Sea Haven 02 - Spirit Bound

dripping with sarcasm.
    Several porch lights went on along the street. Stefan needed to keep Ivanov focused on him and away from his brother and any innocents. It didn’t help that any minute some civilian would unknowingly enter into the killer’s path. He counted to three, pushed himself up and sprinted for the count of fifteen and dropped, rolled and scooted forward on his belly, using elbows and toes to propel his body behind a screen of rocks and fern.
    Bullets spat dirt into his face and ricocheted off the rocks closest to him. He was grateful Ivanov had always been a close range killer and rarely used a gun for the actual kill. He preferred blades, in close, where he could see his victim suffer. That said, an automatic machine gun definitely was up to the job if Stefan allowed himself to grow careless.
    What the hell are you doing, Stefan?
    Keeping him away from you. What the hell do you think I’m doing? Stefan snapped.
    He was running out of garden cover on his side of the street. Few cars were parked and his only choices were to go up, onto the rooftops, or risk crossing the street. Neither was a great idea, but he had to keep Ivanov focused on him. Reluctantly he pulled his gun from the harness, the butt familiar in his palm. He didn’t want to risk stray bullets going into a house, but damn it all, he had to get the upper hand here soon with Ivanov.
    I don’t hear return fire, Lev said.
    I don’t fire unless I can hit what I’m aiming at and I don’t have the bastard in my sights. I’ll get him, Stefan said, pouring confidence into his voice. Right now, I want to work into a position where he’ll keep his focus on me, and yet not have a clear shot while I get that trap off your ankle.
    Calf, Lev corrected . It’s locked on my calf. The son of a bitch probably knew we’d be wearing boots. We interrupted his kill. Someone’s bound to call the sheriff. This time of night, Jonas and Aleksandr will answer the call. Aleksandr is going to recognize a killing ground. And my wife is on the warpath. She won’t stay put, Stefan. She’s going to come running.
    Stefan didn’t like the note of pain creeping into Lev’s voice. Men like his brother never showed pain unless it was bad. He was hurt. Really hurt. If Stefan could feel his brother’s pain, no doubt his wife could as well. He didn’t know her yet, but any woman who was a match for his brother had to be strong. She was a sea urchin diver, captaining a boat out on the sea. She had to be fearless.
    I’ll get to you. Hold still and give me a couple of minutes.
    Lev sighed. Easier said than done.
    Stefan listened intently. Ivanov wasn’t making a sound, careful not to reveal his location, but the shots had been angled from his left. Lev was in that direction as well, somewhere behind Ivanov. Stefan didn’t want to give Ivanov the chance to circle back toward Lev and catch him while he was trapped. He had no doubt Lev could put up a fight, but the more he moved, the more the trap would saw at his leg.
    Describe the trap in detail. Stefan couldn’t be wrong. It was possible he could open the device from a distance, but he’d need some breathing room. The thought of Lev’s wife rushing to Sea Haven was disconcerting with Ivanov on the loose and in a killing mood.
    It looks like an old bear trap only taller with giant claws. It’s around my calf and I can’t open it. I’m a strong man, but he’s done something to it and it’s sawing at my leg every time I move or try to open it. There are chains buried along the ground radiating in several different directions. At least five of them.
    Lev’s description confirmed to Stefan that he’d studied this particular type of trap in detail. Clever bastard. I’ve seen those traps. He killed a boy with one before. You watch for him, Lev. I’ll need a minute. Once I free you, be very careful. Those chains means he’ll have at least five more hidden close so that if you step out of one, you can get caught by the next. He called it his little minefield of hell.
    And Sorbacov encouraged and protected this sadist?
    As long as Lev was talking to him, Stefan knew he was alive. He leapt up, deliberately giving Ivanov a target, determined the killer wouldn’t have time to slip away and go after Lev. Stefan needed time to remember every detail of Ivanov’s steel trap. He’d modified the device long ago, and, of course, Stefan studied its workings carefully once he’d run across it. He’d studied