Page 7 of Halloween in Sleepy Hollow (Heroes of Sleepy Hollow #7)

Rylan, Kane, and Ian join our small group, and we close into a small circle. Quietly, Oliver says, “Ben and Cash need weapons. They’re both good.”

Cole glances at Rylan. Seconds later, Rylan hands a gun to me, and then to Cash. “They’re Sig P365s,” he murmurs. “Should be easy to use.”

I nod at him. “Thanks.”

“Okay.” Oliver casts his gaze around us. “We move in through the back. I checked the door already. It’s unlocked. Which, along with the light, makes me think someone’s in there. Then we check the vault first.”

“It’s in the far northwest corner,” Cash says. As everyone’s attention turns to him, he explains, “My parents had one here. I had to clear everything out when the bank closed.”

Cole nods. “Alright. So the northwest corner it is.” He raises his hand in a hold gesture. Then he drops his hand and we fall into single file as we head to the door.

As I walk into the bank, my adrenaline surges.

But I’m no good to Thea if I let my emotions influence my actions. So I shove everything down—the fear, the anger, the desperation—and channel all my focus on the mission at hand.

Because that’s what this is. A mission. To rescue Thea and her friends.

The first few minutes inside the bank are almost anticlimactic.

It’s just echoing hallways and empty rooms and motes of dust that catch the light from the tiny Mag-lite Cole keeps aimed at the floor.

We move cautiously through the hallways, our footsteps soft and silent, communicating through hand gestures and shared looks rather than spoken words.

Finally, we reach the hallway that Cash indicates leads to the vault.

The overhead light isn’t on, but a small handheld lantern is set on the floor—another promising clue that we’re moving in the right direction.

Cash glances over his shoulder to meet my gaze. He doesn’t have to say what he’s thinking.

Someone’s here.

At the end of the hallway, a metal door gleams dully. It’s shut, effectively stifling any sound that might come from behind it. So we can’t know for certain if anyone’s in there.

But a bone-deep certainty tells me there is. And that it’s the man we saw on the video footage.

There could be a dozen other explanations for what we’re seeing.

Equipment left behind by a careless contractor.

Teenagers sneaking off together, thinking the abandoned bank would be the perfect spot for a secret rendezvous.

It could even be someone trying to find shelter for the night, now that the evenings are dipping into the thirties .

I don’t think so, though.

I think he’s in there.

And I think—hope—Thea’s in there, too.

Alive. Unhurt. Waiting for me to find her.

The alternative is unthinkable.

Maybe fifteen feet from the door, Cole holds his hand up in a gesture to stop. He waves all of us over to him, so we’re clustered in a small huddle. In a low, almost inaudible tone, he says, “Once we enter the room, things could move quickly. So let’s go over the plan now.”

We all nod silently in agreement.

“Okay,” he continues, “I’ll take point. Oliver, follow right behind me, Then Kane, Ian, Ben, and Cash.

Ry, you’ll come in last. Once we move in, we need to identify the tangos quickly.

If there’s only one, Oliver and I will neutralize him.

Two or more, Kane, Ian, and Rylan will tag team them.

Assuming the women are in there, Cash and Ben, your priority is protecting them.

Get them into a corner, if possible. Is everyone good with that? ”

“Roger,” Rylan replies quietly.

“On it,” Kane and Oliver echo in unison.

Ian glances at me and Cash. He gives each of us a brief nod. “I’m good,” he says.

“Ready,” I reply.

“Ready,” Cash murmurs. “Let’s do this.”

Cole jerks his chin. “Okay. On my signal, we’ll move in. If I can get the door open without drawing attention, I’ll do a visual sweep of the room before entering.”

Then he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. His shoulders set.

My fingers tighten around the gun Rylan gave me. Though I haven’t gone to the shooting range in close to a year, the feel of the weapon in my hand is familiar. Reassuring.

Cole moves forward, with the rest of us trailing a few feet behind him. Once he reaches the vault door, he stops. Places his hand on the door handle.

After a pause that seems to last an eternity, he starts to open the door.

At first, my heart is pounding so hard I can’t hear anything over it.

But as the door cracks open a few inches, an agitated male voice floats towards us.

“I need four women for the ritual,” he says with an edge to his tone. “Not seven. If I have seven here, I don’t think it’ll work. And all my effort will be for nothing. I’ll have to try again next year, and I can’t wait until then.”

“Why?” Ari asks. “Why four? And why now?”

From behind me, Cash’s breath releases in a soft gust.

Ari’s alive.

Hope flares bright.

If Ari’s alive, does that mean Thea…

It’s torture not rushing in there to find out.

