“If we’re going to make it out of here, I’m going to need your help, Jeremy.” Jeremy shook his arms out as I freed Ace. I tried to give him a determined look as I passed him a couple of lock picks. They’d been tortured and spent hours tied up in that position. I’d been naïve in thinking either of them would be able to help with the escape.
“Halluis is upstairs somewhere,” Ace said, his voice a faint croak, as he sank to the ground once he was free. “We have to find him. I tried, Christy, but I couldn’t save them. I’m sorry.”
So Ace had defied Siron again and had gone to save his team members instead of going for the drive. A lump formed in my throat. “Thank you for trying, Ace, and don’t worry. We will find him.” I immediately wrapped his arm around my shoulder and dragged him toward the stairs while Jeremy followed slowly after us. That’s when I noticed the blood dripping behind us, but I couldn’t worry about it right then. First, I had to bring them to safety.
I prayed Summer would come through and give us another diversion to get out of the basement. As we rounded the pillar where the stairs wrapped around, I heard the door open. I motioned for the agents to lean against the pillar, out of sight of anyone looking down the stairs.
The footfalls were heavy, most likely not Summer’s. She was light on her feet. I glanced back at Jeremy, who was now helping to support Ace. I leaned over and sat him on the step, readying myself with the switchblade and a few safety pins from my go bag. I closed my eyes, not liking my odds.
The hulking guard saw me at the same time I saw him. I chucked my knife, and it embedded itself in his thigh. He grunted but didn’t go down. Instead, he shot a silenced gun at me. I felt the heat of the bullet as it brushed past my hair just above my right ear. After the shot went off, he doubled over. I lunged, overestimating the debilitating effects of his injury. He raised the gun and shot again. This time the bullet hit the stairs and ricocheted off the wall nearby.
I couldn’t stop. He fired again, both hands on the handgrip, steadying it. The shot hit Ace in the foot, and he cried out despite his weakened state.
“Come any closer, and he’s dead.” The guard bit his lip, obviously in a lot of pain.
I didn’t move, but my mind was calculating the many possible actions I could take along with their outcomes. The only chance we had was for Summer to show up and give us our exit. The gun the guard brandished was definitely a Kahr K-9. Seven bullets in the magazine and one in the chamber. He’d shot three. That meant there could be five more bullets in that gun. I had to get it from him.
An explosion rocked the room above us. I held on to the wall for support, but the guard fell to his knees. Apparently, Summer had decided to bring the distraction inside. That was not what I had in mind, but I’d capitalize on it. I jerked forward, pushing the guard’s gun up above his head, another shot digging deep into the ceiling plaster. I wrestled the gun away from him and shot him in the foot, the foot attached to his uninjured leg. He yelled out in pain and fell on the cement steps. I slammed his head into the wall, making him black out. I took everything from his pockets and removed the com in his ear. Then I quickly retied the rainbow scarf around my waist and shoved the gun into the makeshift belt.
I turned back to my friends. “Jeremy, can you carry Ace?” I asked. “I need to be free to take on anyone who tries to stop us.” He nodded, then pulled Ace’s arm up around his shoulder and started up the steps.
I kept one hand on the gun as I climbed the stairs. This rescue was all on me. At the top, I peeked around the corner. Tapestries and fine rugs were on fire, the room filling up with smoke.
“The place is on fire, Jeremy. I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to hurry.”
He did, grunting louder and yanking poor Ace up the steps as fast as he could.
“Where up here is Halluis?”
“Not sure. But they had me in there.” Ace pointed to the opposite side of the large foyer. Huge crowds had gathered in front of the burning building. Just then, the masses of people who had ascended the stairs to the second floor came screeching down. So the civilians hadn’t already escaped. I hoped none were hurt. I flagged several guys down to come help my two injured friends. They came readily, helping each of them out despite how drunk they were.
I darted over to the door Ace had pointed out, picked the lock and pushed through it. Halluis sat tied to a chair and was choking on the thickening smoke. I rushed over and untied him, then yanked him toward the door, crawling.
“Hey now, no call for that sort of behavior.” Halluis smiled wryly, though each word was strained and hoarse. “Just point me to the exit, and I’ll find my own way.” He started crawling forward, just to prove he could.
“Oh, thank goodness,” I sighed. He’d be able to get out on his own. I pushed him toward the door. “Go—I’m right behind you!”
I searched for Summer, but she was nowhere to be seen. She’d
