Blood Vengeance

CHAPTER SIX

Hayden Jaye faced Mano Kinimaka across the conference table that sat in the center of the third of three large rooms which formed the hub of the new HQ on Pennsylvania Avenue, opposite the Pennsylvania Mall. The big Hawaiian was showing her his newest collectible — a Hard Rock pin badge, newly acquired from the store that stood opposite the imposing, featureless FBI building on E Street. Business and pleasure had never been so closely situated for the Hawaiian before.

“That’s… great.”

“Say it like you mean it,” Kinimaka urged. “Go on. And you might get lucky later.”

Hayden flipped her hair. “I’ll get lucky whenever I want to, thanks.”

Kinimaka grinned and was about to retort when another voice spoke up from the doorway. “I’d believe her,” Smyth, the newest member of their team, along with Romero, growled. “She’s hotter than a rack of those Hooter’s chicken wings, but still a little shy of the Mai Kitano level.”

Hayden sent the ex-Delta commando an emotionless glare. “You’re lucky we’re off duty, soldier.”

Smyth pulled a face. “I know that. I’m not stupid. Romero’s the stupid one, you’ll see.”

“Did you actually need anything?” Hayden asked.

“Yeah. I just wondered how it is that when I come to Washington to join the team, friggin’ Maggie flies off to Tokyo on her own.”

“Personal business.” Hayden thought about the meagre amount Mai and Drake had told her — that her old clan had made contact, still believing they had a right to her services, and how Mai had travelled east to disillusion them of that view. It all seemed kosher and above board to Hayden, apart from her desire to travel alone. Drake would surely never let her face such danger by herself.

Unless Mai had given him no alternative. Which meant her mission was far more than she had revealed. And imperative too, it seemed. Only four days had passed since the ‘Babylon thing’ had ended.

“Has she gotten tired of all the texts?” Kinimaka added slyly. “Did she block you yet?”

“What?” Smyth’s natural irritability got the better of his brain. Quickly, he dug out his cell phone and checked the screen. “No she ain’t. And she told you about those texts?”

Hayden and Kinimaka nodded as one.

“Shit. Hope she didn’t tell Drake. It’s the auto-correct feature on my smartphone that’s the problem, you know? ‘I’m ordering in a small pizza’ becomes ‘I’m ordering in a small penis’. ‘I love this song’ becomes ‘I love this boner’. They really need to get that shit sorted.”

Romero appeared behind his team mate. “You ready for the showers, bud?”

“Ready.”

The two soldiers made to walk out of the room. Gates had plans to install a fully equipped gym on a higher floor, just one of the ways he was trying to offer his team all the luxuries of home. Both Smyth and Romero were pushing for it at every opportunity.

Hayden saw an opening for a little revenge. “You two enjoy the showers, do ya?”

Smyth turned quickly, grimacing. “I know how it sounded. Don’t be a smart ass. Romero here, he’s just an innocent.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Stop it. You ain’t funny. And I thought the boss of a secret agency would be more professional.”

Hayden gave him a ‘touché’ gesture. “As should be the newest grunt.”

“Fine.” Smyth growled, beaten. “Whatever you say.”

The two men started to leave the room together, but then Smyth grunted and lagged behind a little for appearance’s sake.

When they were alone, Hayden came around the table to Kinimaka’s side. “I do love you, Mano. You’re the only person who’s ever made me feel completely safe.”

“Likewise.” Kinimaka took her in his big arms. “We’re there for each other. Always will be.”

“Always.”

Hayden stared through the darkness pressing against the window panes, across the street at the bright lights of offices and first floor shops. “I wonder what tomorrow will bring.”

“Doesn’t matter. We can beat anything.”

Hayden pulled away. Her instinct had been to say, “Nothing lasts forever,” but she saw no reason to tempt fate. Mano was good for her. His family were lovely, apart from his wayward sister — Kono. Hayden had made a surprise visit to Mano’s parents only a few days ago and had been shocked to find how openly and completely they had welcomed her into their family. When the time had come to leave, she had been more than a little disappointed.

And shocked at the differences between his happy family life and what she remembered of her own pretty much ruled by her workaholic legendary father.

She led him back into the main ops room. To her and Kinimaka, the room was familiar — it closely resembled an old CIA layout with ultra-modern upgrades. But the upgrades were now largely hidden within the items of technology rather than upsetting the interior arrangement. Karin sat behind the largest desk, three computer consoles positioned around her within easy reach. Her fingers tapped at the keyboard, her eyes flicking between the computer screen and the big TV display that took up half a wall and was the main focus of the room.

Komodo stood behind her, watching her every move, a hand placed protectively on the back of her seat. The ex-Delta man had been excited to see Romero and Smyth joining the team, but made it clear he would only socialize with them once a week during downtime, preferring to spend the bulk of his free days with Karin.

The ribbing he had endured only strengthened his resolve. Yes, he enjoyed cooking for her. No, he wasn’t about to sizzle Romero and Smyth up some smokehouse wings.

Hayden surveyed the big screen. “You’re playing Galaga? Seriously, is nothing happening in the world?”

Karin motioned toward her other screens, in between shooting the enemy spacecraft. “Got everything set up. Nada on the agency feeds, the news links, the Web troll bots. Hey, it’s only been four days. Don’t worry, some highborn, arrogant ass will decide he wants to rule the world in the next day or two. Besides—” she nodded at the wall clock, “— shift’s over. T-vor’s going to show me his expertise around the kitchen.”

