struggled to keep him pinned as he screamed. “Kak ty mog? Ya sem’ya! Sem’ya!”

  “Lucas!” Shawn stumbled back at the force with which Vance raged before Lucas grabbed hold of the Russian and helped press him back against the wall.

  “Listen to me!” Isaac’s eyes were wide. He held his hands up defensively. “We just need help. Jaxon, he’s after us, too. These people found me, rescued Emma and me from that asshole, even though we’re on different sides. We can bring him down. They have powerful abilities that can stop him for good. That’s in your interest as well. I...” He dropped his arms. “I just wanted to help everyone. I wanted to get rid of the threat that could kill everyone I care about.”

  Vance, now unable to move, glared at him.

  “Please. Just help us.” Isaac stepped toward his uncle. “We can protect you. You and everyone here.”

  “I am sorry I let you go.” Vance spoke quietly, but his chest still heaved. “It is my fault you were corrupted by these monsters.”

  “Monsters?” Mari scoffed. “You’re the monsters. The killers. The three of you and everyone in this fucking place. I say we annihilate every last fucker in here.”

  Lucas shot her a questioning glance, and she raised her eyebrows at him.

  “No.” Duncan touched her shoulder. “This was a mistake. I thought he’d see reason, but he is too—”

  Mari doubled over, and Shawn’s stomach flipped. Fuck...oh, no. Oh, no. She reached up and wiped at her brow, which was dotted with sweat. So soon? We haven’t even been here that long. Oh, God, no. “Duncan, we need to leave. Now.”

  His kind brown eyes showed complete understanding. He pivoted, reaching out and grasping Isaac’s bicep. Aaron jumped forward, his arm already on Emma’s.

  “Throw him over there.” Mari said to Shawn, jerking her chin at the far side of the room. “Then we can just—” Her face contorted, and the grip she had on time faltered, then released.

  A bright agony flared in Shawn’s right side. He cried out just as Lucas did, their voices mashing together. Everyone surged forward at once, but the clones dropped to the ground, blood already pooling beneath them.

  “I suggest you stay away from me,” Vance snarled.

  Mari stared at him, fear in her eyes. “No...oh, please, no.” She watched Shawn topple onto his back. He gripped a large shallow hole in the side of his stomach. Lucas turned and began to crawl away from the Russian. Shawn could see the exact same wound on his body.

  “Go! Fucking go! Now!” Duncan pushed Mari away, pulling at Emma’s arm. She and Isaac stumbled back, both wearing expressions of horror as they stared at their former boss.

  Aaron dropped next to Lucas and pulled him up while Duncan did the same with Shawn.

  “You think I am stupid, no?” Vance walked forward as the men dragged their injured away. Another flare of fresh pain shot through Shawn’s right leg, in the upper thigh. He screamed, eyes squeezing shut as a wave of nausea hit him low in the stomach.

  “Please.” Duncan begged. “Don’t hurt my family. We didn’t come here to hurt you.”

  “Yet you did.” Vance’s eyes flicked to Isaac, who was backing out of the door. “But you did not expect me to have people like you. People protecting me even when not in the same room.”

  “What...what do you mean?”

  “How do you think I got so high up and never once was attacked? The Evos I surrounded myself with made sure of it, that is how.”

  “What the hell?” Emma whispered.

  “That lovely woman behind you was my latest addition. Of course, you know about Alex. Bruce. Collecting Evos was very important to me after I decided to leave the lab to corrupt itself. To destroy itself.” Another step forward brought Vance near the group huddled in the hallway. Through waves of near-crippling pain, Shawn glanced around. He didn’t see anyone coming. Not yet. His heart slammed against his ribcage. Oh, God, he’s going to kill us all.

  The smile that stretched Vance’s lips brought ice to Shawn’s blood. “Do you think you can honestly get away, not knowing just how many I have stashed away for a moment like this? Like my voodoo Evo. The one who simply needs your DNA to stab himself and hurt you instead. DNA such as the hair we found at your apartment after the incident in Redborough, Shawn.”

  “Stop this! Leave them alone.” Emma glared at Vance, who laughed.

  “Your power is useless against me.”

  “Then take me.” Isaac shouldered past everyone, approaching his uncle. Shawn could see fear in his eyes even as his own vision began to fade.

  “No.” Shawn was being dragged backward down the hall, away from the Russian who now ignored the group. “No, wait. We can’t leave him.”

  “We have to.” Duncan’s voice was close to his ear, his breath coming in gasps. “Mari?”

  “I can’t. Not yet.”
/>   Sounds of a quick and sudden tussle floated over to Shawn, but he couldn’t place what was happening behind him. All he could see was Isaac, standing before Vance, who placed a hand on his nephew’s shoulder.

