Read Online Arise (Book Three in The Arson Saga) by Estevan Vega - Free Book Online Page A

quick. Don’t look friendly,” Lamont wheezed. “And boss…wants us back…ASAP. He’s gonna…tear you…a new one, mark my words.” He heard the dog attempt to chuckle.
    “I hate it when you call me Manny, you p-p-path-pathetic sack of meat!”
    “Get in here…before I run you over. Last time I ask nice.”
    Krane noticed a red trail dripping down Lamont’s arm. He was losing a lot of blood fast.
    The tired doctor broke his glasses in half and tossed them. He didn’t need them anymore. Teeth clenched, he pushed himself up onto his knees, struggled to stand straight but ultimately fell over. Pain ran up his leg and body. Lamont’s impatience resulted in him honking the horn. With a curse, Krane achingly limped toward the passenger door and sank into his seat. The leather had crimson smudges up and down the seams. Lamont’s wound was the culprit. Once the door was shut, they peeled out of the spot in reverse and drove through the falling snow.
    Krane wiped a blanket of sweat from his forehead and glanced to his left at his unsuspecting employee. For the minute, he enjoyed watching the imperfection swell. He rather liked seeing the incompetent blood squirting out of those thick, clumsy fingers. Lamont’s eyes went big and small, big and small, but it didn’t seem to affect his ability to maneuver a vehicle. Perhaps his will to survive was stronger than the lust for violence and misadventure.
    Krane pulled out the tracking computer, which was synced to the microchips he’d implanted inside the two runaways. After powering on the screen, an error message flashed, alerting him to the fact that one of the trackers had been removed from the host. But that wasn’t all. The computer was no longer synced in any capacity with Adam. The beeping signal came from the Phoenix.
    Something was very wrong. Adam appeared hurt, yes, but not within an hour of death. Why had the signal ceased?
    There was only one way it could’ve happened.
    The heart. It must’ve stopped beating. The trackers only functioned so long as there was a heartbeat. He swallowed hard, disturbed by this knowledge.
    “Head south, Jeb,” he commanded with a hiccup in his voice, praying that by the time he reached Salvation’s firstborn, his powers would reunite him with this world.
    Lamont dabbed his throat. “Not a chance in hell, Doc. You’ve lost it. It’s back…to the asylum. I’m leakin’ like…a siv.”
    “Adam is still out there. We h-h-had-had an arrangement, and you will keep it. We head south, or y-y-you-you d-d-do-don’t make it back at all,” Krane stuttered, retrieving a revolver from a pocket in his jacket. Any other day, in any other circumstance, he knew he’d be scared stiff to pull a gun on a federal agent. But these were uncertain, desperate times, and if his visions could be proven correct, he would take pleasure in lording over such lesser flesh.
    “Don’t forget, I am in c-con-co-control.” The gun felt flimsy in his grip, but he made sure not to break. “Out here, Saul Hoven does not exist. You were made aware of the pot-p-p-potential risks involved in locating Adam. Just do what you’re told, and I won’t h-h-hurt-hurt you.”
    “Is that so, Manny?” Lamont coughed, immediately slamming on the brakes. The minicomputer slid onto the floor as the doctor’s face smacked against the dash. Curses erupted throughout the interior of the Mercedes.
    Krane’s brow leaked red. Grunting like an infuriated rodent, he swiftly shoved the revolver between Lamont’s legs, nudging the agent’s groin. For further intimidation, he cocked it. “I hope that we understand each other.”
    Lamont eyeballed him in silence.
    “I believe that is ch-ch-checkmate.” Krane smirked. “South.”
    A wet laugh dripped out. “Funny how Dr. Frankenstein…suddenly grows a pair when he’s got a six-shooter to…do…the talkin’.”
    Krane reached into the center console for a handkerchief. Upon locating one, he dabbed his forehead then