Phoenix's Fate (RARE Series, #2) (6 page)

Jade swallowed hard. 
Thanks, Serenity.  I owe you...again. 
She kept her eyes wolf watching the snakes, every once in a while letting out little growls. 

Where is this hole, Jade? 
Serenity asked.  She couldn’t stand the thought of Jade being stuck in there much longer.  They were not going to be able to wait for a rescue by RARE.  They were going to have to make their own escape.  They were getting Jade out of there now.

Outside behind the building.  I am so scared.  I know these snakes are harmless, but I hate it when the scorpions and rattlers show up.  I have had to kill several.

A sense of foreboding filled Serenity. 
Jade, when you killed them were you in your wolf form?

Yeah, but not for long.  Just long enough to get rid of them.  No one’s ever actually seen me change.

Oh hon, I have a feeling you are wrong.  The General knows exactly what you are and that is why you are still alive.  I have a feeling he has cameras hidden down in that hole somewhere.  Don’t you worry.  Rikki and I are going to get out of here and we are taking you with us.  We will come for you as soon as we can.

With that, Serenity swiftly broke the connection.  Oh, yeah, she was sure the General knew about Jade.  There was no other reason he would keep her, and if he was watching her that closely, then she was very important to him.  Serenity was assuming that he wanted Jade for his breeding program and was just waiting for her to become stronger.  He was probably hoping that her wolf would somehow help strengthen her telepathic gift.  Serenity knew that Jade would never survive the breeding program.  She was not strong enough.  They had to get her out of there now.

Serenity quickly told Rikki about Jade and they agreed that they could not wait for RARE to escape.  The only problem was getting out of their cell.  The lock was on the outside of the door.  Slowly Serenity started pacing around the room trying to come up with a plan.  They tried several things.  The first was banging on the door, yelling to get someone’s attention with the idea of knocking them out once the door was opened.  That did not work any better than the crying fit had.  A couple of hours later they were still locked in the cell with no hope of escape.

All of the sudden Serenity grabbed her head and fell to the floor.  Her body flopped as though in a seizure.  Rikki cried out and ran over to her. Grabbing her arms, she tried to hold her down so that she could not hurt herself.  Suddenly, the door opened and a guard rushed in.  Within seconds, Serenity was on her feet slamming the guard against the wall, and wrestling his gun out of his holster. 

As Rikki figured out what was happening, she grabbed the door before it could slam shut holding it open while Serenity knocked the guard out with the butt of his gun.  Quickly, she searched the unconscious guard and found another gun and a knife.  She and Rikki ran out of the room, making sure the door locked behind them.  Serenity handed Rikki one of the guns and the knife. It would be hard enough for Serenity to kill anyone with a gun; there was no way she was doing it with a knife.  Glancing up and down the dimly lit hall, they quickly realized they had no idea where to go.  Crap, they should have thought this through more.  Fear gripped both Serenity and Rikki as they realized they could end up right back in the cell they had just escaped from. 

Serenity grabbed Rikki’s arm and gestured for her to hold on a second.  Closing her eyes, she sought out the telepathic path to Jade. 
Jade, I need your help.  We got out of the room, but now we don’t know where to go. 

It took a minute, but then she received a response. 
The General has six guards and two scientists at the facility.  The labs are to the right but there isn’t any way out that way, so go left.  Remember left, right, left, right.  That’s what you want to do.  Then you will be at the front door.  Two guards will be there.  One is out here, I can hear him.  I have no idea where the other ones are.

We’re on our way, Jade! 
Serenity promised her.  Serenity broke the connection and repeated the directions to Rikki.  They took off running, slowing down when they got to the first right.  Peering around the corner, they did not see any guards, so they took off again.  When they took the next left they came face to face with two guards.  Not even stopping, Serenity and Rikki both lifted their guns and fired.  Three down, three to go.

T
he team had ridden ATV’s into the desert within 2 miles of the building where they were sure Rikki and Serenity were being held.  Now they were slowly moving in, watching closely for signs of guards.  They had been surprised on the last mission and lost one of their own to the enemy.  Having Rikki shot and kidnapped by the General’s men while being helpless to stop it was something the team would never forget.  They were not going to let that happen again.  Trace and Bran were in the back of the building, Phoenix and Angel in the front. Jeremiah and Jaxson were on the east side, and Nico was on the west.  

