Reaching up, I discover Iamsmiling. Fuck… It’s just been so long since I last got to get my hands dirty.
Trouble is leaning against a pool table, knuckles raw and bleeding. Ripper is calmly wiping his blade clean on a dead man’s vest. Busting out the zip ties, they tie up those who are still breathing.
I look down at my own hands. The knuckles are split and already swelling. The fear of meeting death again crosses mythoughts, but it’s fading, drowned out by the pounding of my own heart. The room is clear.
“Huh.” Ripper finds something that makes him giggle. “Found the culprit.”
Ever so casually, he cradles a grenade in his hand. What the fuck? Who just carries those around? Looking at Trouble for an explanation, the brute just shrugs.
Great. So now we have more to worry about explosions.
Knowing Ripper is the last person I want to have carrying one, I take it from him and check the other bodies. Two more of them have grenades at their hips.
“Crimson Road has a lot of enemies. You can’t be too surprised by their firepower.” Trouble takes one and straps it to himself. “Wouldn’t be surprised if the crazies are throwing their lives away to take out your men.”
Perfect. Just what I need to hear.
Pinching my eyes shut, I try to remember the map Ghost gave us. Tracing the path of where we’re needed next, another explosion rings out, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“They’re going to bring the building down at this rate.” Growling with impatience, I’m moving forward.
We need to find Blaze before that happens.
Unholstering my gun, I clutch it tight as we hunt down a specific room. Ripper’s happy to launch forward toward those who stand in our way and Trouble watches my back, prepared to stop anyone who jumps out from behind.
Reaching our destination, I take in the door separating us from the rest of the chaos.
Kicking it open, I’ve got my gun aimed. On the other side, a room that would make Ghost jealous.
Instead of sitting in the chair in front of six monitors, a woman stands against the wall. She’s got a gun in her hand, already pointed in our direction.
My body screams to shoot, to take her out. Before I can pull the trigger, Trouble’s quick to grab my barrel, shoving it away from her direction.
“High rank.” He moves first toward her, not showing a hint of fear as he walks toward her. “Hex.”
Her face contorts into a snarl. She lifts her gun higher, jerking her chin with it. “Traitor. Stop, or Iwillshoot.”
Glancing behind my back, I hope to see any signs of Ripper, but he’s a lost cause, slipping away without a word.
I’m going to be livid if any of these assholes die before I can get my hands on them.
Returning my attention forward, I watch as he limits the space between them. She doesn’t shoot.
She curls her lip at Trouble, displeased to see him. He doesn’t seem to mind. He holds his hand toward her, curling his fingers.
“You look terrible.” Her voice trembles. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
“Yet, here I am. Back at this hellhole.” He scowls and takes the gun from her when she doesn’t hand it over. He pulls the magazine out, cracking a smile as he takes it in. “The least they could’ve done is give you ammunition to protect yourself with. Now, where’s the boss?”
Baring her teeth at him, it’s clear she’s not a threat. Refusing to give him an answer, she flinches when he slaps his hand against the wall above her head, easily towering over her. Her mouth pinches shut when he leans in.
“Don’t make us start breaking stuff. We both know how much you love this tech.” He motions to the server rack, its flashing lights fluttering and blinking back. “Just tell us where he’s at. You’ve been watching, haven’t you?”
She doesn’t have time to answer, not while she’s flinching at Ripper’s arrival when he returns to us, grimacing at the blood clinging to his clothes.
“None of it is mine.” Claiming it proudly, he looks my way. “So, bad news.”
One thing at a time. My teeth grind as my impatience grows thin. “It can wait. Trouble, the cameras.”
