Nagid's team moved as one through the forest spaced a few feet apart, weapons raised, and they kept pushing the hit men toward the house. The skirmishes had suddenly ended on their arrival, and the protection force was relieved of their duties to attend to the wounded.

  Nagid's head rose above his weapon as a new shout rose. The sound of automatic gunfire made everyone pause, enquiring looks sent in Nagid's direction. He activated an open comms between the teams and scanned the area.

  "That is the same gunfire we heard before," he whispered, his eyes never still, "head's on a swivel and look for any indication if this is friendly assistance."

  "Do you think it could be the Death Dealers?" the question was whispered in his ear.

  "Possibly, but we cannot assume anything," Nagid answered, "move forward."

  The line began moving stealthily forward until they reached the back of the house. Nagid called a halt; using hand signals, he indicated two men to follow him down the side, moving in a single file toward the front. The smell of death slammed into their sense's like a freight train.

  What had been happening here?

  Reaching the porch, Nagid took in the scattered still bodies; how many people had done this.

  "I take it our Death Dealers are somewhere in that pile," one of the men whispered, "but if so, where?"

  Nagid's eyes found the two flowers on the top step and smiled, "No, I don't think their bodies are anywhere in those piles."

  Silently, he pointed toward the flowers, and the questioning frowns from the men brought a chuckle, "One flower is a message from Death Dealer to Death Dealer. Two flowers is a message to the rest of the military back up," he traced a line toward the door, "that was the gunfire we heard, and we're not going any further ..." he sighed, "... it's on motion control, so we're going to go around."

  Nodding, the men began to back up and return to their team; they would scoop up anyone trying to get away from this massacre.

  Returning to the waiting, vigilant team, Nagid explained what was happening and which direction they would take. Splitting into two groups, the team circled out toward the surrounding forest. Each team silently moves through the surrounding forest, ready to encounter anyone not permitted on the land who intends to come against those protecting it and the people living there.

  Bevis slowly pulled herself from underneath the porch and crawled to the side of the house, ensuring she did not have the weapon following her. She had seen the pairs of boots on the side of the house from her hiding place and breathed a sigh of relief when they had retreated. It could only have been Nagid and his team; perhaps they were going somewhere else or working their way through the forest for anyone else who had escaped. It seemed too easy to her; this could not be everyone, and if so, why did she feel this was not the end?

  Jonaraja dropped next to her, scanning the area before looking at the front of the house, grimacing at the stench and mess.

  "There is movement in the trees," she whispered, nodding upward, "if we're supposed to protect the occupants in this place, we may need to get inside."

  "Agreed," Bevis whispered, "there is only the front door. If we move now, will we be in the line of treetop fire?"

  "Of course, we will," Jonaraja said, chuckling, "why do you think I'm down here? Who are these people that this is coming to their door on protected land?"

  "One worked with the protectors to get persecuted people to safety, and the other is from the family this madness is coming from," Bevis said, "both are extremely special to me in different ways."

  "Then let's get inside and protect these people," Jonaraja muttered, pulling her weapon from her side holster, "you deal with whatever you need to, and I'll deal with the incoming fire."

  "Do not go top side again," Bevis whispered, "while I was under the house, I made a way in behind the screen."

  "Huh, that is clever," Jonaraja muttered, "why?"

  "I don't want to give away that the gun is there," Bevis whispered, "come on."

  Crawling under the house, the women carefully lifted the floorboards, pulling themselves up into the living area of the cabin.

  "Well, well, well," the words had them pausing before putting the floorboards back and turning to find the barrel of a shotgun staring at them.

  Slowly raising her hands to the side and nudging her mother to do the same, Bevis reached for her black balaclava they had worn during their defence. Sucking in fresh air and shaking her head to loosen her sweating hair from her head and sides of her face.

  "We come in peace," she said softly, "friendlies ... protectors of this cabin and occupants."

  Jonaraja followed her actions and nodded slowly in agreement.

  "Why didn't you just come through the front door?" The barrel rose from the floor, revealing Angie's healing face as she slowly rose from the underground room.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  "We could have, but then I'd have to shut off and dismantle the machine gun guarding the door," Bevis said, "we thought this would be easier to do and still keep that part of it a secret."

  "Bev," Caroline called, her head popping up behind Angie, "why are you dressed like that? Who is this?"

  "This is my mother, Jonaraja," Bevis said, nodding at the surprised expression, "yes the one that is supposed to be dead ... my father is alive as well," Bevis said, shaking her head, "it's a long story for another time, but you don't know one thing about me is I'm from a line of death dealers."

  "Is that some kind of Assasin?" Angie asked.

  "Sort of, more like evil people hunters," Bevis said, "the old type ..." she indicated her mother, "... kill on order and don't ask questions and the new type ..." she pointed to herself, "... think for themselves and terminate with discretion."

  "Then why is she not killing us?" Angie asked, nodding toward Jonaraja.

  "Due to being under my ... command," Bevis said, "we are not here to kill you but protect you."

