24. Nicholas

24

NICHOLAS

"We have to move!" I shouted, already running for the building.

I could feel Fox on my six, running just as hard as I was. The first explosion was our signal, and it worried me more than I wanted to let on. The plan was risky at best, but I knew there was no talking Raven out of it. We were too far away to get to her. I had to trust that Ivan had her covered until we could get there.

From what I heard, she walked into more than she bargained for. Cash was trying to hold me back, to let it all play out and not lose our one chance of ending this. There's no way he would have allowed Eva to go through with such a risky plan when baddies showed up out of the blue, threatening the entire plan.

The sound of gunfire wrenched through the air, but I didn't slow. I didn't care if it was directed at me or the men behind me. I had to get to Raven. There was no other option.

I was just about to the door when a second explosion rocked the building, followed quickly by a larger, more devastating one that I hadn't been expecting. I was thrown backward from the blast, knocked into Fox as flames licked the building.

I jerked upright, staring in horror at the wreckage inside. "No!" I shouted, jumping to my feet.

I tried to run inside but Fox grabbed me from behind, wrapping his arms around me and preventing me from rushing in there. I fought him tooth and nail, tearing his hands from me just as another set of arms wrapped around me and dragged me further away.

"Raven!" I shouted, my throat raw from the fury in my shouts. With every set of hands that held me down, I fought even harder to break free. There was still a chance I could get to her. She might not be dead yet, but she would be if I didn't get to her soon.

With one final scream, I ripped my body from the claws holding me back and ran flat out for the door. I almost made it, too. But something hard came down on my head.

The world spun.

The skies turned dark.

Then everything went quiet.