Chapter 17 #3
“I agree,” Darwin said, pulling out his cell phone and sending a group text to Simon, Lennox, and the other guys, letting them know what was going on.
“But if we find Chapman, we’ll need to keep him occupied until my Teammates arrive.
If we time it right, we might be able to take him down ourselves. ”
Jameson didn’t seem too happy with that plan, but nodded.
Darwin took Katrina’s hand, leading her toward the door of the conference room, when he heard a soft cracking sound. Instinct took over, and he pushed her to the floor, shielding her with his body.
“Everyone down!” he yelled, even as glass rained onto the hardwood floor around them.
Pushing himself up just enough to get a grip on the edge of the table, Darwin shoved it over onto its side, then urged Katrina behind it before popping his head up to see what the hell was happening.
Every window along the far wall had been shattered, and outside, he caught a blur of movement in the darkness. Well, it appeared that the drone was here. He guessed that meant Chapman had decided to end negotiations.
Silas lay on the floor, a bullet hole in his head.
Jameson was scrambling for cover, splattered with the man’s blood.
More bullets slammed into the floor and the top of the table, clearly aimed at Jameson and Rhett, while completely ignoring Asher and Upton, who were both scrambling for cover.
The edge of the table suddenly blew apart, peppering Darwin with splinters, and he ducked for cover with a curse.
He’d assumed the drone had been ordered to kill Silas, Jameson, and Rhett since Chapman had known they were in the conference room with Seth.
But clearly, the drone still had a hard-on for Darwin from when it targeted him on San Nicolas Island.
That was going to make things even more dicey.
Shit.
“Jameson! Rhett!” Darwin shouted as more bullets slammed into the table. “The drone is targeting the three of us. We need to draw its attention away from everyone else, so they don’t get hit in the crossfire.”
“Can’t we all stay hidden in here until the drone runs out of bullets or the batteries die?” Upton asked from where he was huddled on the floor behind the table. “Or call the cops, at least.”
“The drone carries three-hundred-fifty rounds of ammo,” Seth called out over the sound of bullets impacting the table. “And the batteries will last far longer than we will. As far as the cops, if Genesis deems they’re in the way, it will kill them before they even know it’s there.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when more bullets smacked into what was left of the window frames, knocking chunks of metal everywhere. The barely perceptible hum from the drone’s rotors was louder now.
Genesis was getting closer.
“That drone is going to be in this room with us in a few minutes, and then this table isn’t going to protect us anymore,” Darwin said. “We need to go!”
With help from Asher, Rhett, and Upton, Darwin pushed the conference table across the room, using it as cover until they reached the doorway. Then they all slipped out and headed downstairs.
“I don’t think we should split up!” Katrina said vehemently as Darwin hurried her toward the front door of the pressing shed. “There has to be a better way.”
“There isn’t.” Stopping, Darwin pulled her close for a quick kiss.
“Besides me, that drone is locked on your father and brother. Chapman probably wanted them out of the way so he could get his hands on Seth. I need you, Asher, and Upton to get Seth out of here. Not only to keep those anti-tamper codes away from Chapman, but to keep the three of you from being used as bait to draw me out.”
He knew it was wrong to manipulate Katrina like this, implying she would put him at risk by staying, but he needed her out of here and somewhere safe, no matter what.
“If we’re moving, we need to go now,” Rhett said, coming back from looking out the nearest window. “That drone is hovering on the far side of the building, still focused on the conference room. This might be our only chance to get out this way.”
Katrina shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears as she looked up at Darwin.
“Darwin’s right,” Asher said, gently taking her arm even as the man glanced his way. “He needs to know you’re safe so he can take this thing down.”
She reached up to wipe a tear from her face, indecision in her eyes. After a moment, she finally nodded.
“Once we’re outside, head straight for the nearest golf cart,” Darwin told her.
“After we’ve lured the drone away, it’ll be up to you, Asher, and Upton to keep Seth away from Chapman.
Simon and the other guys should be showing up soon.
If you see them, tell them to find Chapman, and then come looking for the three of us.
I’ll try to maneuver the drone into a place where they can shoot it down. ”
Darwin was about to pull the Sig from the holster behind his back, he remembered the smaller back-up weapon tucked in the ankle holster. He considered giving it to Rhett or Jameson, even if it wouldn’t be much use against the drone, but then changed his mind.
Crouching, he slipped the compact gun out of the holster and held it out to Katrina. “Take this. If you run into Chapman, I want you to be able to protect yourself.”
She backed away, holding up her hands. “No way. I don’t know how to use that thing!”
Darwin looked back and forth between Asher and Upton, finally choosing the latter. At least he knew the man could shoot straight.
“Protect her with your life,” he said, handing Upton the weapon and extra magazines.
Darwin hoped he wasn’t making a big mistake.
“We need to go,” Rhett said. “The drone is on the move. I think it’s figured out we’re not upstairs anymore.”
Darwin turned to Katrina, wanting to say a hundred things, but not sure where to start, when she spoke.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” she said. “I need you to come back to me.”
Grabbing his hand, she yanked him close and kissed him hard on the mouth.
Then he was running for the door, and he had to shove thoughts of how awesome that kiss was into the background so he could focus on staying alive.