  "From what?" Caroline asked, "We heard a lot of gunfire, but we don't know what it's for."

  "There are people who got through when the refugees came through, and they are tasked with ..." Jonaraja sighed, "... well ..." she cleared her throat, "... hunting both of you and terminating you."

  "And you're here to ...what? Stop them?" Angie asked.

  "Yes," Bevis said, "it's our job and debt."

  "Job, how?" Caroline asked.

  "They are targets which have not been eliminated yet," Jonaraja said, "our ... company has them down for atrocities and crimes which have made them necessary to eliminate."

  "War crimes ..." Caroline whispered, "... oh my ... you're from the eight two double zero."

  Bevis and Jonaraja remained silent, watching the two women look at each other for a long time before Angie lowered the shotgun and sighed.

  "Why are you stepping out of your brief to protect us?"

  "Our company has been working with the protectors for decades, and we not only have people living here, but we owe the protecting family a debt," Bevis said, "one that we are only now beginning to repay with what little help we can offer on this day."

  "What is she talking about?" Angie asked, turning to find Caroline staring blankly at the two women.

  "We're safe, Angie," Caroline whispered, "use that gun on anyone who is not protecting us."

  Jonaraja suddenly ducked low and moved to the window next to the front door; slowly, she looked out at the world outside.

  "We have company," she said, glancing at Bevis, her expression solemn, "we're outnumbered and outgunned."

  "Is that room down there just a room, or does it have a secret of escape?" Bevis asked.

  "Oh, it has a secret of escape, which comes out in two clearings over," Caroline said, "why?"

  "Our primary goal is to protect you, and secondary is to take out anyone who tries to stop us," Bevis said, "let's move ..." she paused, "... I smell ... gunpowder."

  "They have a launcher," Jonaraja said, "we need to move now."

  "Are there any other weapons here?" Bevis asked.

  Caroline appeared with a black gym bag, "Already way ahead of you ....," she said, waving Angie into the basement, "... go ... I need to lock it."

  Quickly, the women followed Angie into the darkness as Caroline lowered the trap door, and a slight buzzing of the iris scanner could be heard. A loud clack came to their ears before lights automatically lit, and they found themselves in a space that could house many people for months.

  "Impressive," Bevis said, looking around, "but we need to move ..." she paused as the sound of the machine gun could be heard, "... now."

  Following Caroline and Angie toward a wall that looked like concrete, Bevis and Jonaraja glanced at each other, wondering how they were to leave this place. Caroline pressed her hand into the wall, holding it there momentarily before the wall parted, and a wide tunnel could be seen.

  "Go in," Caroline said, "my hand is all that is keeping it open. I'll have seconds to move through when I let go."

  Quickly, the women gathered the supplies Angie was packing and moved into the tunnel; lights started coming on as they moved further in. Angie paused, waiting for Caroline, who scurried behind them, heaving the weapons bag with her. Leaning against the tunnel wall, she steadied her breathing as an explosion rocked the ground around them.

  "How secure are we?" Bevis whispered.

  "This is part of a fall-out bunker that was built decades ago," Caroline said, "it's been through more explosions and groundbreakings than you can imagine ..." she chuckled, "... we're okay. But let's get moving."

  "Do we follow the tunnel?" Jonaraja asked.

  "Yep, it is curvy, but there are no deviations to consider," Caroline said, hefting the bag over her shoulder and moving forward. "We need to move now... they'll soon realise we're not there."

  Moving as one, the women started forward away from whatever chaos was happening above ground.

  Nagid watched the cabin burning and swallowed hard; a feeling of dread and panic rose, almost choking him. They had been engaging the attackers in the treetop when the whistle of the launcher was heard. Although no one was left to terminate in the immediate area, the explosion was a surprise. Now, there was a massive possibility that the death dealers and their protectees were dead. He could only pray it wasn't so ... and his job.

  "Please don't be inside," he whispered as the lands protection team appeared suddenly, working to douse the flames before they spread, "huh ... they have this wired tight."

  Opening his comms, he sighed before speaking, "The flames are being dealt with, heads on a swivel for anyone who may think it's a good thing to eliminate the protection team."

  Several acknowledgements were heard, and the team began to patrol. It may be hours or minutes before the flames come under control. Until then, Nagid couldn't move. A sudden scramble to the left of him drew his attention as a small force rose out of the forest, firing in their direction. Quickly, those nearby turned their weapons toward them and dealt with the threat while he scanned the area for anyone wishing to ambush them. It was all over as quickly as it began. The men promptly searched them, gathering around one of the men who had pulled something from a pocket. They turned toward him in unison, worry in every expression.

  "What?" he asked.

  "They have an additional target, sir," one of his men said.

  "Additional?" he frowned; why would they do that? It didn't make sense, "Who?"

  "The Death Dealers ... and you," another team member said, handing him the photos, "we're looking at their satellite phones, and we found two new calls within the last half hour."

  "Get the info to the team here on this land and find out who that number belongs to," Nagid said, "there is someone else pulling the strings now ... and we're going to find out who."