This was bad. He could shoot both men on a swivel, but one of them would get a shot off. Sean had remained still, his body tense. He’d be ready to move if necessary. Though his wheezing was a concern. If Raider didn’t get the guy to a hospital pretty quickly, he was going to die anyway. Okay. His only chance was to put himself equal distance between the two men with guns, shoot one, duck, and shoot the other.
Yeah, he was gonna die.
A siren sounded in the distance.
Raider’s head snapped up, and the entire room froze. “Not good.” He stepped toward Sean. “Is this room soundproof?”
Eddie rushed for the door and slightly opened it. “No. We don’t really use it much.” He turned over his shoulder to glare at Raider, while Jonny P kept the gun leveled. “You’re wired.”
Raider jerked up his shirt to reveal his bare chest. “Don’t be a moron. Your guys searched me, anyway.” He looked around as if thinking rapidly. The sirens were getting closer. He leaned down toward Sean’s face. “Just how loud were you?”
Sean sucked in air, and blood dribbled from his mouth. “I wasn’t quiet.” He snorted, his eyelids fluttering.
“Shit,” Raider snapped, adrenaline bursting and swelling his veins. He tucked his gun in the back of his waistband. “Knife,” he barked.
“What?” Jonny P burst out.
“They’re here,” Eddie muttered, still watching outside.
Raider clapped his hands hard. “Hurry up. We don’t have time. One of you has a knife.”
Eddie jerked his head, and Jonny P drew a knife from a holster at his calf. “Let’s kill them both,” Jonny P said, smiling.
“We don’t have time for this,” Raider urged.
Red and blue flashed through the opening in the door. Eddie shut it.
Raider angled around to make sure Sean was still breathing. Kind of. “Knife, damn it.”
Eddie nodded.
Jonny threw the knife and Raider caught it, quickly sliding it through the bindings. Sean shook and opened his eyes.
Raider looked around. “Sean? You were robbed, and Eddie and I heard screams, came in and chased the guy off. Just be quiet until we can get to you in the hospital, and your loyalty will keep you safe in the organization this time. Eddie, we were just about to call 911. Got it? Sean, you don’t know our names.” He looked up as if panicking. “Damn it, Jonny. You’re covered in blood.” Raider turned to Eddie. “Is there somewhere one of us can hide in here? If they see that blood, we’re dead.”
“Cubbyhole behind the old Pac-Man machine. We keep cash there,” Eddie said.
“Go,” Raider said urgently, rushing to Jonny and handing him the gun and knife. “Take all the weapons.” There was no way he’d get away with this, but with the cops outside, at least he had a chance to live through it. Had Force called the cops?
Jonny glared at Raider, took Eddie’s gun, and jogged out of the room.
“Come out with your hands up,” a man bellowed through a bullhorn. Raider jerked his head. Shit. Was that Force?
Raider looked himself over as if making sure no blood was on him. “You wanted on any warrants?”
“No,” Eddie said, eyeing Sean. “Should we kill him?”
“No.” Raider pretended to survey the scene again, his mind calming. “He’ll back us. Act like you’re in control with the cops.”
Eddie hesitated and then nodded.
Raider leaned toward Sean’s ear. “I’m so going to kill you for this,” he whispered tersely.
“Bring it on,” Sean wheezed, just as quickly turning his head and smacking a kiss on Raider’s chin.
Raider reared up. He did not just do that.
Sean chortled, the sound painful. Then he slumped unconscious.