  And then the Russian was doubled over, grimacing. He held his side with both hands. Isaac was bolting toward the retreating group, a glint of metal flashing in his right fist. “Mari!” he screamed, eyes wide. He reached out and grabbed Shawn’s arm in a tight grip.

  “I can’t! It won’t stop him!”

  “You can still stop everyone else in here so we can get out,” Shawn mumbled. “So we don’t get stabbed again or attacked by other Evos.” Despite the throbbing pain in his body and his darkening vision, he could see Ivan Vance tripping down the hall after them, snarl on his face. Blood seeped between his fingers.

  “Oh, God.” Isaac’s hand tightened on the blade near Shawn’s face. “Mari!”

  Chapter Six

  Charlie watched through his binoculars as the pathetic group of would-be heroes emerged from the hidden bunker door. “There.” He twisted his right hand and his view sharpened.

  “They’re out?” Chelsea’s chair groaned softly as she sat up. “Well?”

  Ignoring her, Charlie grinned as a constant wave of déjà vu washed over him. The Synths disappeared from sight, then reappeared seconds later next to one of the three undercover guards. Lucas knocked the closest one out with a sharp blow to the back of his head while Shawn took care of the other guard a few feet away despite the obvious and bloody wounds on both men. The third whirled around, pulling a pistol out from his hidden holster. Mari was, of course, to the rescue, and Charlie watched the scene blink forward after she released her hold on time. The final guard was quickly dealt with.

  “Seriously? Are they all there? Let’s fucking roast ‘em now.” Chelsea’s voice cut through his resolve and he flinched.

  “No.” Leaning forward, he felt the end of the binoculars tap against the dirty window. His gaze landed on Emma as the group began to jog away from Vance’s hideout, and Charlie smiled. She’s mine.

  “The fuck do you mean, ‘No?’” Chelsea stood. “I’m going after them.”

  Finally looking away from his enemies, Charlie grabbed her wrist, squeezing tightly. “We do not go after them. The plan right now is to get Vance, not them.”

  “So what? Eventually you want to kill these assholes, too. That’s why I’m helping you.” She pointed out the window. “They’re all in the same damn spot. I can generate enough power to fry them all nice and quick, then we can head inside and take care of the Russian. Now let go of me.”

  Standing, Charlie pulled her close. “You do that, and I slice you open from gut to throat.” Chelsea went rigid in his grasp, and her deep brown eyes stared at him in shock. He let her go and faced the window once more. “Jaxon needs Vance, but so do we. That time stopper needs to be wiped out before we can even get close to them.”

  “But she’s weak. It’s obvious. Otherwise they would have kept the world frozen and ran, and we’d never have even seen them leave.”

  Charlie raised the binoculars again, staring at the group’s frantic progress. Emma, Isaac, and Mari ran, pulling along the wounded clones with Duncan. They all continuously threw frightened glances behind them as if they were being chased. He grinned. You are...you just don’t know where I am yet.

  He sighed. “Mari and Duncan are too smart. If she’s drained, each minute that passes recharges her power. And if she does have some left in her, she’s bright enough to know to only use her freezes right before something threatens them so as to save up every moment she can. If we attack now, we’re fucked.” Charlie threw a glance over his shoulder. “We wait until the opportune moment, and that’s final.”

  Chelsea actually pouted. “I’m sorry...I just...” She crossed her arms and looked at the floor, black hair reflecting the dying sunlight. “I want to help you.”

  Fighting the urge to roll his eyes or punch her in the throat, Charlie took one last look at the fleeing group, swallowed, and turned. “You are. I can tell how much you care.” The words irritated him, but he continued. “I know you’ll listen. You’re smart, too. You know we have to do this right.”

  She smiled and looked back up at him.

  Charlie opened his arms, and she instantly surged forward into his embrace, eyes eager. The familiar smell of peppermint wafted over him as she wrapped herself around his torso. Stifling a groan, he hugged her back, lowering his face to her neck and running his tongue along her brown skin. She tasted like salt and dirt, and he shuddered.

  Chelsea let out a weak moan. She pressed against him harder, lowering one hand to his belt. “I want you...” she whispered.

  “Not here.” Charlie stepped away from her, forcing a smile on his face. “We want to attack now, while things are still chaotic in the bunker.”

  She frowned but nodded and straightened her hair. “All right. Let’s go kill these assholes.”

  —-

  “Hurry! Hurry!”

  Shawn was half-dragged along the ground as Duncan yelled at the others. Isaac was on his other side, helping their mentor get to the van. Shawn’s vision swam momentarily, but he could still make out Aaron and Emma dragging Lucas in a similar fashion. His heart leapt, and he glanced around. Mari...? Mari! But she was there. He blinked until his sight was clear and looked at her again. She didn’t look well. Her face was slick with sweat, and she was pale, but otherwise looked unhurt.