“Anything?” Angel asked softly.  They had been slowly making their way towards the building for the last ten minutes.  All was quiet.  “Nothing,” was the unanimous response. 

“Ok, let’s...” before Angel could get anything else out the front door slammed open and two people ran out. As they watched, a guard ran out after them with his gun raised and one of them swung around and put a bullet in his head.  “Well, maybe they didn’t need our help after all,” Angel said.  But the women didn’t stop.  They ran as one around to the back of the building.  “Trace, Rikki and Serenity are coming your way.  I repeat, they are coming your way.  Do not fire!”

“Got it,” Trace responded.  “Someone else is back here, boss.  I can smell his rank ass from all the way over here.  I’m going in for a closer look.”  Trace silently stalked the figure that looked like he was standing guard over a hole in the ground.  What the hell?  He heard Rikki and Serenity coming around the side of the building, but they stopped when they saw Trace. 

Trace ignored them and kept creeping up on the guard who was facing the other way, smoking a cigarette and laughing at something in the ground.  As Trace moved closer, he took a deep breath trying to figure out what was in that hole.  One lung full was all it took, then Trace was shifted into his huge black cat and he attacked the guard.  In seconds the guard was dead.  Trace stood at the edge of the hole peering into wide dark green eyes.  He lifted his head and roared, then he prowled around the circle trying to figure out how to get down to her.  The hole was wider, but it was deep.  Trace’s cat had taken over and no matter how hard he tried, he could not yank that control back.   

“Please, help me,” the terrified woman whispered.  “Get me out of here.”  The stark fear in her voice was too much.  Not thinking twice, Trace jumped into the hole with her.  Now the team would have to figure out how to get them both out, but at least she would not be alone.  She scooted back against the wall of dirt and pointed to something behind him.  That was when he heard the hiss and rattle.  A rattlesnake threatened her.  With another loud roar, he swung a powerful paw at the snake and sliced through its body with a thick claw.  Nothing was going to hurt this green eyed beauty.  Nothing. 

Growling lowly, he paced around in a circle threatening anything that came too close.  She huddled up against the wall watching him.  Then she held out her arms.  He could not resist.  Trace moved to her and curled around her placing his head on her lap.  She wrapped her arms around his neck burying her face in his fur.  “Thank you,” she whispered.  “Thank you.”  Shuddering, Trace pressed closer. 
Mine,
he thought,
mine. 
Inhaling, Trace shuddered again and closed his eyes at the pure pleasure that raced through him.

“Trace,” he heard a voice call down.  He didn’t bother to acknowledge the presence above.  “Trace, answer me dammit.  Are you alright?”  He growled softly, and leaned back rubbing his nose on the woman’s cheek.  “I will take that as a yes.”

“Jade,” he heard another voice call.  “Honey, are you ok?”

The woman next to him laughed softly as she stroked his fur.  “I am now,” she whispered.  Tilting her head up she called, “Yeah, I’m good, thanks to Trace.  I wasn’t a few minutes ago.  There was a rattler down here, but it didn’t stand a chance once Trace jumped to my rescue.”

There was a chuckle and then the other voice called down, “There is a rope ladder up here.  We are going to send it down so you can climb out.  And, Trace, Nico has some extra clothes we are going to throw down for you.  They should work for now.”

Trace could not help it.  He started growling again.  Even though he knew he was being unreasonable, he did not want Jade going up that ladder without him.  If she went up without him, he would not be able to protect her.  It didn’t matter that his whole team was waiting at the top. 

Jade glanced down at him and smiled.  “How about I wait for you to change and then we go up together?”  Trace purred, rubbing his head against her shoulder.  “Ok,” she said as she let out another laugh.  “That’s what we’ll do.”

His clothes hit the ground and then the ladder was lowered into the hole.  Raising his head he, growled at the others who were looking over the edge.  “Come on, Trace,” Nico hollered.  “Let Jade climb up here.  Then you can follow.”

