Chasing Victory (The Winters Sisters) (28 page)

“We’re on our way out,” Tristan said. “How’s it going Logan?”

“Braxton is tucked away, with sweet dreams I’m sure. It’s been slower going than I would have thought. All of his files are encrypted, which isn’t shocking, but damn they are all large files. It’s taking more time.” Logan said.

“How long until you’re finished?” asked Tristan.

“I need at least another twenty minutes,” he said.

“Twenty minutes, no more. At twenty minutes and one second your ass had better be heading out the door, read me?”

“Loud and clear,” said Logan.

“You’re going to be cutting it very close,” said Noah.

“That’s how I like it,” Logan responded.

“I’ll stay back and cover Logan’s six,” said Noah. “You have a clear shot to the boat launch Tristan. I’ll keep you updated if anything changes. There’s one blind spot, its right after you hit the tree line. There isn’t a single camera until you reach the other side of the trees, so I’ll have no surveillance.”

“Got it. Thanks Noah. I’ll expect you two in thirty minutes.” He looked at Victory, and said “Time to go.”

“I’m right behind you,” she said.

They were at the exterior door in under five minutes. Tristan put his arm out, blocking Victory from moving forward. “Hold on.” He whispered. “Noah?”

“You’re still good to go,” said Noah.

Tristan turned the handle, and glanced around the courtyard. The area was dimly lit save the glow from the overhead lights at each of the doorways. Reaching into his pack, he pulled out two pairs of night goggles. He turned and handed one to Victory, the other pair he strapped around his forehead. Without a single word Victory followed his lead. “Ready?”

“As ever,” Victory said nodding her head.

“Okay, when we move, we move quickly. You stay right on my heels.” Tristan took one more look out the door. “Let’s do this.”

He stepped out the door and moved to the edge of the courtyard. Tristan and Victory skimmed the sides of the buildings, moving silently around the courtyard. When they reached the last building he stopped her with his outstretched arm.

“You’re clear.” He heard Noah’s voice come through his earpiece.

He looked back at Victory, she nodded that she had heard Noah. Tristan acknowledged with single nod, and soundlessly the duo shot off across the open green belt. Tristan was thankful for the darkness enveloping them, he tugged his night goggles over his eyes, Victory followed his lead.

Minutes later they were at the edge of the forest. Tristan continued running, slowing his pace slightly to allow for the uneven ground. He stopped when he could see the boat launch.
“You wait right here. I need to make sure we’re still clear.”

Victory nodded her head in understanding. Tristan turned and started for the launch. Looking down at his watch he noticed that twenty minutes had already passed. That meant Noah and Logan were making their way out of the building and he and Victory were on their own.

Victory heard the softest sound behind her, the sound of a footfalls stepping on the pine needles that covered the ground. She began to turn, expecting to see Noah and Logan, at the same heartbeat she caught the sound of a gun loading. She continued to turn towards the sound, but as she did so she changed her direction and threw herself between the sound and Tristan’s back.

At the last instant Ken Howard realized what Victory was trying to do. He attempted to divert his aim to his right, but the bullet still caught Victory. She let out the tiniest of cries as she crumpled to the ground.

Tristan turned as he caught Ken’s scent. His body refusing to respond as he saw what Victory was trying to do. Instantaneously his mind screamed,
“Victory, no!”
as he saw her fall to the ground.

“Goddamn it,” Ken said as he stepped out from behind one of the evergreens. “You two are really starting to piss me off.” Without another word he raised his gun once more and pointed it at Tristan’s head.

Ken dropped to his knees, shock on his face. He looked down and saw a red spot growing on his chest, just before he collapsed.

Logan came running through the trees, followed by Noah. Tristan ran back to where Victory lay. “God Tristan, I’m sorry. I took the shot as soon as I could.”

“I know,” Tristan responded. “Go get the boat ready to go.” Without another word the two men took off.

Tristan was on his knees beside Victory. He saw the blood pooling next to her left shoulder. He felt a sudden wave of nausea overcome him. Gently he rolled Victory over on her back. She lay there, her face was pale in the moonlight. “Victory,” he said in the smallest of voices. “Victory, you need to wake up, please.”

A painful sensation blanketed her body, making Victory want to drift off into unconsciousness. Somewhere far off, she heard Tristan beckoning to her. Ever so slowly her lids fluttered open. Tristan’s broad body filled her view. He was pressing something into her shoulder, and it was all she could do to keep from crying out. She looked into his deep violet eyes and for the very first time, saw fear. She smiled up at him.

“I’ll be okay,” she moaned.

“Looks like the bullet went straight through your upper arm, I can’t tell for sure if it hit the bone,” Tristan said. “What in the hell made you do that? Don’t you ever do that again, do you understand?” Tristan was beside himself at the thought of her jumping in front of a bullet for him.

“I can’t promise that,” she said with a weak smile.

