Twin dings sounded from the computer room. Raider paused and looked over his shoulder. That was odd. Then his phone buzzed. “Wait a minute.” His heart leaped into his throat, and he yanked out his phone, scrolling through email and reading. His legs nearly gave out. “It’s Brigid with a location. We have to go. Now.”
It took them too long to suit up, and they broke speed limits galore on the way there. Malcolm drove, being the only one without bullet holes, concussions, or broken bones. They wore outdated bulletproof vests and had armed themselves with guns, knives, and even a couple of grenades Angus had somehow secured last month. Roscoe wore his FBI vest and looked bigger than normal. But would they get there in time?
It had been over thirty minutes since Brigid had reached out, and he couldn’t be sure how long her message had taken to get to him via some social networking site. She had to be alive. Fear caught him around the throat, and he calmed himself, going into battle mode. No emotion, just rational thought.
They parked two blocks away. “Wolfe and Raider, you take front,” Angus said. “Malcolm and I will take back. This is shock and awe, but try not to kill the senator. We’re in enough trouble right now.”
Raider cut Wolfe a look. If the bastard had hurt either woman, he was going to bleed.
Forgetting all of his aches and pains, Raider crept low around the stone wall and surveyed the front of the house. High-end, brick and stone, no security visible. It was a nice neighborhood of rich people, and no doubt the senator didn’t want guards everywhere. However, there would be plenty inside, he was sure.
He looked at Wolfe. The guy had fresh bandages in place, his breathing was shallow, and dark circles shadowed his eyes. But there was nobody else on earth Raider would want backing him right now. “You good?”
“Yep.” Wolfe withdrew his weapon and studied the house. Twin windows showcased darkened rooms on either side of the main door. “I say we go in through glass.”
That would definitely be shock and awe. Raider studied the angles. “Keep your head down and try to lead with your shoulder. Your good one.” He’d do the same. “On three. See you inside.” He bumped forearms with Wolfe and stayed low, putting himself in position. Then he counted, took a running start, and fired his gun at the top of the window. The glass cascaded down, and he timed his entry perfectly after the glass had scattered over the shrubs, landing just inside and rolling by a dining room table already set with fancy china.
A man with an automatic machine gun ran around the corner, firing wildly in Raider’s direction and hitting the china cabinet. Chrystal blasted apart, its shards flung every which way. A piece cut into Raider’s hand, and he winced, raising his weapon and firing.
The guy went down, still spraying.
Raider ducked low and crept around the corner, stopping as more gunfire erupted at the back of the house. Another armed guard turned the corner, and Raider took him out with a shot to the knee. The man yelled in pain, fell, and Raider ran forward to hit him with the butt of his pistol, knocking him out.
He incapacitated two more men before reaching an office where Wolfe was grappling hand to hand with the senator, who was putting up a surprisingly good fight. Dana was tied to a chair, her shirt undone, blood flowing from several cuts along her arms. Raider drew his knife and rushed to release her, pressing her shirt to her wounds. “How badly are you hurt?” he asked, leaning down to check her eyes.
“I’m okay,” she gasped, tears on her cheeks. “Brigid is downstairs past the kitchen. Get to her. Fast.”
Raider looked up just as Wolfe threw the senator onto the desk and slammed his head into the heavy oak. “You got this?”
“Got it. Get Bridge,” Wolfe snapped, punching the senator square in the mouth.
Raider ran down the hallway as more gunfire came from the back of the house. When he found the stairs, he crept down, gun out, and turned the corner at the bottom. A kick came out of nowhere, knocking the gun from his hand. “I don’t have time for this shit.” He moved with his knife, taking down a guy the size of a muscled rhinoceros, and plunging the knife into his arm. Then he pressed his forearm against the guy’s neck, effectively choking him out. “You’re gonna have a headache,” he muttered, looking wildly around.
He saw just one locked door. He stood and rapidly disengaged the locks, praying he’d find her alive on the other side.
* * *
Brigid held the ten-pound weight to her side, ready to swing it. The door to the gym opened, and she ran forward, trying to halt in the last second. “Raider?”
He was like a bruised avenging angel in a black bulletproof vest, looking like the baddest of all badasses. And he’d come for her. He pivoted, took the weight away, and grabbed her up in a hug. “You’re okay.”
She hugged him back, leaning away. Blood flowed from his temple over the bruises on his face, his injured arm hung wrong, and he had a split lip. “You look terrible.” She chuckled through her tears.
“You look amazing.” He put her down.
“Dana—”
“Is okay. Wolfe is with her,” Raider said, running his hands down her arms. “Are you hurt? Any injuries?”
“No,” she coughed. He was there. He’d gotten her message.
He leaned forward and touched a bruise on her cheekbone. “Who did this?” His voice went so low and dark, she shivered.
“I think some guy named Luke?” There had been a couple of skirmishes. “Oh, and guess what? Josh is really working for the senator and not Eddie. Can you believe it?”
“Eddie’s dead,” Raider said flatly, taking her hand and leading the way up the stairs, his gun out. “Stay behind me.”
“Clear,” Angus called out loudly. Roscoe barked several short yips before Wolfe gave another clear call.