  He groaned.

  “Almost there, man.” Isaac grunted and tightened his grip around Shawn’s waist.

  “Mari, the doors! The back doors!” Duncan’s voice was loud, bouncing off the surrounding wooded area. Grass swished underneath their feet, and birds, oblivious of their plight, chirped above.

  Finally, they arrived at the van, just short of Mari opening the back. Gingerly, Shawn was pulled onto the floor of the vehicle. No amount of care could stop the pain from shooting through his body, however, and his head spun again, his vision darkening.

  “Stay with us. Come on, Shawn. We’ve got you.” Isaac sat down hard next to him, one hand in his. He glanced up. “If Lucas is in, we need to go!”

  Duncan was already out of sight. Shawn heard doors slam, and the van’s interior dimmed. He groaned.

  “I’ve got you.” Isaac squeezed his hand, and Shawn felt his consciousness snap forward.

  “Where do we go?” Emma’s frantic voice sounded distant. No one answered her.

  Shawn turned his head and reached out for Lucas, grasping the man’s bicep. “He’s out. I can’t wake him.” Aaron was shaking his head, eyes spilling tears that he struggled to subdue. Isaac let go of Shawn’s hand and crept over him, sitting between the clones.

  “Lucas.” Isaac shook the unconscious man. “Lucas!”

  “Mari, can you freeze yet?” Duncan asked harshly from the driver’s seat.

  “I...I think so, but only for a few minutes.”

  “Freeze Shawn and Lucas. Like you did with Peter. You have to. Sarah moved her place to Astoria. That’s hours away, hundreds of miles. They’ll bleed out before we even get out of fucking California.”

  Shawn felt Mari’s hand rest on his shoulder, then suddenly, everyone was yelling.

  “I tried, dammit!” Mari yelled.

  Shawn was hit with a feeling like he’d been there before as Emma said, “They’re awake again. They’re unfrozen.”

  “I fucking know.”

  “Stay calm.” Duncan’s voice was soft, understanding, yet frantic.

  “They were only frozen five minutes, maybe ten,” Emma said, her words coming out fast.

  “You have no part in this!” Mari snapped.

  “Enough!” Aaron crouched low and scooted up to the back seat of the van where Mari and Emma sat. Shawn watched his progress, ignoring the fresh pain in his stomach and leg. A little higher up and it would have gotten my chest instead. Like Alex’s bullets...on the roof...in...in Redborough...in... He started to la
ugh, interrupting the fight.

  “Shawn.” Isaac turned. “Shawn?”

  Blackness.

  Shawn dreamt of fleeting colors in the shapes of people, all with a face, but no bodies. They turned into brightly lit demons, with teeth so sharp that just looking at them brought pain to his body. His stomach. His leg. He looked down. They were gnawing on him. Laughing and eating him. He cried out soundlessly as his entire leg was chewed up, his stomach torn open, intestines spilling out. Reaching down, Shawn clawed at the monsters, fighting them off only to feel them dig their teeth in once more. Screaming, he fought.

  “Shawn!” Aaron was over him, worry on his face. Isaac was still by his side. Both men held his hands on the floor of the van.

  “Sorry....” he mumbled. “Bad...bad dream...”

  Isaac turned toward Duncan. “He’s losing too much blood. He won’t make it to Astoria. Neither of them will. You know they won’t.”

  “We don’t have any other choice.”

  “Yes, we do.” Shawn smiled at the sound of Emma’s voice. “Take them to a damn hospital.”

  “She’s so smart.” Shawn heard himself say. “So smart, and so sweet, and I love her.” He nearly blacked out again, but came to moments later to Isaac’s hesitant expression. “What...wait, what did I say?” Shawn frowned.

  Isaac shook his head and turned as Duncan scoffed.

  “A hospital? Are you joking? And tell them what?”

  “That they were injured and need help. They can’t turn us away.”

  “Like hell they can’t. The moment the twins are stabilized, they can. Hell, the moment they find out that they don’t exist, they’ll either throw us on our asses or call the cops. Probably the latter.”

  “Then we do what we need to do to get their help.” Emma slammed her hand on the back of her seat, bringing Shawn’s focus forward again. “Let Mari charge up until we get to a hospital. Aaron and Isaac can try to stop the bleeding until then. We get them help, get them stabilized. If anyone tries to give us trouble, Aaron will hear it coming.”

  Mari let out a high-pitched laugh. “And then what? Huh? We kill our way out? Is that how you normally handle this kind of thing?”