Benny barreled up in an FMTV that looked like it had been stolen from the US military. “Let’s go,” he bellowed from the driver’s seat.

Ronan hustled the prisoners to the back and helped them up.

The door to the building opened, and a soldier emerged, machine gun first. Adare grabbed the barrel and jerked him out, ripping off his headgear and shoving him into the sun before turning and firing into the building again, hitting one soldier in the neck and another between the eyes. It wouldn’t kill them, but they’d hurt for a while. The fourth soldier ducked back into the room that had housed the women.

The Kurjan in the sun screamed, his skin frying. He struggled to get back inside, but Adare turned and kicked him in the face, sending him sprawling across the snow. The sun beat down, eating him alive.

Benny tossed a black bag out the window at him. “Explosives I found in the rear building. These work.”

Adare yanked out a black hand grenade and ripped the pin off before throwing it inside the building. Then he jumped onto the back bed of the vehicle, setting the women in the middle. He fired from one side, while Ronan fired from the other, and Benny drove crazily, dodging Kurjans and land mines with his glasses on.

Adare threw hand grenades as they moved, blowing up as many buildings as he could. He threw several at the main lodge, which no doubt held more Kurjans. He hadn’t seen a Cyst. Not one. Had they known of the attack? Jacki had a lot of explaining to do.

He threw two grenades in the main lodge, ducking as they exploded. The Kurjans probably were underground, but he’d hurt them.

A guard ran out, letting the sun fry him, and fired toward them. Adare made his body as big as possible to shield the women behind him. Several bullets turned from laser to metal and impacted his leg, moving up his arm and piercing his neck. He’d had much worse injuries.

But the world halted, and he bent over, fighting the darkness. Then, against all odds, he passed out completely. The last thing he heard before his head hit the bed of the truck was Ronan bellowing his name.

* * * *

Grace’s tea steamed as she watched Faith take a phone message from Ronan. Her sister jumped up. “Got it.” She ran for the control panel by the garage door and quickly released a bunch of buttons. “They’re coming in hot, whatever that means.”

“Sounds like fast?” Grace stood and moved to the window to watch the drive. “Did Ronan say they were okay? Are they all okay?” She stood closer to the window, trying to look down the snowy drive. How far away would they have called? “They must be close, right? Did Ronan say anything?”