“We will be up in a minute,” Jade called back.  “Can everyone move back so he can change, please?” 

As Trace watched, everyone backed away from the edge of the hole.  Everyone except Angel; she was watching Jade closely.  He moved back from Jade and started to shift, but she grabbed him.  “Don’t you dare shift while another woman is watching,” she hissed.  He stopped and looked up at Angel waiting for her to leave. 

“Shift and get up here, Trace.  We need to beat feet back to the ATVs,” Angel ordered as she moved away from the top of the hole. 

Trace glanced over and waited until Jade nodded.  As she watched the top of the hole making sure no one came back, he shifted and pulled on his borrowed pants.  They were a little loose, but would work for now.  Reaching out, Trace tugged Jade close, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly.  Trace shivered as Jade leaned back and lightly skimmed a hand from the top of his shoulder, down his dark muscular chest to stop at the top of his jeans.  Her pale white skin was so light next to the dark color of his.  “I think I like tattoos,” she whispered as she reached out again to trail a finger over the one going down his arm.

“We better get going,” he finally said gruffly, reaching down and grabbing his shirt off the ground and pulling it on. 

“I’ll go up first and you come up right behind me,” Trace told her.  “I need to make sure it is safe for you before you come over the top.”

Jade nodded and Trace started climbing.  He stopped and waited until she was right behind him before continuing up the ladder.  When he reached the top he saw half of the team waiting for them, along with Rikki and another woman he assumed was Serenity.  He crawled over the edge and turned back around for Jade, pulling her up and placing himself between Jade and his team.

Finally, clear of that fucking hole in the ground, Trace was able to get his first good look at Jade.  She was gorgeous.  Beautiful long blond hair, dark green eyes, soft full lips.  As he looked closer, his eyes widened in shock.  Taking her chin in his hand he moved her face to the side and then back again.  What the hell?  He turned his stunned gaze from Jade to Angel.  “Angel, you better come over here.”

“Angel?” Jade mouthed silently turning towards the figure moving her way.  Angel stopped in front of her and reached out a hand to lightly caress Jade’s face.  “Mom,” Jade whispered.  Trace watched as Angel’s eyes filled with tears.  Was she really Jade’s mom?  He had been a part of RARE for nearly five years now, and she had never insinuated that she might have a daughter out there.

Suddenly the sound of a helicopter filled the air; this little family reunion was going to have to wait.  They need to roll out now!  Grabbing Jade’s hand he yelled, “Let’s move!”  Angel took one last look at Jade and then turned to head towards the ATVs.  “I’m trusting you to help me protect my daughter, Trace,” she told him through the comms.  “Stay close to me so that I can keep an eye on her.”  Trace did not bother to respond.  There was no doubt in his mind he would give his life for Jade, whether Angel was her mother or not.

P
hoenix had watched Serenity come flying out of the building, gun in hand, holding it like a pro.  She had been with Rikki, and when the two of them had taken off towards the back of the building, Angel had immediately followed them, so he knew she was safe for now.  The need to get to her was almost overwhelming, but he had a job to do.  He knew his team would protect her until he could.  Right now, he had a building to wire.

As Phoenix was setting the last explosive in place, he heard the thump, thump, thump of a chopper’s propellers.  Through his ear comm he heard Angel yell that they were moving out.  “Let me know when everyone’s clear,” he ground out.  It was killing him that he could not be with Serenity.  He was the only one who could set the building to blow, but even knowing that, it was hard to make himself stay where he was and concentrate on what needed to be done.  Phoenix wanted to be with Serenity, be there to protect her.  To tell her that she was going to be safe and the General and his men were never going to get near her again.  But that would have to wait.   

Just as he finished, Phoenix looked up and saw the chopper coming in fast and low.  Oh, fuck, this did not look good.  “Get out of there, Phoenix,” he heard Angel yell.  “Get out of there now!”  Phoenix took off at a dead run towards a building a good 50 yards away.  He was still a few yards out when the helicopter let a missile fly.  It slammed into the building Phoenix had just wired.  With the added explosives Phoenix had set, it blew it sky high.  The force of the explosion picked Phoenix up and hurled him through the air, slamming him against the other building.  Shit that hurt.