Cole freezes in place, his gaze locked on something inside the room.

Meanwhile, the man inside continues speaking.

“Fine,” he huffs. “I’ll tell you. I guess it doesn’t matter if I keep a secret from you, since you’ll be dead soon anyway.”

My heart actually stops.

Cole lifts his hand, holding one finger up.

One man inside.

Then he closes his hand into a fist before raising three fingers, followed by a thumbs up .

My heart starts beating again.

Thea’s in there. She’s alive.

“I read about it in a book I found in the library,” the man continues. “An old one in the local history section. About the Headless Horseman. And—” He pauses. “How to summon him.”

“What?” Thea gasps. “Summon the Headless Horseman?”

“Yeah. According to the ritual, anyone who successfully summons him will be granted supernatural powers, just like the Horseman. Super strength and speed, enhanced healing, even invisibility.”

“But why?” Ari asks.

He barks out a sharp laugh. “Are you kidding me? Have you looked at me? The guys at the store make fun of me all the time.” His voice takes on a mocking tone.

“Any kids beat you up lately, Randy? Maybe you should try going to the gym, Randy. Then women might actually look at you. It’s all the time.

And they’re right. I’m nothing like this.

But with the Horseman’s powers… I can show them all. ”

“And the ritual?” Ari asks. “How does that work?”

I know what she’s doing. She’s trying to keep him talking until help arrives.

“It requires four women,” the man—no, Randy—replies.

“One for each element.” A soft shuffling follows, then the faint sound of a lighter being struck.

“Fire. Water. Earth. Air. If I make a sacrifice to all four before Halloween is over, it’s supposed to summon the Headless Horseman.

And then he’ll share his powers with me. ”

Cole raises his hand again, this time gesturing to follow .

It’s time.

Then he shoves the door the rest of the way open and races inside, shouting, “Drop the gun! Now! Drop it! Drop it!”

The man screeches, “No! No! You’re ruining it!”

Oliver barks, “Drop your weapon! Drop it or I’ll shoot!”

As I rush into the vault, everything seems to shift into slow motion.

Cole and Oliver both converge on the man, their weapons trained on him as they command him to put his hands in the air.

Thea’s head turns towards me. Relief washes across her face. She blurts, “Ben!”

My gaze sweeps over her, cataloging every detail. The tear stains on her cheeks. Her rumpled hair. The smudges of dirt on her costume. Her hands?—

Shit.

That asshole .

He tied her up.

He tied up my wife . Held her hostage. Terrified her. Traumatized her.

“Cash!” Ari calls out. “I’m okay!”

Shea bursts into tears.

“I’ll help the other ones,” Kane says. He heads to the opposite side of the room, where four more women are tied up.

The four sacrifices, I assume.

That asshole .

A flicker of a thought races through my mind.

Make him pay for what he’s done.

But then I shove the idea aside as I move towards someone so much more important.

As I run towards Thea, time speeds up again.

Desperation beats at me, urging me forward.

And then.

I pull Thea into my arms.

She sags against me, burying her face in my neck.

“Ben,” she breathes, “I knew you’d come.”

Tears burn behind my eyes. My throat goes thick. “Oh, sweetheart.”

I’m dimly aware of the chaos surrounding me. Of Randy whining about how we ruined everything. Of Oliver reading him his rights. Of the loud sobs from the other four women once their gags are removed.

Of Kane telling Oliver, “I’ve got this. Go to Shea.”

And then Oliver’s voice cracking as he tells Shea, “Fuck, I was so scared . Are you sure you’re okay?”

But I can’t focus on anything aside from the woman in my embrace.

Rylan comes up behind her and says quietly, “I’m just cutting through the zip ties. You’ll be free in a second.”

My molars nearly shatter with rage.

Zip ties. He used zip ties on my wife’s delicate skin.

Once Thea’s free, she flings her arms around my neck. Then her mouth crashes against mine. She kisses me desperately. Passionately.

I taste salt, but I’m not sure if they’re from her tears or mine.

“Backup’s on the way,” Kane announces. “And this piece of shit is under arrest.”

When we finally break apart, Thea looks at me with pink-rimmed eyes. “Elias. Is he okay? ”

I stroke her curls away from her face. “He’s fine. Grant and Scarlett have him.”

“And Laila? Did she call? I was worried?—”

“She’s still at the party.”

Thea stares at me for a few seconds. Then her face crumples. “I want to go home. With our babies. Can we go home?”

Now I know the tears are mine.

“Yeah, sweetheart.” I kiss her again. “We can go home.”