If there’s anything this guy has proven, it’s that he has been one step ahead of us the whole time.
Everyone nods, and Cruz steps up beside me. He, like everyone else, is dressed in black cargo pants and a black Henley, with a bulletproof vest completing the outfit.
We’re going in to save Lexi, not to lose our own lives.
“You’re better at this than you think you are,” he says.
“Fuck off,” I snap. “I’m looking forward to going back to just being the tech guy and your sidekick.”
“You like being Robin?” He smirks.
I glare at him with an unamused frown. “Like you could ever pull off Batman’s suit.”
His mouth drops open like he’s going to argue his case, but I step away, moving into position.
We have the warehouse surrounded, but from the plans I pulled of neighboring warehouses built at the same time, there’s a chance there’s an underground exit, and as much as I wanted to be prepared going into this, I didn’t have the time to waste looking for more confirmation of that.
Nico and two of his men are by the main door, a flash grenade and a smoke bomb in hand.
The last thing I want to risk is Lexi being hurt, but hurt is better than dead or disappearing forever, and that’s a peace I’ve had to make with myself.
Once I have her back, she’ll never hurt again. I’ll make sure of it.
“In position.” A series of voices comes over the radio wedged into my ear, and when the final one confirms, I give the order.
Nico cracks the door open ever so slightly, and we collectively hold our breaths.
It’s a new building, the door shouldn’t creak, but that doesn’t mean it won’t. Hell, it could be rigged for all we know, but after a handful of seconds pass and nothing happens, he pulls it open just enough for one of his guys to throw the grenade and smoke bomb inside before shutting it softly.
Seconds tick by slowly, each one dragging on for what feels like an eternity, but eventually the bang comes.
Cruz and I follow a team of our men through the single door, our goggles in place so we can see through the smoke.
“There are four people,” someone tells us over the radio.
“Don’t shoot anyone until we have Lexi,” I order.
I won’t risk her being shot. I’m willing to sacrifice a lot, but not that kind of pain for my girl.
“Copy.”
Cruz splits from me, moving around the edge of the warehouse while I surge forward, searching through the smoke until I spot her.
She’s crouched on the ground, her arms wrapped around her head to protect herself.
She knew exactly what to do.
Without hesitation, I move toward her, ignoring everything else in the room.
At least until I’m face-to-face with my own gun.
A woman stands over Lexi, her eyes set even as tears roll down her cheeks.
At first, I think maybe she’s one of my girl’s captors, but then I take in the bruises across her cheek, her dirty clothes and bare feet, and realize that Lexi isn’t the only one that was held against her will.
“It’s okay,” I say carefully. “I’m Lexi’s boyfriend. Colten.”
God, I hope she mentioned me, otherwise, this might end with me being the one getting shot.
