They go up in a wide spiral. We're halfway when a gunshot cracks above us and a bullet slams into the wall next to me. Zero's gun barks in return and the guard bounces off one of the pillars before he topples over the railing, dropping all the way down to the first floor, where he doesn't move.
"We don't have time for these fuckers," I say, unable to keep the snarl outta my voice. "They'll take Sandra and run, or they'll hurt her."
We spill out onto the top floor. I take a moment to orient myself. The room where we saw her has to be down the corridor to the left. Beast has come to the same conclusion. "This way."
A scream cuts through the night from our right, and I have no fucking doubt as to who it is. "Sandra!"
If she's hurt, Kozlov, the Bloodmoney gang and whoever else tries to stop us are going to have some very long, painful days ahead of them.
"Go," Zero snaps and we charge.
38
SANDRA
The howlof the alarm followed by the crash of glass downstairs has Frank and Kozlov on their feet immediately. Frank draws his gun and looks out into the hall. "What the fuck was that?"
I have a theory, but it's not going to make them happy. Maybe I'm hoping too much, but I refuse to believe that the boys would give up on me. The question is, how can I help them?
There's the sound of fighting, and a gunshot. Even if it isn't them, this has to be to my advantage. Frank leans out the door and Kozlov tries to look past him. A couple more guards come running from the other side, where they've been watching over the property from the balcony. They run right past me, more concerned with the gunshots than they are with a helpless woman in their boss's room.
I retreat slowly while everyone's looking away, getting closer and closer to the fireplace. There's a fire poker there that feels nice and heavy in my hands. Better already.
Another gunshot, and someone screams. I tighten my grip on my makeshift weapon, praying it wasn't one of mine that got hit.
A rumble shakes the floor, like an earthquake. What the heck is that? It grows louder, stronger, and splits from one unified sound into many at once, like… motorcycles? I risk a glance out the window.
A whole column of motorcycles is racing towards the house, as many across as they can fit down the road. A gun goes off, and then a lot of guns go off. Muzzle flashes from the motorcycles as they come close show that the bikers are firing back. That has to be the Eagles.
The little hope I've been cultivating blossoms into pure relief with a dose of joy. They're here. A couple more guards come from behind me, rushing towards the gunshots. Even holding the poker, nobody thinks I’m a threat.
We'll see about that.
Kozlov and Frank both have guns out now, but their backs are to me. Sneaking up behind Frank, I lift the heavy poker and swing as hard as I can.
The iron slams into the back of his head with a nauseating crunch. He barely gets out a sound, more like a wheeze, and then he topples forwards to the floor, not even trying to catch himself with his hands. When his face hits, he slumps to lie still. Couldn't have happened to a nicer bully. I hope it hurts like hell when he wakes up. I sort of hope he doesn't wake up at all, honestly. But if he does, it'd better hurt.
Kozlov turns in surprise. "What the—you little bitch." He reaches for me and I swing, catching him across the arm. "Fuck!"
I swing again, but he's too fast, getting inside of the arc. He traps my arm, twisting it painfully until I scream. The poker drops to the floor with a clatter. I try to roll away, but his grip is too strong, and he drags me back, sending another wave of searing pain through me.
"Sandra!" Beast's roar carries through the house, making my heart skip an excited beat. He barrels through the last two guards, carrying them with him down onto the floor. One of them slams his head and lies still. The other one rolls away and pulls his gun. I scream at the sound of the gunshot, but it's the guard that topples, and Zero's barrel that's smoking.
"Are we too late?" Piston asks, but before he manages to level his gun at Kozlov, the crime boss gets his arm around my throat, pressing me against him so hard that I struggle to breathe. I clutch at his forearm with both hands, but he's too strong.
"Put your fucking guns down," he roars as he puts his own up against my head. The barrel digs painfully into my scalp, right behind my ear. "Or I'm gonna fucking blow her head off."
"Pull that trigger and it'll be the last thing you ever do." Beast looks like an avenging angel, with the fury of God in his eyes and the blood thirst of a demon curling his lips into a horrifying grimace. His whole body is tense as a bow string, ready to release at the first opportunity.
"I'm not fucking around." Kozlov pulls me backwards with him, towards the balcony. With all the guards that came from there, it has to connect to other parts of the building. "Guns downnow!"
Zero's gun is unwavering and pointed right at Kozlov's head. I remember clearly what happened to Zeke, but Kozlov doesn't seem as easily distracted. "Stop. You wanna get out of this alive?You let her go, because there's nowhere we won't fucking go to stay on your tail. We won't let you out of our fucking sight. You let her go, we'll let you live. But hurt her, and you'll be begging for death before I'm done with you. Beast might be an avenging angel, or a demon, but Zero is the Reaper. He doesn't make threats, he states facts. God, he's terrifying, and he's on my side.
Outside, it sounds like a full war as the rest of the Screaming Eagles burst in through the gate downstairs. Gunshots echo and motorcycles roar as Eagles are still arriving.
Piston looks out at the chaos. "Looks bad out there. There's not gonna be much left of this property by the time we're done. Your men are dropping like fucking flies. You've lost, Kozlov." Compared to Beast and Zero, Piston sounds downright reasonable. "You don't have a chance to get out of this alive if you keep threatening her. Tell you what, give her to us, and we'll give you a head start before we let Eagle-eye and the gang know where you are. That's an offer that can save your life. Without it, you're already dead. I strongly recommend that you take it."
As if to make his point, a gunshot shatters one of the windows, scattering glass shards all over the back of the room. Luckily not in our direction.
