Kindred Spirit - Noah Harris Page 0,38

silent communication through thoughts or just through facial expressions. The former sounded likely, but if it was the latter, that meant whatever Levi was in contact with was something the man knew very well.

They stood in silence, with Levi frowning heavily at Jacob as they waited. It only took another minute before Levi’s shoulders tensed, his jaw setting.

“Four left outside, six coming in. Armed to the teeth. Guess they have bigger guns now,” Levi told him.

“That...is about what I figured,” Jacob said grimly.

“Fucking hell, I know these guys are nuts, but where are they getting all this firepower? Do churches even believe in guns?”

Jacob snorted. “I don’t think there’s a church around today that would give these guys the okay, let alone think they should be armed. 2218 has been active for years, and there’s quite a few private backers giving them their edge. They’re more like a paramilitary religious group than just a cult.”

“A well-armed group of religious nuts who want me dead.”

“That’s not happening.”

Levi opened his mouth, froze, and his eyes widened. “They’re coming in.”

“Window,” Jacob ordered.

Levi followed him. “What’s the plan?”

Jacob stared at the open window, counting in his head. “I’ll go out first, you follow right after. Run ahead of me, straight along the side of the house, and head for the woods out back. You got it?”

For a moment, it looked as though Levi might argue. Jacob was spared having to use his logic when he heard the front door kicked in for the second time. Grunting, he shoved himself through the window, going feet first and using the upper frame to support his weight. He slid down to the cool grass, turning to scan the area around them.

It was far too dark to see much, especially with the clouds slipping across the moon. He turned to help Levi through the window when the first shot rang out from somewhere in the dark. Levi yelped, and Jacob took hold of him and yanked him out the window. Levi hit the ground, stumbling but catching himself before standing upright.

More shots rang out, and Jacob recognized another shooter joining the fray. He pushed Levi toward the woods, barking at him to go. They sprinted along the side of the house, bursting into the open space at the back of the lot. More shots followed them, and Jacob winced as the ground next to where his foot landed exploded from the impact. He stayed behind Levi, though, making sure he was between Levi and the gunmen as they booked it for the trees.

Shouts rang out, and with a glance over his shoulder, he saw lights being switched on in the house. The light in the bedroom never came on, but the whole night was lit with a sudden blaze of illumination as the broken bulb’s filament sparked, igniting the gas. A wave of air slammed into them just as Levi reached the tree line.

Pain broke, flaring in a white-hot spot on Jacob’s leg, sending him stumbling. He caught himself on a tree, hissing as he tried to hold himself up. The fire billowing up from the house was enough illumination for him to see the jagged piece of metal sticking out of the back of his leg. A going-away present from Levi’s house and Jacob’s own trap.

“Of fucking course,” Jacob muttered.

“Jacob, what’re...shit,” Levi hissed.

Jacob tried to move around the tree to see Levi. He spotted a figure hobbling toward Levi from between the trees. Jacob couldn’t see the person’s face, but he sure could see the large weapon he held out, pointed directly at Levi. Cursing inwardly, Jacob scrambled for the gun in the waist of his jeans.

Levi’s eyes widened. “Oh, God, did you mess up.”

Confusion flit across the stranger’s face and Jacob couldn’t blame him. He was feeling much the same until he felt that same something shoot past him. It wasn’t quite like feeling a gust of wind, though it was the closest thing he could liken it to. Or, it had just been like a gust of wind when he’d felt it the first time. This time, it felt like someone had shoved a hurricane into a small space and let it loose.

The 2218 member’s gun flew through the air, and so did he. The man rocketed back with a strangled cry that Jacob thought might have been an attempt at a prayer. Whatever it was, the man was never allowed to finish it. He wheeled through the air, horizontal as he was brutally slammed