Read Online Guardians of the Portals by Nya Rawlyns - Free Book Online Page A

roof and they’ll send a team up the stairs, if they ain’t already on the way. The chopper will light us up and herd us to them.”
    “Do they want us alive?” Caitlin could barely form the words, not sure she wanted an answer.
    “Oh, yes indeed. Alive, but not necessarily unharmed. I want to minimize the damage.” Jake took her chin in his hand. “It’s not your fault, girl. You did good.”
    “But, Dad, if I hadn’t shifted, if...”
    “Don’t worry about it. We both screwed up. We’ll deal with it. I need for you to get to the ground and get somewhere safe. I can handle Knutr’s goon squad.” Squeezing her shoulder, he gave her a small shove toward the ledge.
    ****
    T rey watched what looked like a military exercise from a small bluff near the Liberty Reservoir on the western edge of the industrial park where he’d determined Greyfalcon’s location. It afforded a reasonable view of the headquarters and the main parking area. He used a high-powered scope to augment his already enhanced vision. He was intrigued when an older man and a younger woman exited from a decrepit minivan. They disappeared from his vantage point once they climbed the steps to the main entrance.
    Though there was no way to know for sure what was going on, he could make an educated guess. The ninth floor remained well lit while the remaining floors had cycled down to evening status. Wherever the two were going, it surely had to be there. When he’d scanned across the woman, he’d had a strange sensation in his gut—almost a recognition of sorts, though he’d never seen her before. The older man also pinged a memory cell. He’d seen his face but couldn’t come up with a time or place.
    He set the custom-built Tactical M40T4 rifle with the Nightforce scope onto a portable sandbag mounting device. He flicked the sand sock at the rear out of the way and sighted carefully. He was well outside the thousand-yard range and would need to get closer if he wanted to take out any of the targets.
    His uncle’s “you are there to observe only” admonition rankled. He seldom got this close to a Greyfalcon nest of vipers. To lose the opportunity to reduce the numbers of the competition seemed a serious waste of time and effort. He had no idea what more intel he could learn as a glorified peeping tom.
    The last words of the O’Brien woman flashed through his consciousness: “You will know her as your own.” It played on an internal feedback loop like an inane song that repeats endlessly, testing patience and sanity alike. The image of the young woman, her height and body build, all reminded him of something. He tried to dismiss the outlandish uniform, if indeed that’s what it was. There was no mistaking the sniper rifle slung at her hip. She was there as more than eye candy.
    He mused, red hair, there’s something wrong with that . He gathered up the rifle and its supports and lunged to his feet. He’d have to think on why such a bodacious Amazon would tickle his fancy. You might want to rephrase that , he smirked to himself. Turning away from the tree line, he ambled down a narrow deer trail and dropped off a small bank onto a dirt road. The Porsche lay hidden in a narrow opening in the forest, well away from the cones of light from vehicles driving on that lonely stretch of road. The reservoir might attract young lovers and gang member’s intent on business transactions, but during the middle of the week he doubted he’d need to concern himself with that. He’d had his techs alarm the vehicle for silent operation. His implant would alert him to any tampering.
    He loved technology. If only he could transport the M40 through the Portals he would be a happy man. He stroked the barrel fondly, but his thoughts morphed into a vision of him caressing the long, lean thigh of the redhead in the ridiculous outfit. All she was good for, the sniper rifle notwithstanding, was a distraction. That thought kick-started a chain reaction. Trey broke