C arlos stood on the back porch of the house savoring the victory, knowing that Yonnie would soon slide out of the shadows next to him. He didn't even turn his head as his friend sidled up to him and slapped Yonnie five without looking at him.
"Absolutely beautiful," Yonnie murmured with appreciation.
"Sweet," Carlos said, staring at the moon with a half-smile.
"All pro," Yonnie said with a low chuckle. "Now who's your daddy?"
Both men laughed and nodded, still not glancing at each other. Tara's graceful presence only caused them a mild start.
"What are you two out here scheming up now?" she asked, her arms folded and her expression containing a scowl.
"Baby, what?" Yonnie said, appearing completely innocent. "We ain't doing nothing. Why you always so suspicious?"
"Because I know you two," she replied, unfazed.
"C'mon now, Tara, don't be like that," Carlos said in an upbeat tone. "Me and Yonnie were just working out logistics for the road."
"Yeah, okay," she said sarcastically. "Then why do you have a sound block around the house that not even the big audio sensor can hear through?"
Yonnie looked at Carlos,and Carlos looked at Yonnie. A rapid mental connection bound them. That you, man?
Naw, man, you throw that down?
Aw, shit.
Right.
"Tara, baby, go in the house," Yonnie said, glancing at her briefly. His tone was polite but also told her the request was nonnegotiable. She withdrew slowly, but kept her gaze fastened on both Carlos and Yonnie. "Then... I'll just help with the list of items the team will need to transport and have at the ready once in La Paz."
Yonnie glimpsed Carlos, noting the way the muscle in his friend's jaw was working. "Thanks, baby."
Both men waited until Tara was out of earshot and her svelte form had disappeared into the house.
"All right," Yonnie said. "I'ma say this once. Be cool, and hold the line. He's on the defensive. Keep it that way, no matter what you hear. Otherwise, you'll undo all the ground you just gained."
Carlos didn't answer, but kept his mind sweeping the landscape and his gaze affixed to the moon.
Suddenly Yonnie and Carlos looked at each other at the same time. The bleating, feminine, SOS message pierced their minds at vamp decibel carried on a coven frequency, but the collision of female voices was unfamiliar.
Yonnie outstretched his hands, sending a black, swirling tornado away from his body as Carlos covered them both with a Neteru shield. Neither men spoke as Guardians rushed through the house, following Mike and Tara, who had both heard the dark turbine whine. Weapons were poised and Marlene was immediately covered by Shabazz. The team fell into formation taking cover and waiting to see what Yonnie's transport net had dragged in. Yells for Damali and Cain got sucked into eerie silence, confirming what both Yonnie and Carlos already knew--Cain was blocking interference.
Torn, Carlos remained steadfast. The team needed his shield, yet Damali might be in danger. He just had to pray that Cain hadn't lost his mind, even though he knew by now that Damali could battle her way out of Hell, if necessary. Everyone stood back as two hooded entities fell to their knees in the dirt before Yonnie.
"Smoke 'em," Shabazz said.
Mike lowered a shoulder cannon loaded with an RPG hallowed-earth shell. One of the hooded beings looked up, her small, frightened face nearly ashen as she stared at Mike's cannon.
"Hold your fire!" Bobby shouted.
Dodging the edge of the Neteru shield and past Big Mike's huge hand when the older Guardian attempted to flat palm his chest, the agile smaller Guardian jumped down the steps and ran toward the two women.
"Bobby, no!" Marjorie shrieked.
Berkfield was down the steps running after Bobby. "Son, no!"
Dan was on Bobby's heels, Glock raised, as the younger Guardian crossed the twenty-five-foot distance in an all-out sprint.
Before Dan could fire to cover his man, Bobby had swept up the hooded female and had her squarely behind him. "It's Jasmine! Hold your fire!"