Tansy's Titan: Cosmos' Gateway Book 3 (13 page)

That seems like a very painful thing to do. I am not sure it is even possible,
Mak’s serious reply sounded in her mind.

What do you think isn’t possible?
Tansy asked in confusion as she walked toward the trap door in the shed.

‘Shitting a gold brick’. I do not think such as thing is physically possible, even for someone as large as myself,
came the calm reply.

Tansy bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. He was going to get them both killed if he came up with comments like that at times like this. She was about to tell him that it was just an expression when his silent laugh echoed through her mind letting her know he had understood her meaning.

And the answer to your thoughts is ‘no’. I will not allow you to put yourself in danger. Stay out of sight until I can join you,
Mak’s determined order came through loud and clear.

I seem to remember telling you I don’t take orders from anyone… ever. I’m going to circle around behind them,
Tansy replied just as calmly as he had a moment ago.
I’ll meet you in the middle.

I am going to whip your ass if you do,
Mak growled out.
You will do what I tell you.

Tansy chuckled before replying.
Before you think of whipping my ass, may I remind you that you will have to go to sleep sometime in your life and I will be ready for that day.

Fine! But don’t think I won’t tell your mother what you are doing!
Mak threatened in a dark voice.

You wouldn’t dare!
Tansy hissed back but her footsteps slowed as she neared the end of the tunnel.
Mak? You wouldn’t, would you? Not really? Mak? MAK!

Mak didn’t answer. He knew deep down that Tansy would do anything to spare her mother and father any grief. He was not above using that threat and following through with it if it kept her safe. She didn’t realize she was still weak from blood loss, was not thinking clearly from lack of sleep, and still run down from not having enough to eat for too long a period of time. He had seen the same thing in warriors back home during a time when their people had been at war. He had watched too many warriors fall to lesser adversaries because they had not had time or not stopped to regain their strength before entering a battle. He would not watch the same thing happen to his mate when he was able to prevent it.

You don’t fight fair,
Tansy’s soft voice came through in reproach.
But, I know you are right. I would be a liability right now, not an asset. Please be careful… for me.

Mak’s heart melted at the hesitant request at the end. He could feel the fear and pain behind the words. It wasn’t what she said but what she didn’t that he heard. She had lost someone she cared about before. It was that someone who put the shadows in her eyes.

Branson,
Tansy’s soft voice whispered before it faded away.

*.*.*

Mak slipped into the master bedroom and moved toward the window that overlooked the front of the house. He watched from behind the curtains as two men came up out of the woods along the drive toward the front porch. He waited until he was sure they couldn’t see him before he quietly opened the window and stepped through it onto the roof over the porch. He crept silently down the slope of the roof waiting patiently as the men came up under him. He pulled his two short swords from the sheaths on his back, gripping them tightly. He would only have one chance to take them out without alerting the other men coming up in the woods behind the wood frame house. With practiced ease, he dropped down behind the men before they could even step up onto the porch, slicing through their backs into their hearts killing them instantly. He turned and sprinted for the woods before the bodies even had a chance to hit the ground.

He had counted four separate shadows in the woods behind the house but suspected there might be more hidden. He focused for a split second on Tansy, making sure she was where she promised she would be. He did not want to take a chance of her being found.

I’m fine. Stay focused on what you are doing and don’t you dare shut me out or I will be the one doing the ass whipping,
came her calm voice.

Mak bit back a grin that his mate would even dare to think of whipping him. He marveled at the fact she was so different from all the other females he had known. She was smaller, more fragile in many ways but yet seemed stronger and fearless in others.

I’ll show you fearless if you start thinking of other women,
Tansy growled back.
Now keep your head in the fucking game. I wasn’t kidding about being pissed if you got hurt.

Has anyone ever told you that you are very bossy?
Mak asked as he moved into the darker shadows of the woods.

Bite me!
Tansy snapped back.

With pleasure,
Mak murmured as he entered the woods.

He knelt down, glancing around him as his eyes adjusted to the dimmer light. He listened carefully. There to the right, the slight sound of leaves being crushed. He rose and took off through the woods moving with the speed and skill of a Prime Warrior. He could see the shadow moving to the left of him. Jumping, he grabbed the branch of a tree about ten feet up and swung up landing on the thick limb with ease.

I can do that,
Tansy murmured softly in his head.

There will be no need for you to have to once I get you to my home,
Mak growled back darkly.

*.*.*

Tansy pulled back until she was just a shadow in Mak's mind. She would follow along with him in case he needed some assistance but she would not distract him. A shiver went through her at the dark promise in his voice. It disturbed her. She would cherish the time she had with him but there could never be anything permanent. His life was back in his world and hers was here. She had been thinking about her current assignment. Not all of the pieces were clear yet but the picture was beginning to form. She had been sold out. The only thing she needed to know was how far up the sale had gone. The first place she was going to start looking was back in Washington. A visit with Craig Knapp was in order. Perhaps it was time for Craig to discover just how well the government trained their operatives.

She refused to think of Mak's promise right now. She would return him safely to Cosmos' warehouse where he could travel back to his world through whatever in the hell Cosmos built. Then, she would shut it down. It was too dangerous for something like that to exist. If one world could be accessed than so could another. As much as it tore her up at the thought of never seeing Mak again, she knew it was the only choice.