He could have easily reached out telepathically to Wyatt, and let him know about Victory’s injury. But the last thing he wanted right now was to have Wyatt inside of his head. It was in that same instant that he realized he loved Victory with his whole heart and soul, but he wasn’t ready to share that revelation with his brother.

Tristan buried his face in Victory’s hair and inhaled the unique scent that was only Victory. He knew deep in his very soul that he would never get enough of her scent, as it permeated every last cell of his being.

“God Victory, I thought I lost you.” He whispered into her hair. “I don’t know what I would have done without you. I love you.”

She pulled weakly away from him, unshed tears sparkling on her lids. “You, love me?” she questioned softly.

“With everything that I am. I want, no, I need you in my life. Please say that you feel the same. Say that you will marry me?” he asked, looking at her with all the love he felt shining in his eyes.

“I do. I will.” She smiled back at him. Pain flooding her body she grimaced at her feeble attempt to touch his perfect face with her good arm.

Logan ran up from the boat launch. “Can we move her?” He asked, unsure of Victory’s injuries.

“Yes, it’s an arm wound. Nothing life threatening, but she will need medical attention as soon as possible,” Tristan said.

“Good, we need to get out of here, we’re out of time. I have some morphine and bandages in my pack.” Logan moved in to help Tristan pick Victory up.

“I’ve got her,” Tristan said. “Make sure you keep that path clear. Ken?” he asked as an afterthought.

“He’s gone,” Logan responded.

“That’s good, because I would have killed him, only it would have been extremely painful and very slowly,” Tristan said, as he gingerly lifted Victory into the safety and warmth of his arms.

TWENTY-EIGHT

“It’s so great to have you back home safe and sound sis.” Payton said. She was stretched out on one of the rattan overstuffed chairs with her feet propped up on a huge circular ottoman she was sharing with Victory.

The sky was a deep ocean blue, not a cloud to be seen. Victory looked around the patio, noticing that all the chairs were currently occupied with Dobermans. Of course her ever faithful Dax was right next to her sharing the loveseat. He barely left her side since the moment she returned home. She could feel the uneasiness ripple through him. She was sure her injured arm didn’t help matters. The bullet had grazed her humerus, causing a bone fracture. She was in a hanging cast with her arm bent at a ninety degree angle; the cast started right above her elbow and ended at her hand.

“It’s wonderful to be home,” she responded. “I still can’t believe all that has happened over the last two months. Sometimes it doesn’t feel real, like I was watching it happen to someone else.”

“It most certainly was real. Look at the cast on your arm. And believe me, Willow and I worried about you every minute of every day. I am unbelievably grateful that you came back to us in one piece,” Payton said.

A car door slammed in the front yard and all the Dobermans leapt from their chairs to go investigate. All but Dax who wasn’t taking his glare off Victory. “It must be Tristan,” she said with her eyes still closed soaking in the warm rays of the afternoon sun. She knew had it been anyone else the dogs would not have only gone to greet them, but would have alerted the entire neighborhood.

Suddenly there was a commotion behind her as all the dogs playfully leapt and nipped at each other. “Okay guys,” Tristan’s husky voice scolded lightheartedly. “Yes, I’m glad to see all of you too, settle down now before someone bumps into Victory.” Almost instantly the group dispersed, each dog going back to their assigned chairs.

“If you want to sit and join us you had better hurry before all the seats are taken,” Payton giggled.

“My chair’s saved.” Tristan acknowledged Dax with a quick rub between his ears, then reached under to scratch his neck. Dax responded by laying the total weight of his head in Tristan’s palm. Tristan went to the other side of the loveseat and wiggled in next to Victory. “Hello my fiancée,” he greeted her as he tilted her face up to his and gently kissed her lips.

“Hello my fiancé,” Victory responded savoring the kiss.

“I brought you something,” Tristan said. He pulled a tiny black box from his pants pocket and opened it. Inside sat a spectacular, two carat, square cut diamond, the band also encrusted with diamonds. “Thought it was time I made it official.”

“Oh Tristan, it’s the most stunning ring I have ever seen,” Victory said, choking back her tears. She looked at her swollen and bruised left hand, there was no way she was going to be able to wear the ring.

“No worries,” Tristan said reading her mind. He removed the ring from the box, picked up her right hand and slipped on the ring. “There. You can change hands after your cast is removed.”

She held up her arm, the diamonds catching the afternoon sun, all aflame on her hand.

“Wow, it really is breathtaking,” Payton said.

“We’re taking a short break,” Victory continued as she eyed the group lounging.

“Yes, a break,” Payton piped in. “We have been hard at work, booking caters, florists, music, bakers-”

“I get it.” Tristan cut her off from what seemed like it would be a never-ending list. “I’ve got news too.”

“Tell us,” Victory urged.

“Collin has been moved out of the ICU.”