Hayden had to admit she was right, and the prospect of spending a relaxed night with Mano did sound appealing. “Alright. We’re heading out.” She snaked an arm around her boyfriend’s large, muscle-bound waist and pulled him toward the single lift that led down to the underground parking garage.

“Night,” Karin called.

Hayden leaned in. “What’s new at the movies?”

“There’s this new film playing at Casa Kinimaka. It’s called, Here’s to us.”

Hayden hugged him harder. “Raise a glass… ‘cause the last few weeks have kicked our ass?” she paraphrased. “I know the song.” She reached out to press the lift’s call button, surprised to see it was already lit.

“Must be Romero and Smyth on their way back up. Those boys would—”

The lift dinged and the doors slid open with a whoosh. The small space beyond was jam-packed with men, all wearing black bodysuits, adaptive goggles and carrying Heckler and Kochs. The leader, face as white as a sheet, shouted an order as he saw Hayden and Kinimaka, then the whole world went straight to hell.

Hayden sprang to the side, hitting the wall hard. Kinimaka rolled with her, keeping his immense body between her and the attacking force. Men poured out of the lift. Komodo appeared in the doorway behind, fantastically quick, gun in hand, and sized up the situation in less time than it takes to kill a man with a bullet. He fired at the crowd, sending men sprawling and scrambling for cover. Kinimaka started to drag Hayden back toward Komodo, but already half a dozen gun barrels were drawing a bead on them. They had no time.

The plaster wall beside them exploded outward. Two huge figures stepped into the corridor, Romero and Smyth, already firing. Only the leader stayed upright, maybe sensing that ducking for cover in this situation would get him nowhere and increase his risk. He reached in and calmly sent the lift back down to the parking garage.

Shit, Hayden thought. Did they have more men down there?

Romero grunted as a bullet struck his Kevlar vest. Two of the attackers fell back, painting the corridor walls with their blood. Two more folded over, also hit hard in their bulletproof armor. Kinimaka scrambled back as best he could, pushing Hayden behind him. She was the first to reach Komodo, and he knew her well enough to forget the rescue and hand her a gun.

“How the hell did they get in here?”

But Hayden knew, rather than be worrying about that just yet, Karin would be calling for back up. It should already be on its way — unless something bigger was going on in Washington tonight.

Why that thought crossed her mind, Hayden never knew. It probably had something to do with a sense of foreboding that crept down her spine on spidery feet, but more likely the result of the leader of the group removing his goggles and giving them a big grin.

“The Blood King sends his regards,” he said, and fired at the same time as his men.

Hayden forced the terrifying sight of that crazy white albino face from her mind and tried to scurry away. Bullets whizzed above her head and around Kinimaka’s frame. Romero and Smyth, clad in body armor, leaped in front, taking multiple hits, their bodies jerking like marionettes.

“No!” Was that my own screaming voice? she thought.

Showers of plaster blasted from the walls and cascaded all around. A bullet parted Kinimaka’s hair, so close to killing him that Hayden saw the lock of hair that flew from his skull. It was only a matter of time.

She leaned around him even as he forced her further back, firing over Romero and Smyth, seeing at least two of the attackers convulse. The albino’s hard, battle-worn face stared back at her so fiercely she had to look away. She forced Mano to the side and fired until her clip was empty.

Smyth scrambled on his elbows and back toward her, firing hard, groaning as Romero clambered across his legs. Komodo must have caught a weapon thrown by Karin for he suddenly reappeared, rifle in hand, and began to give their assailants some solid return fire.

Because of his position, Hayden pushed Kinimaka into the ops room first. Her brief view showed Karin on her knees, sliding a second rifle across the floor to the big man.

Fucking A. They had a chance here, a chance made out of nothing by a competent and clever team with crazy skills. Kinimaka spun and added his fire to Komodo’s. Hayden slid through the doorway, Smyth and Romero staggering after her.

“What the fuck!” Smyth yelled.

“I thought you two had left.” Hayden stooped to pick up another rifle.

“Nah. We hit the showers. But I gotta ask, what’s the point of communal showers if there’re no chicks around? Available chicks,” he added.

“Shut it.” Romero slammed Smyth’s shoulder hard, wincing with pain. “Took one in the forearm. Listening to your caterwauling don’t help it much.”

“Shit, are you okay?” Smyth’s tone changed instantly as he bent to examine his team mate’s arm. “You’re bleeding. Fuck!”

“Calm down. It just a bullshit flesh wound.”

“Oh. Ya fuckin’ pussy.”

Komodo was last through the door. Karin rose as he crossed the threshold, relief apparent in her face. The trouble with this team, Hayden thought. Is that we all love each other too fucking much.

“Retreat,” she breathed unnecessarily. They all knew what to do.

Komodo led the way, with Karin, Hayden, and then Kinimaka coming up behind him. Romero and Smyth brought up the rear. Before they had moved three steps, Hayden heard the lift ding again and the soft whispering of orders. Their attackers had just been reinforced.

“Someone planned this,” she said as she walked. “Down to the last detail. But Kovalenko’s still in prison…” she paused as something occurred to her. They all knew it was his prison that had suffered the riot much earlier that day, and no one in law enforcement had so far managed to get near the place. Could some inmates have escaped in the chaos? It didn’t seem likely, but then this was Kovalenko they were dealing with; a man who for many years had convinced the world he was a mere myth.

In that case, everyone needed warning.

She ran harder. Where’s Gates? she wondered. And fuck, even more important than that, where’s the man who signed the order to incarcerate Kovalenko — the President?