Gary.
His face was swollen, one eye nearly shut. A gag still covered his mouth, hands bound behind him. He staggered into the room and froze at the sight of Colt’s rifle aimed at his chest.
“Don’t move,” Colt said. “Stay right there.”
Gary’s eyes widened in shock. Then fury. He twisted his head, working the gag down with effort until it fell to his neck.
“I’ve been held hostage,” he snapped. “They beat the hell out of me.”
Colt didn’t lower his gun. Neither did Harlan or Brenna. They didn’t trust Naomi, and they sure as hell didn’t trust Gary.
More footsteps echoed down the hall. Fast. Colt shifted, weapon still on Gary.
The comm crackled. “It’s me,” Noah said.
Relief punched through Colt’s chest. Seconds later, Noah stepped into the room, eyes scanning fast. He took in Beck, the explosives, Gary, and Naomi in one sharp sweep. Without a word, he crossed to Beck and dropped to his knees beside him.
“Can you disarm it?” Colt asked, still watching Gary.
“Yes,” Noah said. “But it’s going to take a couple minutes.” He glanced up. “You should go. Take Gary and Naomi. If this blows, it won’t be small.”
Colt didn’t flinch. Neither did Harlan. Brenna stayed beside Beck, one hand on his shoulder.
They weren’t leaving.
Noah exhaled and got to work. His hands moved fast, careful. Sweat already beading on his brow.
The room went quiet, except for Beck’s rough breaths and the faint, terrifying click of Noah’s tools. Naomi let out a sharp cry and turned to run, but Harlan grabbed her arm and held firm.
“If you’re innocent, I’ll owe you an apology,” he snarled. “But right now I can’t take the risk that you won’t get to a detonator and light up these explosives.”
Naomi kept struggling, kept sobbing, but the sounds of gunfire drowned her out. It sounded as if a war was going on.
The comm flared. Garrett’s voice came through. “It’s cooked off ammo. Looks like a fire tripped a timer. We’ve all taken cover until the rounds stop.”
Colt clenched his jaw. He hoped none of them took a bullet from that mess.
And while he was hoping, he added another that they didn’t all get blown to bits in the next few minutes.
Noah worked fast, eyes locked on the device. “Timer’s running,” he muttered. “Less than five minutes.”
Colt’s gut twisted. Even if Noah disarmed it, they still had to cut Beck loose. Then get the hell out.
Noah’s voice was tight. “Almost got it. Just a few more wires.”
Colt watched his hands work, fast and precise. Then Gary moved. Colt saw it out of the corner of his eye.
Gary brought his arms forward. They weren’t tied. And he held a small black detonator.
Colt swung his gun toward him. “Don’t move.”
Gary didn’t flinch. His eyes were cold, steady. “Back away from the explosives,” he said to Noah. “Now.”
Noah froze, hands still above the device.
Colt’s pulse pounded. The detonator had a red switch, and Gary’s thumb rested on it. A manual trigger. Probably an override.
“Step back,” Gary said again, louder. “All of you.”
