Chapter 21 #3
"They have shit angles at us if I come to you," Doyle said. "Unless we want to draw them out and you come to me."
"Let's go to him," Sterling whispered. "You two first. You take the rifle. Doyle and I cover. Then I'll follow."
"Since when are you the sacrificial lamb?" Nick asked. "That’s my role."
"Does it fucking matter?" Sterling let out a long breath. "We both have people we love, and neither of us want to die. Now, go." Sterling caught Doyle's attention and signaled. Doyle nodded.
"Ready." Nick took Juniper's hand.
She nodded. "Let's do this."
Sterling pressed his back to the post. The second Nick and Juniper took off running, gunfire erupted from all directions.
Nick fired from over his shoulder.
Doyle fired from behind the table.
Sterling changed it up and eased out from his position.
Crouching low, gun up, Pike moved from the forklift toward the loading doors. Sterling saw the angle open.
Pop!
Hit Pike in the shoulder, and he dropped his weapon.
A second shot rang out from behind Sterling and hit Pike high in the chest.
Pike staggered and went down hard.
Sterling raced toward the table and dove. "That's one down."
"Two to go," Doyle said. "Rutgers is to our right, and Charlie’s by the door. His shadow’s inching closer—he's gonna make a run for it."
Seconds later, Doyle stood, fired once, and Charlie screamed, grabbing his knee. "Move again, and I'll kill you."
Pop! Pop!
Doyle flung backward, clutching his shoulder. "Fuck." He groaned.
Pop! Pop!
Sterling didn't hesitate to shoot back the second he saw Rutgers. Kill shot to the forehead. Sterling wasn't proud of it. He never liked killing people, but sometimes it was necessary.
Rutgers crashed to the floor with a thud.
Nick rolled to sitting and pressed a hand to his side. “Everybody still have the parts they started with?”
“Mostly,” Doyle said, grabbing his shoulder.
Juniper crossed to Bea, kicked the gun farther away, and crouched long enough to check her pulse. “I found a heartbeat, but it's weak, and her breathing’s shallow. We need an ambulance.”
“On it,” Nick said. "Cuz we need one for Doyle, too." Nick tore off his shirt and tied it around Doyle's shoulder. "This doesn't mean I like you, or that I forgive you. It just means I don't want you to die because I want you to give up names."
"Trust me, I get it."
"I appreciate what you did, but it doesn't mean I trust you.
" Sterling pushed to his feet. He took a moment to file everything because he couldn't not do it.
His training wouldn't allow it. His mind demanded it.
And in an hour or two, every damn alphabet agency in the country was gonna want to know what the hell happened, and Sterling was going to be the best bet for a detailed report. That was just the reality.
Once he was satisfied his brain had what it needed, he crossed to Juniper because waiting one more second wasn’t going to happen.
She turned, and he hauled her into his arms.
Pain tore through his ribs, but he didn’t give a damn. Her hands came up his back, strong and warm and real. Her face pressed against his neck.
“Well, hello,” she said.
“Are you okay?”
“I stabbed my handler with a syringe.”
“That's not what I asked.” He tightened his hold.
"It's all I got right now." She tilted her head. "There's a lot to unpack. To process. But I'm not dead, and neither are you. And that's something." She palmed his face and smiled. "That's everything."
He touched the bruise on her cheek with his thumb, light enough that he barely brushed skin. “You can have my six anytime.”
"That's not something I ever thought I'd hear you say to me."
“Yeah, well, I'd rather you be my bed partner."
Nick groaned. “I think I have a head injury. Can you please respect my condition?”
"Absolutely not." Sterling kissed her temple. Her cheek. And ignored the fact the police chief had just blown through the door.
Dawson paused at the threshold. “What is it with you people. You always start all the fun without me.”
“I gave you the heads up like fifteen minutes ago,” Doyle said.
“It takes a normal person twenty minutes to get here.” Dawson waved his team in, pointed to different areas, and they went right to work.
Hayes barreled through, his paramedic team right behind him, and they went right to work on Bea.
Koda lifted his head. Sweat slicked his face. “I want an attorney.”
Dawson crouched in front of him. “And once we get you processed, you can call one.”
Sterling didn't care about any of it right now. Gently, he cupped her face. "I love you," he whispered.
"Not what you said a few minutes ago."
"You're really going to hold me to that?"
"No." She smiled.
He kissed her. Soft. Sweet. Tender.
“Excuse me, this is a crime scene,” Dawson said. “Take that shit outside.”
Sterling lifted his mouth from Juniper’s. “How about I take my lady home.”
"That's not happening for a while." Dawson slapped him on the back. "It's going to be a long night."
"Come on Romeo." Nick wrapped his arm around Sterling. The three of them slipped out into the night.
They might have confirmation that Koda was behind Shrike, but the fallout from this would take years to unravel.