What Lies Within (26 page)

“Any chance of heading it off?”

“Your Marine buddies going to show up?”

Rafe’s lips twitched at the irony in the boy’s words. “No.”

“Then no. The Brotherhood can’t let this one go. If they do, it’s like saying they’re down with it. And that would mean there’s an option.”

“To joining the gang.”

Tarik’s nod was barely perceptible.

“So you’re the exception to the rule.”

The boy’s mouth compressed. “So far.”

Rafe wanted to throw an arm around Tarik’s shoulders, to tell him how proud of him he was, but pride wouldn’t allow such a gesture. Besides, it could very well bring Tarik even more attention from the Brotherhood.

Rafe glanced at the buildings around them. The gang members might not be visible, but he had no doubt they were around. Somewhere. Watching. And they wouldn’t take kindly to an outsider buddying up to one of their own. Doing so meant trouble.

For everyone.

He’d been doing it all day.

Every time Kyla glanced up from her work or from a discussion with her crew, she saw Rafael. And every time, regardless of his location or involvement, he’d been doing the same thing.

Watching her.

After a day of being scrutinized by those dark eyes, she was about to jump out of her skin! Finally, a few hours ago, a voice called to Rafael from across the street. A young man, probably no more than nineteen, waved him over.

She watched as Rafael laid down the tools he’d been using, then headed across the street, his movements graceful despite his cane and limp. And there he’d stayed, talking with the boy.

And watching her.

By the time the men finished up for the day she was so antsy she could happily spit nails.

“So you want me to pick ’em up tonight?”

She spun. “What?”

Grant eyed her. “The nails. The 316s. I told you we were gonna run short if we didn’t pick some up.”

“Oh. Right.” She swallowed back her embarrassment. Why did she let Rafael get to her this way? Grant must think she’d gone totally nuts. “I thought you left already.”

The frown deepened. “Told you I was gonna check in before I left.”

Okay. Nuts and stupid.

He held up a hand, forestalling any explanation. “You and those old folks best be gettin’ outta here.”

Kyla glanced back at the church elders. Steve and Von had left, but Willard, Wayne, and Sheamus awaited her. Along with, of course, the ever-present Hilda. “We’re just going to do a quick walk-through of the site, see what we got done today. Then we’ll leave.”

Grant’s features creased as he studied the skyline. “Yeah, well, you don’t wanna be out here after dark.” He hesitated. “Want me to wait?”

She waved him off. “No. Go home. We’ll be back at it early tomorrow morning, and you need your rest.”

He nodded. “Whatever you say.” He started to turn, but she couldn’t let him go. Not yet.

“Grant. I’m sorry I was so … distracted earlier.”

He pulled a piece of gum out of his pocket, unwrapping it and sticking it in his grinning mouth. “Yeah”—he looked across the street to where Rafael stood—“I noticed. And you’re not the only one.” He turned back to her. “Been noticing you both. All day.”

“I—” Well, really. What could she say? The man was spot-on.

“Boss, no worries. We been together too long for me to think anything but the best of you.” He unhooked his tool belt and draped it over one shoulder.

“Besides, I figure it’s about time. None o’ my business, but to my way of thinkin’, you been alone too long.” His firm gaze stopped the protest perched on her tongue. “You know it as well as I do. Your dad would’nta wanted you to be alone.”

With that, he made his way to his car, leaving Kyla to do the only thing she could think of in the face of such a comment.

Glare at Rafael Murphy.

“She’s watching you.”

Tarik’s words jerked Rafe’s attention toward the church. He was right. Kyla was watching him. For a moment pleasure flooded him, only to slam into a dam of reality when he saw the storm creasing her features.

She might be looking at him, but she wasn’t happy.

Not by a long shot.

“Guess you’d better go see what’s up with your lady.”

Rafe allowed himself a small smile. His lady. Would that it were true. “Guess I’d bett—” His words stilled when Tarik grabbed his arm. Rafe looked at his friend and found the tension in the boy’s fingers mirrored in the dark eyes beneath the ball cap.

Only one thing could get Tarik that upset that fast.

He spun, his gaze racing back to Kyla, his worst fears confirmed by Tarik’s dark tone.

“They’re here.”

TWENTY-NINE   

T
hey were surrounded.

Ten … no, twelve Blood Brotherhoods circled Kyla and the elders. She hadn’t even seen them move in. They just appeared, a terrifying barrier cutting Kyla and the elders off from the shelter of the church.

She scanned the faces staring at her—the wall of red and black clothing, bandannas, tattoos. Her heart pounded in her chest.

What are you afraid of? These are kids. No more than early twenties, Rafael said
.

Maybe so, but there was nothing youthful about them.

Chests out, chins up, arms crossed. All of them, from what she could see of their eyes in the growing dusk, ice-cold.

For a heartbeat, no one spoke. Kyla’s hand inched toward her pocket, to her cell phone, but firm fingers closed over her arm.

