Page 3 of Capture of Capricorn (The Thirteenth Zodiac #3)

“Me neither, until I started researching, and oddly enough, my information didn’t come from Tower’s library, but the internet.”

The revelation brought a frown. “Since when doesn’t Tower have the deets on something with historical basis?”

Aquarius shrugged. “Dunno. Kind of weird, right? But then again, given how that thirteenth dais in the portal room was blank until we started finding the artifacts, I am thinking the thirteenth Zodiac must have been wiped.”

“For a reason, one would suppose.” Capricorn pursed his lips. “Do you think his return is what will cause the world grief?”

“What did Sage say?”

“Nothing. I mean, she did say this mission was do or die for everyone. I have a hard time believing a Zodiac Warrior would turn to evil. We were chosen specifically because we’re heroes.”

“Anti-heroes,” Aquarius corrected. “Supposedly the true ones don’t kill.”

“Which is dumb,” Capricorn retorted. “Defeated bad guys don’t suddenly become good. If you don’t end them, then they’ll just start their shit again.”

“Agreed. Preaching to the choir, bro. I’m just saying there’s a fine line between the anti-hero and villain. I mean, look at Leo. He was borderline for a while there. I know Aries was watching him close to make sure he didn’t end up on the dark side.”

“Leo’s too noble to ever do anything that would merit discipline.”

“All it takes is the right push.”

“Well, the man is right as rain now that he’s got his kid back and his hot doctor girlfriend.

” Lucky bastard. Capricorn would admit to being a bit jealous seeing all the happy couples.

Aries and Sage had been together forever, but the recent hookups of Leo and Sagittarius with some chicks had him wondering if he’d ever find the right gal to settle down with. Hopefully one with a juicy booty.

“Still can’t believe Leo’s ex-wife fucked him over like that.”

Capricorn could. He’d seen the calculating look in Kylie’s eye the first time Leo brought her to Tower.

The Tower of Babylon held untold riches and could do literal magic.

He was sure more than a few outsiders brought here by circumstance had wondered how to exploit it.

In Kylie’s case, it turned out she used Leo to birth a kid.

A kid who ended up with powers like Sage.

A child used by her own mother to try to bring the Zodiacs down.

Only, in the end, Kylie’s plot failed because her daughter—Olivia—caught on and managed to orchestrate her own rescue.

The reminder of what Olivia could do had Capricorn dropping by Leo’s place for a quick visit. The big man answered the door wearing the little girl on his shoulders.

“Wassup?” Leo asked, letting Capricorn in.

“Just getting ready to go on a mission.”

“He wants me to tell him he doesn’t have to be captured,” the sweet—and much too perceptive—Olivia stated.

“Is there another way?” he asked, much too hopefully.

“No.” Olivia cocked her head. “It won’t be so bad, Uncle Corn. Zora’s going to be there too.”

“Who’s Zora?”

“You’ll see,” the child sang.

“Did you just come to grill my kid?” Leo growled.

“I was hoping for a second opinion, yes.” Capricorn sighed. “Guess I’m off to be captured.”

“Don’t worry, bro, if you get stuck, I’ll come rescue you.”

Capricorn’s lips twisted. “And never let me forget it.”

He left with Leo’s booming laughter following.

There seemed little point in packing much, seeing how he’d have it confiscated soon as he turned himself over.

Capricorn just grabbed a few basics before he portalled out to the West Coast and rented a motorcycle for the drive to Nevada.

Nicer than starbeaming, if he was going to be honest, the biggest downfall being the long drive gave him time to think about what might happen.

Would those guarding Area 51 shoot him on sight? A possibility.

Did his capture entail getting stuffed into a cage and having parts of his body trimmed off? That would really suck.

What about being forced to run on a treadmill like a hamster? They’d get bored before he got tired.

Subjected to electroshock therapy? No big deal. He’d once grabbed a whipping live wire to prevent it from electrocuting a bunch of people.

The absolute worst thing they could do to Capricorn, other than killing him of course, would be to have him fail his mission. He’d hate to end his winning streak.

Once he reached Rachel, Nevada, the town closest to Area 51, he stopped in at a trailer modified to appear like a flying space saucer.

Edge of the Galaxy Curios and Gadgets, a store catering to certain types, not that Capricorn paid much mind to the posters and alien plushies.

He browsed the rack of T-shirts in search of the perfect one.

He swapped into his newly purchased “I Believe shirt” before finishing his trip, driving right up to the entrance of Area 51. A pair of soldiers, holding guns, emerged from a shack.

Capricorn parked his bike and got off it, using a slow saunter to approach the men, one of whom barked, “Turn around, sir. This is a restricted area.”

“I’m pretty sure your bosses inside will want to see me. Name is Capricorn.”

“Sir, you need to get back on that bike and leave, now, before we’re forced to take you into custody.” The man with a stripe on his arm pointed up the road.

Capricorn held out his hands. “Go ahead. Arrest me.”

“Fuck off. We ain’t got time for this,” snapped the soldier with the patchy mustache.

Capricorn glanced around. “Yeah, I can see you’re real busy guarding against the invisible horde storming this place.”

“It’s like you’re cruising for a bruising,” snarled Patchy.

“Go ahead and hit me, but I warn you, no crying when you hurt your hand. Leo says I’ve got a jaw of stone.” Which Capricorn considered to be the highest compliment.

“You’re starting to piss me off.” Patchy bristled and lifted the barrel of his weapon, leading to his partner putting a hand on his arm.

“You can’t be shooting civilians.”

“Then why give us a gun?” Patchy argued.

“Hello, still here, waiting for you to arrest me,” Capricorn interrupted. “I promise, your boss will be happy you brought me in.”

“We don’t arrest folk. We send them on their way,” explained the calmer soldier.

Beep . Beep . The walkie at Patchy’s waist went off, and he held it up, clicking the button to mutter, “This is Exit One. Copy.”

“Bring that man to Zone 3,” said a crackling male voice.

“Looks like you’re getting your wish,” the nice soldier said. “If you’d give us your hands.”

“Ooh, you’re going to cuff me. Now we’re talking.” Capricorn held out his wrists and fought to not move as they placed the zip ties around them. This felt so wrong. Willingly submitting to capture.

But the embarrassment of it didn’t kill his humor. On the contrary, he had the biggest shit-eating grin as he said, “Take me to your leader.”