Doc looked at the girls for some reason, but it was Chad who answered. “One hundred and sixty. We just talked about it a week ago.”
“Let’s hope he didn’t diet this week.” Doc turned his attention to Tiffany and her bottles once again.
Pain slid a hand over Chad’s shoulder, shaking him from his quiet stupor. “See? He’s going to be fine.”
“No, he’s not,” he said, indicating Elena’s still body in the corner with his eyes. “He won’t be asleep forever.”
Pain’s eyes lingered on the girl’s slim form, so fragile in her short dress. Unlike Dave, Elena could not be helped now. Pain had seen it the moment he walked in with her hanging from his arms. The memory had burned into her brain.
They watched Peter walk across the room to the gurney and sit beside it, his face grim. His hand trembled slightly as he reached to push Elena’s hair out of her face. Taking one of her hands into his, he bowed his head and held it for a few minutes. With his free hand, he took out his cell phone and dialed a number. When the call connected, all Pain heard was, “Hey, Gina. Can you check the…” His voice turned into a murmur. After a minute, he nodded and said, “Thank you”. He hung up and gently laid Elena’s hand on the gurney.
He tapped his feet, muttering something over and over while his fingers twisted his hair. Pain finally made out what he was saying. Just one word: Victoria.
His phone lit up in his hand. Peter stood. “Yes, Rooney.” He listened for a minute, a dangerous gleam replacing despair in his eyes. “Thanks,” was all he said before he hung up and made another call. “Infirmary, now.”
A minute had barely gotten to pass when Skull burst through the double doors, nearly taking one off the hinges with a massive shoulder. The corners of his mouth pulled down as he spotted Elena. He darted a look at Dave’s unmoving form and the heart rate monitor behind him, but didn’t say anything, sensing Peter’s mood.
There was no time for questions.
“I want more people on the streets,” Peter began without preamble. “Ten groups by five men. Send them to the locations that Rooney will give you. The Commandos are out there tonight, looking for Dave.”
“Should I get Rob?”
“No, you can pass on the orders yourself. I’m not finished. I want you to make a list of phone numbers of all skyfolk organizations in the city, no matter how small or far. Every fighter here must report to you if they got any connections outside headquarters. The ones that we already have you’ll get from Rooney as well. Set up a meeting with everyone who can respond tonight. They won’t have to do anything dangerous; we just need the numbers. We’re going to use this opportunity while the Commandos are out there.”
“What’s the time of the meeting?”
“Don’t care. It’s your meeting.” Peter headed to the door.
Skull pulled back, an eyebrow twitching in surprise. “Where are you going?”
“Hunting,” Peter snapped, and disappeared through the door.
* * *
Peter’s arms were growing numb, and the wind wasn’t helping, but he blocked out the distractions and focused on the sounds coming from the street below.
They would come. He was sure of it. The piece of cardboard on his chest with Victoria’s name on it, and the pig blood all around the pole would ensure that. He shifted slightly, checking that the rope wasn’t too tight. It wasn’t easy to maintain a limp posture without the rope actually holding him high on a pole. No, that was his power, urging him to straighten, to move, to get out of the cold.
But he needed to do this, and on his own. Needed to see the people responsible for Elena’s death with his own eyes, and what better way to lure them out than to use a fake dead Commando as bait. All he’d needed was a ski mask and some black clothes. Gina had found a set big enough to fit right over his gear.
The swords had had to stay at home, though. Skull would have a fit if he found out. Peter had packed a couple of knives, but he’d just as likely rip those Commandos apart with his bare hands. Gina had insisted he’d take an extra GPS tracker, in case things went to shit and he lost his phone. He was their director, after all.
Not that he planned on getting captured.
The wind brought the sound of distant voices, making him freeze. His heart jumped in anticipation. It wasn’t just the hunt but rather the idea of finally getting to them and maybe, hopefully, finding a way to undo them.
His mind quieted as he heard footsteps somewhere close.
“You think we should go get them?” a hushed voice said.
“…should be done about this,” another voice replied.
“…keep an eye on him.”
Peter cut his eyes downward and watched two figures disappear around a corner. Another one made a couple of hesitant steps closer, separating from the shadows, and threw its head back to peer at him.
His fingers released the rope. It slid down the pole, the Commando gasping in surprise.
Peter lunged.
Chapter 11
Two hours later, they gathered in Peter’s office for the meeting.
The girls had volunteered to help Skull with the calls to speed up the process. Chad had stayed in the infirmary and promised to call if anything changed.
The room was bustling with people, too many to sit, so they crowded around the table with Skull standing at the head, where Peter’s chair usually
