Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Sky rushed to her son and pulled him into her arms. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”
In two steps, Bono was there, wrapping his arms around Sky and the boy to shelter them from what he knew was coming.
Doumar was going to die.
“Get up!” Doumar walked to the dog and nudged her with a boot. “Get the fuck up!” When she didn’t react, he kicked her.
“Stop!” Sara cried. “She won’t react. She can’t.”
Joss grabbed Doumar by the back of his coat, but he wiggled out of the garment, not stopping his assault on the animal.
“You useless piece of shit. Attack!”
“Stop!”
Sara and Joss reached simultaneously for Doumar, but he swung back his arm and planted a fist on Sara’s chin. She flew through the air and landed flat on her back. Bono looked on with rage, wanting nothing more than to make good on his promise and rip the Dutchman apart with his bare hands, but Joss and the other team members were there to deal with him. Sky and Niels were his priority. They’d suffered enough trauma. He had to get them out of there.
With his arms around them, Bono lifted Sky and Niels off their feet and made for the exit. “Let’s go.”
Before they reached the stairs, Joss had his pistol pointed at Doumar with an expression of fury so fierce even Bono flinched.
Sara rubbed her jaw and shook her head. Her eyes were out of focus. Damn, she looked out of it. Did she even have control of her art? His question was answered the instant Diamond turned with a fierce growl on the owner who was still abusing her.
“Stop,” Sara cried meekly, but it was too late.
Diamond jumped, going for Doumar’s windpipe. Bono pressed Niels’s face against his chest and covered his ear with a palm. A ripping sound tore through the room, followed by Doumar’s scream.
“Don’t look,” he whispered to Sky.
As Bono rushed Sky and Niels down the stairs, he saw Joss relaxing his trigger finger. He was going to let the dog rip Doumar to pieces. The blood-churning screaming continued until they reached the first floor.
When he ushered his precious charges through the door, Cain’s voice rose above the animalistic sounds. “Finish it.”
A single shot rang out with the muffled echo of a silencer. Bono didn’t stop until they were in the SUV. The need to pull Sky against him was overwhelming, but she was soothing her child, rocking him in her arms. He took the opposite seat to give them their space. Mother and son were both crying.
He leaned over and touched her knee. “It’s over.”
The others returned shortly, their faces grim.
“Are they holding up all right?” Cain asked, motioning to Sky and Niels.
It was Sky who replied. “We’re okay.”
He loved her for being so brave.
“Joss and Sara will stay to take care of the dog and the body,” Cain said. “I’ll drive you to a safe place.”
“What about you?” Bono asked Sara. “Are you okay?”
She touched her jaw. “I’m fine. Nothing is broken.”
“What are you going to do with Diamond?” Sky asked. “It’s not her fault. This is how Doumar trained her.”
“We’ll take her to a rehabilitation center that specializes in dogs who’ve been used for fighting,” Sara answered.
“Joss, give them a tranquilizer,” Cain instructed.
The team leader took a first aid kit from the back and prepared two injections.
“We don’t need it,” Sky said.
Bono watched her with concern. Her body was shaking, and her teeth were chattering. “Believe me, you do.”
“I want to be here for Niels.”
Bono moved into the seat next to them when Joss took her arm to inject the needle. “I’ll take care of both of you. We’re just going to let you sleep for a while.”
Gently, he removed the earpiece she was still wearing.
At Bono’s nod, Joss pushed the needle into her arm and repeated the procedure with Niels.
Cain got into the driver’s seat. “Clean up here, and meet us at the helijet. I’ll let the others know we’re taking off in one hour.”
“Where are we going?” Sky asked, her tongue already slurring.
Bone stroked her arm. “To a safe place.”
Joss gave Bono a pat on the shoulder. “Good job.”
The smile Bono gave in answer was bleak. It had almost gone to hell. He should’ve guessed Sky would attempt something as crazy as a suicide mission.
As if reading his thoughts, Cain turned in his seat. “There was no way you could’ve known.”
Bono gave a tight nod.
“Are you in a condition to fly?” Cain asked as he started the engine.
“Always.”
Joss closed the door and Cain pulled off.
It was over.
Bono felt weary to his bones, but he had the people that mattered most with him. There was no greater blessing than that. As gently as he could, he pulled Sky into his arms with Niels’s head resting in her lap and his small body stretched out on the seat.