Page 1 of Xander
Chapter One
Xander
Xander glanced up from the thriller he was reading when he’d heard the sound of car tires turning onto his driveway, realizing that time had gotten away from him.Gunnar and Kane were coming over for weapons training Ghost had scheduled on New Year’s Day, for a reason that escaped all three of them.Xander had designed and built the gun range deep into the woods behind his newly completed house and Ghost had designated it the training center for all of the assassins.And he couldn’t fault Ghost for wanting his assassins to train.There had been another threat to Dark Company that Ghost had downplayed, not giving any of them details, but Xander could tell that he’d worried about it.
Besides, Xander had bought a Sig Sauer P226 over the holidays and it would be his first chance to test it out.And although he would never admit it aloud, he was grateful for the company so soon after the holidays.
Seth and Aubrey had gotten married back in November and although he was happy for them, and for Kai and Liv, and Reaper and Ara, he felt the stark loneliness acutely.Shaking off his melancholy, he opened the door.But before he could greet them, the three of them froze.They could hear the distinct crunching of snow and pine needles under heavy boots.
“About two miles north.Are you expecting anyone else?” Gunnar asked.
“No.”Xander closed the door behind him and engaged the lock before he followed the other two as they moved toward the sound at a quick clip.He hadn’t even bothered to grab a coat, but the snow and cold barely registered, even in his thin pullover and jeans.At least he had his shoes on before his friends arrived.
His eyes searched for movement, sensing the other two close, as they approached the origin of the sounds.
“I hear seven different strides…no, wait, make that eight.The last one has a lighter footfall than the others.Woman, possibly?”
That was when they heard the sound of metal slapping against a palm, as if they were getting ready to fire a gun.
Split up and we’ll surround them.He used their mind link so no one could overhear their conversation.
Gunnar and Kane met his eyes and nodded, once, before they disappeared into the pines.
Xander heard the distinct steps, those trudging through the knee-deep mountain snow at an almost prohibitive pace, grunting as they grew tired from their trek.He knew that if they engaged them, the assassins would have the advantage of stealth, along with their ability to move freely.
Got eyes?
Xander received a flash of an image.Kane had gone for higher ground and had a view from miles around.
Yeah, on three of them.Dressed in white camo.They don’t seem very coordinated and they are dragging the barrels of their AR-15s through the snow.Dumbasses.Xander heard Kane’s sarcasm and bit back a laugh.
Then he heard from Gunnar.He and Jade were the best trackers he knew.I got the others.There’s a smaller figure, but whoever it is, their features are obscured by a hood and bulky jacket.That one doesn’t have a weapon.
Another image flashed and this one showed the clearing where the entire group sprawled out without any thought to formation or protection.Some had guns strapped to their backs; others held the guns loosely in their hands, unprepared to shoot at any sound or movement.
Xander soon moved into position and had eyes on them.He spotted an older man with short cropped, dark hair sprinkled with gray as he turned toward the small figure Gunnar spoke about.
“What animals made those tracks?”
Xander rolled his eyes.The snow was too deep for any definitive answer.It could have been anything from a bear to a fucking moose.He paused to hear the answer, but the mumble that came did nothing to clarify who the person was with these armed men.But something clicked and it made perfect sense.
I think they are looking for us.They have magazines clipped to their belts, handguns within easy reach, and knives for hand-to-hand combat.They are looking for animal tracks, and they are way too fucking close to where Reaper, Kai, Seth, and I have houses.There’s nothing else up here that they could be searching for.
Xander froze when he heard a feminine voice carry over to him.She sounded closer than she had been even a few moments before.He should have sensed her coming closer.But the only question on his mind was why the fuck she was tagging along with a group of mercenaries.He heard the voice again, a tinny version of her voice, and for a long moment he couldn’t understand the words.Until she stepped forward.
No, no.Not that way.Not that way.
Something warmed his chest as he heard her in his head as clearly as if they were speaking aloud.A familiarity washed over him and he felt connected to this woman in an elemental way.A feeling of a peace settled over him.He knew this was the first time he’d ever heard her voice.He was so stunned and happy that he didn’t even question how they were able to mind link.
Can either of you hear the woman’s thoughts?
Woman?Gunnar sounded confused.
Kane’s reply was quick and clipped.No.
Hello?
Hello?
