Sterling twisted and jerked, fear for Juniper numbing the agonizing sensation of his skin tearing away.
Koda had dropped to his knees, and Doyle hauled him backward, one arm across his chest, the bloody blades tucked under his jaw while Pike and Rutgers aimed weapons at him.
“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” Doyle said, “put the guns down, or I slice his throat wide open.”
Charlie had disappeared, which wasn't a good thing. Probably hiding somewhere with a firearm pointed at someone's head. Or maybe he was just a coward.
Pike turned, disappearing behind the forklift. Rutgers knocked over his computer as he flipped the table and ducked behind it.
Strategic planning and smart. Sterling would've done the same thing. But what he needed to do right now was get out of these fucking zip-ties. He twisted hard, and the plastic chewed deeper. Blood slid warm along his thumb.
"What the hell have you done?" Bea demanded, her voice suddenly raspy.
Sterling shifted his gaze.
Juniper rocked back on her heels, dropping her hands at her side, syringe sticking out of Bea's thigh. "I have no idea. But you were going to let Doyle chop off my fingers and then kill me." She leaned forward. "Don't care that he got cold feet. That was the plan."
Bea opened her mouth, but no words came out. Only a gargle.
"I'm gonna kill you, Malone," Koda said as Doyle zip-tied his wrists and ankles, then propped him up against the far wall.
“Better men than you have tried.” Doyle turned and pulled a sidearm off the table.
Pop!
His body jerked. Doyle grabbed his side, and dove behind the table.
The shot had come from behind the forklift.
"You okay, Doyle?" Nick called.
"Just a graze," Doyle said.
Juniper shimmied across the floor and leaned against the post, snapping his zip-ties, and freeing his hands.
Pop!
That shot came from the far side of the room. They barely had enough cover.
"I need to get to Nick." She leaned forward, freeing his legs.
"You got a weapon for me?" Sterling asked.
"I got a knife, and shears."
"Here." Doyle kicked a rifle and handgun across the floor. "That's all I got. You three are gonna have to share."
"I'll get Nick. You stay here." He pressed the small firearm into her hand. "We're outgunned but not outmanned."
"That's one way to look at it."
Sterling took a deep breath then raced the ten paces to Nick.
Pop. Pop.
He jerked his shoulder as the first shot grazed his arm. The second missed all together.
Fucking assholes.
