Chapter Twenty-Two
Noah and the others arrived a few minutes after Gage parked Declan’s truck far enough from the warehouse so they wouldn’t be noticed but close enough to grab two women and carry them to safety.
Declan ushered Kenzie and Jamal inside the SUV and was upset to realize the hidden compartment beneath Alex’s middle seat was stuffed with supplies and weapons. There was no way they’d be able to clear it out, find somewhere to stash the items, and arrange Jamal and Kenzie inside within a reasonable time. He had to settle for having them huddle on the floorboard. He wished they were back at the safe house, but they didn’t have time to waste. A sudden image of the rocket-propelled grenade slamming into the SUV flashed through his head, and he stumbled.
Kayla was instantly at this side. “Are you okay, Declan? We can handle it if you need to set this one out.”
Noah placed a hand on his shoulder. “You can monitor the outside of the building.”
“You lost a lot of blood,” Ethan pointed out.
He shook off their concern. “I’m fine, and I’m going in.” He didn’t tell them his unsteadiness was because he pictured Alex’s Escalade bursting into flames with Jamal and Kenzie inside. He needed to focus on the mission. Any misstep could get him or one of his teammates killed. He’d never get over being responsible for their injuries—or worse.
He didn’t give them a chance to stop him as he geared up from the supplies in the back of the SUV. They fell in beside him. He assumed that meant they would take his word and let him continue.
Ethan tucked extra clips into his pocket. “Alex and Dorian are on their way; ETA ten minutes barring any traffic problems.”
Noah opened a padded box and withdrew three small objects. Tyler’s bug drones. He couldn’t wait to learn how to fly them himself. The woman’s untraceable tracking device was stellar, but Declan thought Tyler’s flying insects were the coolest things he’d ever seen.
Ethan crept to the warehouse and unleashed the bugs inside the rundown building. The open space where they held Kenzie was empty, so they searched throughout the structure to locate the two women held captive. The back half of the warehouse was in better shape than the front, but barely. It consisted of a mishmash of rooms on three separate floors.
They found the younger sister locked in a room on the bottom level. She was alone and didn’t look to be in imminent danger, but two men were not far away.
The bugs searched the rooms until they located heat signatures on the second and third floors. Noah switched to the camera view and found the woman who had to be Scarlett locked in a room on the third floor, with two more men right outside her door.
The Daggers’ numbers were down first from the shootout with the Eighty-Sixers, and then from the losses they suffered at the storage facility. They counted six men inside.
“I thought there were eight left,” Declan said.
“Alex said the numbers were a rough estimate, so maybe the count was off,” Ethan rationalized.
Five against six was much better odds, especially since they had experience and the element of surprise on their side. It would take one agent to grab the youngest girl and another to transport Scarlett to safety. That left three experienced warriors up against the Daggers.
“Kayla, you lead Gage and Declan here.” Noah pointed to where the youngest girl was being held. “One of you haul her to safety while the other two handle the guards. Ethan and I will clear the second floor. Then we’ll meet up and storm the third floor together. Try not to make any sound, so we don’t alert the men outside Scarlett’s room.”
Ethan dialed a number on his phone, and then all the lights inside the building were extinguished. They slid their night-vision goggles into place and entered the warehouse, splitting up into two groups.
Declan followed Kayla’s lead, with Gage picking up the rear. They reached the door where the young girl was being held without running into any guards. Kayla dropped down and went to work on the lock.
#
Scarlett couldn’t sit still. She had a bad feeling that things were about to get so much worse. What if the message she sent landed in a spam folder, or they didn’t check it for a few days? She didn’t think they had a few days. She was deathly afraid that Leo would make good on his promise to “show her a good time.”
The Daggers had to be reeling from their losses. Maybe she could sneak out and find Ruby. Her sister had to be close. Tiptoeing to the door, she checked the knob, shocked when it turned in her hand. She experienced another spurt of surprise when she realized the entrance to the computer room stood wide open. After making sure the hallway was clear, she crept closer and peered inside. Empty. And there was her computer. Grabbing it off the table, she ripped the cord from the wall. Spinning around, she looked for something to carry it in since she might need her hands free to fight. Her backpack was lying against a wall. Rushing to it, she swiped it and checked the compartments for her phone, disappointed when her search came up empty, but she didn’t have time to waste. Stuffing her computer inside, she slipped the straps over her shoulders and headed for the exit.
Suddenly, everything went black. The wall of computers whizzed off, leaving her in silence. Voices rang out, but she couldn’t tell where they were coming from. Sticking her head out the door, she couldn’t see anything. There were no windows in the area to provide outside light. With a deep breath, she stepped out and gasped when one hand snaked around her stomach while the other covered her mouth. She didn’t need sight to know it was Leo.
#
Kenzie tried to stay calm for Jamal’s sake, but her heart was racing in fear for Declan and the others. Lightning flashed, and then a clap of thunder sounded, making them jump. Headlights cut through the night, and she hoped Alex and Dorian had arrived. A long black sedan cruised by with windows so dark it was impossible to see inside. She sat up straight. She was afraid it wasn’t Declan’s coworkers.
Panic almost had her running inside the building to warn the others. Why hadn’t she insisted they provide her with a comm unit to communicate with them? She couldn’t risk calling their cell phones for fear of tipping off the bad guys. What was she supposed to do?
“Kenzie?”
