Chapter 52 #2
“I got hit. I’m fine,” she replies through gritted teeth.
She levels her weapon in front of her before taking several deep breaths.
She pops it around the corner, keeping her head hidden, and sprays the inside with bullets.
You can hear the distinct sound of bodies hitting the floor, and I know she’s at least done some damage.
She nods to the other side, and they do the same as she just did.
“What’s the play, Boss?” I yell over the shots still ringing out.
She lets her head hit the wall. “We have to go in. Viktor’s in there.”
“They’re all mostly downstairs,” Holden crackles through the comms. “Only two upstairs guarding a door. Two downstairs through the right corridor guarding another door. None anywhere else. He has them all stationed there and outside.”
“We’ve got it under control out here,” Mani’s voice comes through. “Take that dick out.”
“How many in this front room?”
“Twenty to twenty-five.” Holden answers.
“Alright,” Les says, and I can hear the ice queen in her voice. She checks her clip before tossing it to the side, digging in her pocket for another one. “Reload. Go in hot.” We all switch out, the snapping of the clips ringing across the porch. “On my count.”
“Wait,” Dex rumbles. “Let one of us go in first.”
“Dex…”
“No fuck that,” Dex says harshly. “You hired us to fucking protect you; now let us.”
Her head twists his way, and it’s eerie as hell, but I can imagine the narrowed-eyed look she’s giving him right now. To my surprise, she slowly nods before stepping around Dex so he takes point.
“Don’t ever fucking talk to me like that again,” she says. “Now go.”
Dex chuckles, not at all threatened. “On my count.”
“Got it,” Micah says, throwing up a salute.
“One. Two. Three.” Dex counts, then they both pop out, spraying bullets all over the front room.
They take two steps forward before I see Micah’s body jerk and slam onto the porch onto his back. Whoever is next jumps in beside Dex.
“Micah!” Les screams.
“Go,” he groans.
“I’ll stay,” Evander says, and I see a black figure kneel beside Micah. “I’ve got this, Alessa; go,” he says when she hesitates.
Micah’s wearing a vest, but it still hurts like a motherfucker to take a bullet like that at close range, and I’m hoping it hit fully on the vest. We’re mostly protected, but there are still ways for the bullets to slip through and do some damage.
I hear Les growl and know she’s really pissed now. I try to grab the back of her hoodie to pull her back, but she slips right through my fingers, charging right into the house.
None of us take a second to think; we just follow her.
We open fire on what’s left in the front room and then look at the carnage. There is blood and bodies everywhere you look.
“Check-in,” Holden says.
“How many?” Les asks, sweeping her gun around.
“Two to your right.” I can hear him clicking keys. “Three to your left.”
Les nods, and we split again, walking around the side of the large spiral staircase in the middle of the room.
“Boo,” I hear Gage say before he and Mateo start cackling like maniacs. I can hear them through the comm, even over the gunfire.
I roll my eyes and creep around the corner. The first guy jumps up and tackles me so hard that we both slam to the floor, knocking the breath from my lungs.
Fuck, that hurt.
I open my eyes in time to see Les jerk the guy’s head back and slit his throat. I give him a shove off of me and heave in a breath. I hear shots pop off behind Les and know the other guard is down. Les reaches down and pulls me back to my feet. “You good?” she asks softly.
“Yeah. Nice save, Boss.”
She shakes her head and tucks her knife into the sheath, pulling her gun back up. I knew she wouldn’t go without at least one of them.
“Have you seen Nina?” I ask Holden.
“No. But she must be in one of the two guarded rooms.”
“We have to split up,” Les says quietly so only we can hear. “Ryder and Leo with me. Dex, Gage, and Mateo take the upstairs. Micah?”
“He’s good. We’re taking cover,” Evander answers.
“Leo?” she asks softly.
“I’m good,” Leo answers and turns his head so she can pick him out.
She nods. “Let’s go.”
Guns at the ready, we step around the right of the staircase toward the back corridor. We don’t see anyone standing around, so we know they’re hiding, but we can’t risk asking Holden and giving away our positions. I don’t like splitting up, but we need to get out of here.
We get one door from the last one on the right, and one of the guys jumps out straight at Les. His fist pulls back and lets it fly right at her face. Her head snaps back, and his body jerks before falling to the ground. I look up to watch Leo lower his gun slightly.
Nice fucking shot.
I grab her to steady her, my blood boiling. This asshole picked what he thought was the easiest target. Les jerks her arm away before signaling for us to move.
I want to take her home and tuck her back into safety. We did this all the time, but nothing compares to watching the girl you love walk right into danger and not give a fuck.
I push Les behind me, risking getting stabbed before stepping further up the hallway. We all exchange looks when the other one is nowhere to be seen.
“Where are they?” I whisper into the comms.
“That room to your right,” Holden answers about the time shots are fired upstairs.
I take a deep breath before jerking the door open and sweeping the room. It looks like a fucking jungle in here with trees and flowers everywhere. It’s a huge greenhouse built on the inside of the house.
Sweat starts trickling down my spine from the humidity. We search every square inch with no sign of anyone. Why are they guarding this door?
“Holden, there’s no one in here!” Les says after the second sweep.
“That’s the room they were guarding, I swear.”
“Guys,” Leo hisses, pulling back some branches on one of the tall trees and revealing a hidden door.
“There’s no handle,” Leo comments, running his hand down the smooth surface.
“It’s a safe room,” Les replies, walking forward. “Holden, can you get us in?”
“I’m already on it.” I can hear him rapidly clicking keys.
“Dex. Check-in,” Les says into the comms. No answer. “Gage?” Her head swings to me when he doesn’t answer, either. “Anyone?”
“Still here,” Evander answers.
“All clear outside,” Mani says.
“Dex,” she says again, and I can hear the panic start to rise in her voice. “Gage! Mateo!”
“They might be hiding and can’t answer, Baby,” Leo tries to soothe.
“I can’t hack the door, but I can shut the power off. When it goes out, open it.”
“Do it,” Les says urgently, flipping her night vision back on.
The power goes out on cue, and Leo jerks open the door. I hear a high-pitched squealing sound and realize he just triggered an explosion. This room was a setup. I jerk him away from the door before diving on top of him and Les right before it detonates.