They had been back for ten days and during that time Collin underwent two surgeries. “The doctors say he will make a full recovery. They plan to keep him for another week or so, after that he will be moved to another facility for physical therapy.”

“Is he safe?” Victory asked.

“Yes. They have him at a military facility, under twenty-four hour guard. Besides that, as far as Biotec is concerned he died along with Max when he fell from the cliff.”

“And then,” Victory prompted. “What does the government plan to do with him then? They can’t leave him to fend for himself. There is still so much we don’t know. The doctors might believe that he will be physically recovered by then, but we all know better. We still need to deal with the foreign DNA running through his body. If a buffer isn’t discovered, and I mean soon, the Collin that once was will not exist, assuming he survives the transformation.”

“That’s being taken care of,” Tristan responded.

“They can’t lock him up again, or we are no better than Braxton,” Victory continued.

“Hear me out,” Tristan interrupted. Victory quieted and looked up at him. “They are working on a proposal right now. The government is going to offer The Winters Corporation a unique opportunity.”

“Really, that’s great,” Victory said, “but what about Claremont?”

“They aren’t being left out. Claremont will be invited to assist in this new venture, of course that all hinges on you being the liaison between the two companies,” Tristan said with a smile on his face. “Looks like the Winters women will be working together.”

“What about the other man?” Payton asked. “Morgan, wasn’t it?”

“Morgan has actually been very involved in this whole process. He will join Collin in this upcoming project,” Tristan responded.

“Have they found Braxton?” Victory asked.

“Not yet. He and the Kaleidoscope Group have gone underground. We know their pockets are deep, I’m not sure how long it will take us to locate them, but we will.”

“If you locate them,” she corrected.

“Don’t worry, we will. Everyone has to surface sometime, even Braxton. We have the most qualified technicians working on decrypting Braxton’s files, but so far no luck. In the meantime Wyatt feels it would be best for you, Payton and Willow to stay close together.” Tristan said with concern in his voice.

“That settles it then,” Payton said. “I’ve been trying all day to talk Victory into having you move in here after your honeymoon.” Payton waved Tristan off before he had a chance to protest. “Don’t worry, there’s plenty of room. You two lovebirds can have the carriage house. We remodeled it only four months ago. It will be perfect.”

Victory remained silent and looked at Tristan. “I think that’s probably a great idea,” he responded. We need to enclose your property with a high voltage fence. There will be a team of security around the grounds day and night. Having the three of you live under one roof will make it much easier to maintain your safety.”

A smile lit up Victory’s face as she threw her right arm around Tristan’s neck. “Really, you wouldn’t mind?” She hadn’t realized how happy she would be about moving back home. Then another thought crossed her mind and she drew back from Tristan. “What about Willow. Does she still have someone watching her?”

“Night and day, don’t worry Victory. One of the guys will be flying over and personally bringing her back. She will be in good hands. Now let’s hear more about this wedding.”

Asia’s head popped up off the arm of the lounge chair she had been sharing with Kes. Her ears held steely erect and her eyes smoldering black. She vaulted over Kes and off the lounge in one stride, running full out towards the front of the house. All three of the remaining Dobermans looked up from their spots. Dax glanced up into Victory’s face and saw a flash of terror. He jumped down and headed for the front yard, followed closely by Parker and Kes.

“What’s up?” Tristan asked. “Was it something I said?”

“I’m not sure, I think someone is in the front yard,” Victory said.

In one smooth motion Tristan reached down into his pant leg and retrieved his Walther .38 from his ankle holster as he rose to his full height and headed toward the front yard. He turned slightly and never breaking stride he said, “I’m sure I shouldn’t have to say this, but you two stay put.” As he reached the corner of the house, they heard the dogs yipping and howling. “What the hell?” he muttered.

Almost drowned out by the chorus of Dobermans came a whimsical laugh. The herd of dogs rounded the corner, jumping up and down, totaling surrounding a striking blond-haired woman. Her resemblance to both Victory and Payton was obvious.

“Willow!” Victory and Payton cried in unison. They sprang from their perches and ran to join the group, tears streaming down both of their faces.

“Damn,” Noah said bringing up the rear. “I’ve been in a lot of scary shit before, but none of that compares to being the target of a bunch of charging Dobermans. I almost wet my pants.”

Everyone started laughing, the tension of the past few minutes fading away.

“What are you doing here Willow?” Victory asked. “I thought the earliest you could come home was next week?”

“I couldn’t wait. I left my assistant in charge of the project,” Willow responded as they hugged.

“Trouble,” Noah chimed in. “When this woman gets an idea in her head there’s no stopping her. I could barely keep up with her.”

“Seems to run in the family,” Tristan responded as the two men stood in awe looking at each of the three women.

“She’s gonna keep you on your toes man,” Noah laughed, watching the three women.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” Tristan said, a grin lighting up his face.