Jamal’s low voice distracted her from her thoughts. “Yeah, sweetie?”
“Do you think there are more bad guys in that car?”
He was too bright and observant, and she couldn’t lie. “Possibly.”
His small hand slid into hers. “What if Declan gets shot again?”
The thought almost made her pass out. “He won’t,” she said with conviction she didn’t feel. “He’s good at his job, and heck, he was a marine. They’re practically indestructible.”
“What does that mean?”
“That he’ll get the job done.”
“Okay. I believe you.”
The driver’s side door opened, and a man stepped out. From this distance, he looked enormous, with a thick neck and legs like tree trunks. A bandanna was tied around his bald brown head, and if she wasn’t mistaken, he was holding an AK-47.
She had to warn the others. She reached for the handle when the door to the building opened, and someone came rushing out.
#
Gage’s head rotated on a continuous swivel as Kayla led the way down a narrow corridor. Excitement pumped through him. A thrill-seeker, he craved action and adventure. That led him to the Navy and pushed him to become a SEAL. It was also what had him leaving the military to join his former teammate Dorian Demarchis and accept a job with COBRA Securities.
Though he’d have liked to be in on the takedown at the storage facility, he was a team player, and he’d accept whatever role they asked of him. Guarding a beautiful woman and a young boy being targeted by ruthless gangs was important work. He had no problem staying behind.
Kayla picked the lock with expertise, and it popped open. Small whimpers sounded from the girl huddled in the corner.
“Ruby? My name’s Kayla. Your sister Scarlett sent us to take you home.”
“I can’t see anything.”
There was shouting from behind them as the Daggers stumbled around in the dark. Voices drew closer.
“I’ve got her.” Gage dropped to where the young girl was crouched against the wall. “I’ll get her to the car.”
“Declan and I will clear the hallway,” Kayla said as they turned and disappeared.
“Ruby, my name is Gage. I’m going to turn on a flashlight and make sure you’re okay before I move you.” He clicked the light on.
“What’s that funny thing on your face?”
He tugged off the goggles and held them to her face. “They’re special glasses that allow me to see in the dark.”
“Cool!”
“Once I get you out of here, I’ll let you wear them.”
“Okay.”
Ruby looked scared but uninjured. There were no visible tripwires, so it should be safe to move her. “Let’s blow this popsicle stand, Ruby.”
She giggled as he intended, and he scooped her in his arms. “I’ve got Ruby, and we’re heading out,” he informed his teammates as he headed for the door.
“Turn to the right,” Declan told him through the comms.
Gage heard the sounds of a scuffle. He’d drop Ruby with Kenzie and then come back to help.
He navigated the hallways, pausing to peer around the corners before continuing to the exit.
“Two tangos down on the first level,” Kayla reported.
“Two neutralized on the second level,” Noah conveyed.
“Declan and I are heading your way now,” Kayla replied.
Gage found the door and visually searched the surrounding area before aiming for the black SUV. Rain came down in sheets. They’d be soaked before they reached the SUV.
Kenzie jumped out of the vehicle and waved her arms just as a voice yelled behind him.
“Stop right there.”
A barrage of gunfire sounded. He was too far away from the SUV, so he hit the ground, wrapping his entire body around Ruby to shield her from the impact and from the bullets that battered his body, sucking the air from his lungs and stealing his breath before a flash of lightning erupted and the world went dark.
#
Kenzie jumped out of the SUV when she spotted Gage running from the building with a girl in his arms and one of the Daggers closing in. She jumped up and down to get Gage’s attention, but the gang member started firing.
“Oh my God!” Kenzie cried, watching Gage go down with the girl in his arms. The gunman didn’t notice her as he turned and disappeared inside the building.
Sticking her head back inside the SUV, she said, “Jamal, stay here. I mean it.”
He made a grab for her. “No, Kenzie, please don’t go out there. They’re shooting.”
“I have to help them.”
She ran to where Gage had fallen. Skidding to the ground next to him, she ignored the sting of pebbles in her knees and the wetness soaking through her clothes. He was unconscious, and she feared dead. He’d been hit with so many bullets. “Ruby, are you okay?”
“I think so. Is Gage hurt?”
“I’m going to check on you first, and then I’ll take care of him. I want you to climb out from under him when I rotate him.”
“Okay.”
As gently as she could, she pushed at Gage’s arm to roll him to his side. He groaned but didn’t open his eyes. At least he was alive.
Using her forearms, Ruby pulled herself out until she was free. Kenzie grabbed her hand and rushed her back to the SUV. Ruby glanced over her shoulder. “We can’t leave Gage.”
“I’m going back for him after I get you to the SUV.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
“Yes,” she lied. There was a streak of blood on the side of his face and at least seven or eight bullet holes in his shirt, making it resemble swiss cheese. She didn’t see any blood, but she didn’t have time to look. A sob caught in her throat at the thought of the noble agent dying.
Jamal had been watching and opened the door when they neared. At least he obeyed and stayed in the vehicle. She lifted Ruby inside.
“Kenzie,” Jamal wailed when she started to close the door.
“I have to check on Gage. Stay put, both of you.”
She was so focused on Gage’s prone body that she didn’t notice the man who stepped out from the bushes. She’d made a grave mistake.
A thick arm wrapped around her neck, cutting off her oxygen. She got a whiff of cigarette smoke and body odor as a sick sense of déjà vu crashed over her.
“Remember me, sweetheart?”