Tansy climbed the narrow wooden ladder at the end of the tunnel. According to Natasha it would come up under the Land Rover. Natasha said they designed it that way so it was hidden. Unless someone was down on their hands and knees looking under the vehicle they wouldn’t see anyone. In addition, it gave them the advantage of seeing if anyone was in the garage.

She quietly slid the well-lubricated bolt to the side unlocking the trap door. Lowering it just enough so she could stick her head up through the opening, she cautiously glanced around. She didn’t see or hear anything. Pulling herself up, she rolled over and la
y
on her back, a Makarov pistol in each hand. She waited patiently before tucking her arms against her side and rolling out from under the vehicle. She came up on one knee with her back protected. The garage had two windows, one on each side. They were small, no more than two foot by two foot but let in enough light so she didn’t have any trouble seeing.

Tansy rose slowly circling so she could get a good feel for any possible places someone could hide. She glanced up at the ceiling noting there was nothing but open tresses. The garage was empty except for the Land Rover. It was an older model with a wrench on the front and a re-enforced bar across the back. If anyone tried to ram them, their vehicle would suffer more damage than the Land Rover.

Tansy tucked one of the pistols in the waistband of her jeans and quietly opened the door of the SUV. She reached up under the driver’s seat, feeling around for the plastic bag containing the key. A small smile curved her lips when she found it. She gripped it tightly in her hand and stood up. She was about to climb into the Land Rover when a shadow passed by the window. She immediately closed the driver’s door and crouched down low. Crab-walking over to the window, she stood up once she was against the wall. A second shadow passed by.

*.*.*

“We are to check the garage,” a low voice whispered in Russian. “Rurik and Savin should be ready to enter through the front. Osip, Pasha, Vanya and Yegor will take the back. You and I are to make sure she does not have any transportation. Then, we are to cover the sides. Osip said the Baskov sisters were in a transport van and their vehicle was left outside of security headquarters. Osip’s informant did not see anyone get in the vehicle with them but Osip says the female has connections to the sisters.”

“How is it possible the female could kill so many of our men at the warehouse?” The second voice asked gruffly. “I heard she was injured. Blood was found on the wall where one of Avilov’s guards shot her. Kar
p
had run her to ground. You know what a mean bastard he was. He made sure she could not stay anywhere long enough to rest or heal. She must have had some help.”

“If she does we will take whoever is helping her out. Just remember, Avilov wants her alive. She doesn’t have to be in good shape but she does have to be alive. He plans on making sure she embraces death when he finally kills her. I heard he is going to kill her family first. He has already sent men to take care of this Cosmos who also has connections to the sisters. He will take the sisters out as well to show those in the politsia that he means business,” the man said.

“You two need to shut up!” A third voice whispered angrily. “Get in position now!”

*.*.*

Tansy moved back looking around. There was no place to hide. She would need to take them out quickly and quietly. She pushed the gun in her hand into her backpack. She moved silently over to the Land Rover, opened the driver's door and set the backpack behind the passenger seat before closing and locking the door again quietly. There really wasn't a good place to hide except either in the Land Rover or back in the tunnel. It looked like the tunnel was going to win if the men were persistent in getting into the garage. There was a heavy bar across the outside of the double doors with a heavy duty padlock on it.  It would be no problem for the Land Rover to break through. If she was lucky, the men would think it was secure and no one could get in. Tansy looked at the two windows again to make sure it was clear. She was just about to crawl back under the SUV when a slight sliver of light caught her attention. A grin lit up Tansy's face when she saw the small hidden door against the wall where an empty workbench stood. If she hadn't gotten down low enough she would have missed it.

Natasha and Helene were two very clever women,
Tansy thought as she changed directions.

She laid down on the bottom part of the bench and rolled through the opening landing outside of the garage behind a set of well-placed barrels. She was still hidden but now she was outside and behind the men. From her count, there were eight men total. She would take out the two here, Mak already took out two so that left four. She could handle that.

You are not to handle anything!
Mak's deep voice bit out.
You were to stay hidden.

Yeah well, they found my hiding spot,
Tansy replied hotly.
Focus on the guys near you. I can handle these two.

You are making me very angry,
Mak snarled.

Tansy barely suppressed the chuckle building up inside her.
You might as well get used to it. I have that effect on people.

*.*.*

Mak pursed his lips to keep the roar of rage from escaping. He remained frozen on the branch, none of his internal fury evident in the stillness of his body. The only way anyone would know he was upset was if they were to look into his eyes. Dark, silver flames burned with deadly intent. These men had come to harm his mate. He would kill all of them without mercy. Mak waited until the figure was just past the branch he was on before he dropped down behind him. He grabbed the man by the neck and slammed him up against the trunk of the tree. He squeezed his hand just enough to keep the man from making any noise.

Reaching into his vest pocket, he pulled the translator out and pressed it against the man's temple. “How many men?”

“Fuck you,” the man choked out when Mak loosened his hold just enough to let the man speak.

“Wrong answer,” Mak said and squeezed his fingers, crushing the man's throat.

Mak slid the translator back into his vest pocket and let the man drop to the ground. He noted the man was still alive but he wouldn't be for long if the blue tint to his skin was any indication. He reached down and removed the weapons from the man and picked up the assault rifle the man dropped when he grabbed him. Rising, he tilted his head to the side and listened carefully as his eyes scanned the shadowed woods. He began moving again when he didn't hear anything. He kept to the shadows as much as possible making a loop so he would come up behind any additional men.