heel. She stayed low to the ground and found the perfect position to set up her rifle behind a large rock that had a wide crag right down the center all the way to the ground.
Grace put her rifle together as quickly in the pouring rain as she did in perfect weather, and she took position behind the infrared scope. She’d have to change scopes once the sun came out, and the change between night and day would be her most vulnerable time. She sighted across the island slowly and was pleased with the location.
“You’ve got to give me an affirmative position for the launch site,” Gabe said to Ethan two hours later.
The sun had reluctantly risen, and they were surrounded by so much ocean that it looked as if the sun was coming directly out of the waves. But the welcome heat of the day didn’t chase the rain away. The black skies turned a putrid gray and continued to rumble.
“I can’t tell, dammit,” Ethan said, the frustration evident in his voice. “It looks as if there are two separate launch sites. Why would he release two batches of the weapon?”
“One has to be a decoy,” Gabe said. “Kimball knew we were looking for him, and he’d plan for all contingencies. Send me the coordinates for both launch sites. I’ve got no choice but to check them both.”
“I’ve got a visual on the ferry,” Grace said. “It looks like everyone’s on board from my count.” She deliberately glanced over Tussad’s familiar face and controlled her anger. Some habits were hard to break.
“There’s movement on the island,” Ethan said. “Household staff is moving inside the main house, and guards are doing perimeter checks now that the storm’s not as severe and they can see better. I’ve marked the image I’m assuming is Kimball as green on the GPS. He’s been in the same place all morning.
Gabe ran to the first launch site, knowing his time was running out. Once the ferry reached the island, it would be too late for him to stop it. He heard the guards talking before he reached the first launch site and knew he’d picked the wrong one immediately. The guards were low-level security, and they didn’t even hear him as he came up behind them. He shot the first and snapped the neck of the guard next to him before either was able to call out for help.
“Three town cars have pulled up to the docks,” Grace said. “Kimball’s not in any of them.”
“Do you still have a visual on the one you think is Kimball?” Gabe asked Ethan as he ran to the other launch site.
“The target is still in place. Would he still be in bed with guests arriving so soon? It doesn’t look as if he’s moved.”
The launch site was on the other side of the island, and he listened to Ethan’s warnings as he called out when guards were in his path. He only had to take out two before he found himself at his destination.
There were once again only two guards, but Nigel Peters stood in the center of the small clearing, the launch code in his hand as he typed in the numbers to activate the weapon.
“Ferry is docking,” Grace said.
“Something seems off here, Ghost,” Ethan said.
“Are you getting other heat signals nearby?” Gabe asked.
“No, that’s what seems off.”
Gabe tuned out Ethan and knew he’d have to take out both guards quickly. Peters was trained in combat, and he’d be expecting him. He was more than likely armed as well. Gabe threw his knife at the first guard and shot the second guard even as Peters brought up his own weapon.
Gabe rolled and fired, while Peters returned fire in slow, steady increments, so Gabe had no choice but to head for cover in a direction he already knew was a dead end. He held still behind a thick palm tree and didn’t flinch as a bullet sent shards of the trunk into his cheek and neck. All Peters needed was a target, and he’d be damned if he’d give him one.
The report of a long-distance rifle had Gabe dropping to the ground and taking stock of the situation. Peters was on the ground, a perfectly round bullet hole through the center of his forehead.
Gabe looked up to where Grace was positioned over the waterfalls on the other side of island. The shot she’d taken had been from almost a mile away. There were only a handful of people in the world who could make a shot like that. It was a phenomenal gift, but there wasn’t time to do anything but embrace the feeling that things were about to go to shit very quickly.
“Get out of there, Kill Shot. You’ve just given away your position.”
“I’m already moving. And you’re welcome for saving your sorry ass.”
“You can kiss it later. Just move!”
“I can see the ferry from my position,” Logan said. “They’re unloading, and Kimball’s men are escorting the members to the cars with umbrellas.”
“I’m with the weapon,” Gabe said, looking at the small cylinder buried partially in the sand. The countdown had already begun on the white plastic tube, but there was an abort button just below the glowing red numbers.
He felt the sting in his shoulder before the sound of gunfire registered. Liquid fire raced through his veins, and he could smell his singed skin where the bullet had exited. He dropped to his knees and ignored the demands through his com link to tell them he was all right. He brought his other arm up to try and hit the abort button once again when a hand pressed against the wound in his shoulder. He gritted his teeth against the pain, threw his head back, and shoved his fist into his attacker’s groin. Gabe was losing a lot of blood, and he wouldn’t be able to fight for long.
“I’m going to make your death terribly slow,” Kimball said, kicking Gabe flat on his back while he walked off the pain in his balls. “You’re a pain in the ass.”
Kimball kicked Gabe in the ribs and leaned over him, slamming the butt of his gun across the side of his face. He didn’t lose consciousness. But it was close.
“What do you think of my suit?” Kimball asked, slapping his across the face. “I know I had your man fooled. You’re not the only one who gets to have all the fun toys.”
Gabe opened his eyes and took a good look at his enemy. He was covered from head to toe in what looked like sealskin, but Gabe had seen it before and knew it was a complex design of state of the art materials and intricate wiring.
“It completely erases all body heat. As if I’m not really here at all.” He pulled Gabe up by his shoulder, squeezing the wound. “Let’s move back a bit. The show’s about to start.”
Gabe watched with impotent fury as the canister launched and the aerosol was released into the air.
“Why don’t we go greet my guests? I’m sure most of them will be thrilled to see you again. But I’m thinking they’re mostly going to want to try to kill you. I believe you’ve done damage to all of their businesses at one point or another.”
Kimball looked around them, and his gaze landed on the spot Grace had killed Peters from. “I’m glad he brought you along, Grace. I’ve been thinking of you these last few weeks. I’m not nearly through with you yet. I know you can hear me. I know all of you can hear me. Make sure you get in a good position to watch your team leader die. Your game’s over. Looks like the good guys lose.”
There was nothing but silence over Gabe’s com link now, and he was grateful for the chance to think without interruption.
“It’s funny, you know?” Kimball asked. “All of those years I spent whoring for the CIA, and all I heard was stories about you. I guess you’ve just never met your match before.”
Kimball squeezed at his shoulder again, and Gabe’s knees buckled, but he stayed upright.
“Let’s go, Brennan. You’re going to get to see The Passover Project up close and personal. It’ll be a hell of a show.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“I’ve closed Gabe out of our circuit,” Ethan said through the com links. “Please tell me someone has a plan.”
Grace kept running across the island, her pistol in her hand and her rifle slung across her back. It took everything she had not to let the fear over Gabe’s safety take control. She could be afraid later. Right now she had