Willard.

He gave one shake of his head and met her gaze with his own. Wait. The warning was as clear as if he’d spoken. Just … wait.

“Why you dissin’ King K like this?”

Kyla didn’t have time to figure out who spoke. Words spat from every direction.

“He said no center, foo.”

“Dat means no center.”

“You dumm too? ’Cause you know you deaf.”

“What this crew think they doin’? Think they can do this in a week if they pray?”

“Don’t matter. They usin’ wack goods. Stuff other people used and pitched.”

“Building’d fall down if a pigeon pooped on it.”

“Nah. That’s what’s holdin’ it together.”

The mockery crescendoed; the comments grew more violent. Vitiating. Behind her, Hilda gasped. Kyla turned and saw Sheamus’s and Wayne’s white faces. The anger burning in their aged eyes. Anger and something more …

Despair.

The ugliness rose on a swell of dark anger, washing over Kyla until she could bear it no more. She had to do something.

Be still
.

It whispered through her—low, calm, but a command all the same.

Listen to them, Lord! They are mocking us. Mocking You!

Be still …

She wanted to scream. To hit something. Didn’t God understand? People like this, they didn’t care. Didn’t respect you unless you made them.

Be—

No! Fury set her feet in motion. Willard grabbed her arm again, but she pulled away from him. “Those punks aren’t in control here.”

Willard’s eyes pierced her. “Neither are you.”

“No”—the words seeped through gritted teeth—“but I work for the One who is.” She held his gaze, and his hand fell away.

“If He’s calling you to this, then I won’t stand in your way.”

If He’s calling me …

Kyla jutted her chin and stepped forward, sensing more than seeing the elders fall in behind her. A line of warriors. “Be not afraid.” That’s what God said, right? Fine.

She’d show these thugs she wasn’t afraid.

“Where you two tinkleberries think you goin’?”

Rafe wasn’t surprised when three 22s blocked their way. He’d expected it sooner. King K always had lookouts. Big ones.

These three were no exception.

He stopped in front of the guy who’d challenged them. The kid’s stance—chin up, eyes at half-mast, arms crossed over his chest—that and the fact that he was the largest of the three marked him as the leader of this little outing.

Good. Saved Rafe time. He didn’t have to guess who to take out first.

He fell into his ready stance. Loose. Hands clasped together in front of him, atop his cane, like he was having a nice little talk with his grandmother. Deceptively relaxed. “Tinker Bells.”

The kid looked at him like he was nuts. “What?”

“Tinker Bells, genius, not tinkleberries. Tinker Bell was a fairy, which I assume is what you want to call us. Tinkleberries don’t exist. Get your insults straight.”

His adversary’s lips parted to show one gold tooth. “You talk tuff for a gimp.” His gaze dropped to Rafe’s cane.

“I have one good one.” He tapped his strong leg. “That’s all I need for someone like you.”

The smile turned decidedly nasty. “Oh, you a smart boy. I bust grapes on smart boys.”

“Well”—Rafe shrugged—“you can try.” He tensed, watched the kid’s eyes, waited …

There.

A flicker in the kid’s eyes just before he moved. Rafe deflected the fist aimed at his face, then used the momentum to flip the crud off his feet, onto his back. One strike with the cane to the back of the kid’s head as he fell.

He was out before he landed, hard, on the concrete.

Rafe looked down at the still form. It was over. Ten, fifteen seconds tops.

He was slowing down.

He turned to the others standing there, eyes wide. But they weren’t looking at Rafe. They were staring at the boy beside him.

“Tarik.”

The taller of the two remaining gang members put his arm in front of his buddy, and the two of them stepped aside.

Rafe and Tarik ran. But even as they did so, Rafe heard a sound that turned his blood cold.

Kyla’s voice. Yelling for King K.

God, why did You let me fall for a crazy woman?

“King K!” Trepidation tripped along Kyla’s nerves as she called out the gang leader. Whispers of alarm shot through her.

Not smart, Kyla. Not smart at all
.

Yeah well, so what? She wasn’t putting up with this foolishness a moment longer.

“King K! If you have something to say to us, step up. Say it.” She let a sneer twist her mouth. “Or are you just going to let your lackeys speak for you like some kind of coward?”

She didn’t see who hit her.

The blow drove her to her hands and knees, and for a moment she thought for sure she was going out. But the stars that had burst to life in her head circled, then faded. She caught the sound of someone yelling. A voice she recognized—

Wayne hit the ground beside her, blood streaming from his nose.

God, no … don’t let them be hurt because of me!
Dimly she realized someone’s hands were on her shoulders, her head. Stroking her back.

“Willard, no more.” Hilda’s voice. Choked with tears.

“Tell them it’s over.” Kyla started at the voice right next to her ear. Sheamus. Kneeling beside her. “Tell them they’ve won.”