Read Online Guardians of the Portals by Nya Rawlyns - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nya Rawlyns
Tags: Science-Fiction, Action & Adventure, science fiction romance, Alternative History, dark urban fantasy
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into a run toward his vehicle. Something wasn’t right. His gut told him so, and it was seldom wrong.
****
“Y ou got it loose?”
“And coiled, yes sir.” Caitlin found it oddly satisfying to revert to addressing Jake as if he were still military. She guessed you could take the man out of the Marines but you’d never take the Marines out of the man. That sounded like something he’d drummed into her and Kieran from a young age. Such mantras afforded a measure of calm in the face of certain disaster.
Jake went into a semi-crouch and crab-stepped his way across the roof to a point where a ventilation shaft and the roof ledge sat no more than three feet apart. It would shield her from the helicopter, which would lift from the opposite end to their position and afford her precious seconds for her leap of faith.
Jake rapidly threaded one end of the mountaineering rope through the rappel anchor, pairing it with the opposite end. After pulling the ends to the halfway point, he quickly tied them off with a figure-eight knot, then tossed the rope over the edge of the building, all the while giving her last minute instructions.
“It’s just like we did at the gym; you walk your way down and lean back like I showed you.”
Jake adjusted the climbing harness, gave Caitlin a pat on her cheek and helped her up on the ledge.
“This is the hard part, darlin’. Hop back and out, easy like. I’ll stay and get you started.”
Caitlin moaned, “Dad, I can’t leave you.”
“It’ll be fine. Don’t go into the woods. They’ll be expecting you to head to the section over by the reservoir.”
“Where should I go?”
“There’s a coupla fair sized corporate buildings across the road. Angle to the south, along the tree line, and then cut over. You can ease your way in. Be like running a maze for them. Stay low ’til the dust clears. Then head on home.”
“What then, Dad? Won’t they be waiting for me?”
“I’ll, uh, tell them otherwise. You just get on home, pack and get the hell out of there. You know where the Jeep’s located. The key’s under that rock; you know the one?” Caitlin nodded, tears stinging her eyes. Jake took a shirtsleeve and roughly wiped her face.
Caitlin teetered on the ledge as Jake peered down to check for any activity. She took a deep breath and lightly floated away from the building to land six feet lower, her booted feet pressed against a narrow vent. If she bobbed up and down she could still catch a glimpse of the action on the roof.
––––––––
J ake muttered, “Love you,” and skittered back to the A/C unit. The helicopter rotors had begun their slow whine as they picked up speed. He knew it would be all over soon. He yanked his Glock from the waistband of his pants, picked up an ancient AK-47 off the floor, and made best speed to the front of the building. Though the pilot was likely a GFI lackey, he was determined not to risk possibly harming a civilian. He had too much death on his hands already.
He listened for the tell tale sounds of an assault on the safety door. Knutr would carefully orchestrate the attack to minimize the damage, at least to Caitlin. The capo would want the helicopter in position first, with his men at the safety door ready to storm the roof, while the rest of his militia guarded other egress points. He eyed several vehicles scattered about the parking area, two hemming in their ancient mini-van. Jake sighted down the AK-47’s barrel and proceeded to lay a pattern around the chopper and the closest vehicles. Even from the roof, he saw the pilot’s panicked look as he backed up and away from the building, frantically trying to gain altitude and distance. Satisfied that the pilot would continue north and away from Caitlin’s position, he dropped the magazine, inserted a new one and proceeded to make mincemeat of the vehicles within range.
****
T rey pulled into the driveway leading to a set of squat office buildings slightly south and
****
“Y ou got it loose?”
“And coiled, yes sir.” Caitlin found it oddly satisfying to revert to addressing Jake as if he were still military. She guessed you could take the man out of the Marines but you’d never take the Marines out of the man. That sounded like something he’d drummed into her and Kieran from a young age. Such mantras afforded a measure of calm in the face of certain disaster.
Jake went into a semi-crouch and crab-stepped his way across the roof to a point where a ventilation shaft and the roof ledge sat no more than three feet apart. It would shield her from the helicopter, which would lift from the opposite end to their position and afford her precious seconds for her leap of faith.
Jake rapidly threaded one end of the mountaineering rope through the rappel anchor, pairing it with the opposite end. After pulling the ends to the halfway point, he quickly tied them off with a figure-eight knot, then tossed the rope over the edge of the building, all the while giving her last minute instructions.
“It’s just like we did at the gym; you walk your way down and lean back like I showed you.”
Jake adjusted the climbing harness, gave Caitlin a pat on her cheek and helped her up on the ledge.
“This is the hard part, darlin’. Hop back and out, easy like. I’ll stay and get you started.”
Caitlin moaned, “Dad, I can’t leave you.”
“It’ll be fine. Don’t go into the woods. They’ll be expecting you to head to the section over by the reservoir.”
“Where should I go?”
“There’s a coupla fair sized corporate buildings across the road. Angle to the south, along the tree line, and then cut over. You can ease your way in. Be like running a maze for them. Stay low ’til the dust clears. Then head on home.”
“What then, Dad? Won’t they be waiting for me?”
“I’ll, uh, tell them otherwise. You just get on home, pack and get the hell out of there. You know where the Jeep’s located. The key’s under that rock; you know the one?” Caitlin nodded, tears stinging her eyes. Jake took a shirtsleeve and roughly wiped her face.
Caitlin teetered on the ledge as Jake peered down to check for any activity. She took a deep breath and lightly floated away from the building to land six feet lower, her booted feet pressed against a narrow vent. If she bobbed up and down she could still catch a glimpse of the action on the roof.
––––––––
J ake muttered, “Love you,” and skittered back to the A/C unit. The helicopter rotors had begun their slow whine as they picked up speed. He knew it would be all over soon. He yanked his Glock from the waistband of his pants, picked up an ancient AK-47 off the floor, and made best speed to the front of the building. Though the pilot was likely a GFI lackey, he was determined not to risk possibly harming a civilian. He had too much death on his hands already.
He listened for the tell tale sounds of an assault on the safety door. Knutr would carefully orchestrate the attack to minimize the damage, at least to Caitlin. The capo would want the helicopter in position first, with his men at the safety door ready to storm the roof, while the rest of his militia guarded other egress points. He eyed several vehicles scattered about the parking area, two hemming in their ancient mini-van. Jake sighted down the AK-47’s barrel and proceeded to lay a pattern around the chopper and the closest vehicles. Even from the roof, he saw the pilot’s panicked look as he backed up and away from the building, frantically trying to gain altitude and distance. Satisfied that the pilot would continue north and away from Caitlin’s position, he dropped the magazine, inserted a new one and proceeded to make mincemeat of the vehicles within range.
****
T rey pulled into the driveway leading to a set of squat office buildings slightly south and
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