The Rising
Page 45

“So we’re paying for unreliable sources?”
“No, sir, I just meant that it was a rumor. It might not be the Cortezes. It might not be anyone. Josef Nast has ordered an evacuation to be safe.”
“Because he doesn’t trust my judgment. Who the hell went over my head to Josef?” A pause. “His father wasn’t notified, was he? I swear, if someone went all the way to Thomas on this . . .”
The voices faded as the guards hustled us through the house. So someone had told the Nasts that a rival Cabal was planning to raid the house. Had Antone planted the rumor? If so, what good did it do us?
As we were hurried out the front door, both Rafe and I scanned for an escape route, but the yard was filled with armed guards. Did Antone expect me to make a run for it? There was no chance of that. A minivan waited right at the end of the front steps. We were flanked by guards the whole ten seconds it took to get us into the van.
When I tried to lead Kenjii in, the guard stopped me. “Driver’s allergic. Your dog needs to go in the second vehicle.”
“Can’t you switch drivers?” Rafe said. “Kenjii should stay with Maya. Or she can switch—”
“Got my orders. The girl goes here. The dog goes with the others.”
Who’d given him the orders? Antone? So he’d have a hostage to secure my return? Or because it would be harder to run with a dog in tow? As much as I loved Kenjii, having her along in the city would be a problem. I whispered to her, asking her to go with the guard, then let him lead her to a second van behind ours.
As we crawled in, the others came out the front door. Nicole was first. Her hands were tied behind her and she’d been blindfolded. She held her head high, the bruises on her pale neck obvious even through the tinted glass.
Rafe took my hand as we watched her come down the steps. His grip loosened a little as they led her to the second van. Next came Sam. She was escorted to the same van. Annie and Hayley came out together. Annie seemed disoriented, blinking as if she’d been sleeping. Hayley was talking to her and she was nodding. Then they took Hayley on to the rear van and brought Annie to ours.
“Hey,” Rafe said as she leaned in for a look. “Is everything okay?”
She nodded. “Emergency treatment. I’m still a little fuzzy.” She looked from me to Rafe, then turned to the guard. “Actually, can I switch with Hayley? I know she hasn’t had much time with Maya. I’m sure they’d like that.”
Rafe snorted a laugh, but before he could say anything, Annie said, “I don’t think I belong in this van.”
She spoke slowly, her gaze locked with mine. Did she know something? Or was she just guessing that we’d try to escape?
“I’m better off in the other one,” she said. “The doctor is there to look after me.”
The guard started to say something. Then there was a commotion from the other vehicle.
“I am not riding with a killer.” Hayley’s voice traveled to us. “Shouldn’t she have her own van? With padded walls?”
“We’ll switch,” the guard said quickly. “Come on.”
Annie leaned in before she left. “I’ll see you soon,” she said to Rafe. Then to me, “Take care of him.”
“I will.”
It turned out we had a doctor, too. While Dr. Wiley went in the second van, we got Dr. Inglis. Other than the driver, she was our only guard. Well, the only one in the vehicle, that is. Another car swung out in front of us and I was sure it was full of big guys with guns. The second van pulled in behind, followed by another car of guards.
Rafe was studying the situation, too, and not looking very happy about it. Hayley just curled up in her seat, legs pulled under her, eyes closed. Great. She wasn’t going to be any help at all. I tried prodding her awake, but she only grumbled sleepily and pushed me away.
Rafe rolled his eyes, then discreetly gestured at the cars in front and behind. Even if Hayley was awake—or had some defensive power—it didn’t look as if we were going to get a chance to escape. Was this really Antone’s grand opportunity? If so, he’d given me far too much credit for ingenuity.
“Are the Cortezes another Cabal?” I asked Dr. Inglis.
“Yes, they’re one of the four North American Cabals. There are the St. Clouds and the Nasts, then the Cortezes and the Boyds. The Boyds are the smallest.”
“But the Nasts are the biggest, right? So why the emergency evacuation?”
“While the Nasts are a larger organization, the Cortezes are widely considered—” She glanced at the driver and cleared her throat. “Some people consider them the most powerful. I wouldn’t agree, but for both size and power, they come close enough to present a serious threat.”
“And someone tipped off the Nasts that the Cortezes are launching a . . . a what? An attack? A mass kidnapping?”
“We aren’t sure what they have in mind, but it seemed wise to move you temporarily. While I’m sure we could handle the Cortezes, we certainly don’t want you kids caught in supernatural cross fire.”
“So the attack is supposed to come tonight?” I said.
“Oh, no. The information was simply that the Cortezes have discovered the existence of the project and the location of the house. It would take them at least a day to mobilize. They’re based in Miami.”
The driver murmured, “But they have a Seattle office.”
Dr. Inglis looked over sharply. “Do they? Well, it would just be a satellite office, ill-equipped for an operation of this size, and certainly none of the staff would have the authority to lead the incursion.”
“Lucas Cortez lives in Portland.” The driver shot a meaningful look Dr. Inglis’s way. “He is Benicio’s heir.”
She fluttered her hands. “Everyone knows that’s just posturing. Benicio would never turn over the Cabal to Lucas. Not when he does all that”—another disdainful flutter—“anti-Cabal crusading nonsense.”
“Maybe it’s just Lucas, then,” the driver said. “He’s found out about this and decided to get involved. Save the kids.” His tone was sharp with sarcasm.
“He doesn’t have the means to pull this off. Idealism is all well and fine, but it doesn’t buy proper staff and equipment.” She cast a glance out the window, and in her reflection I could see anxiety as she scanned the night. “No, I’m sure he couldn’t do this.”