Chapter 24

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FOUR

"Gage, make sure Tori is safe," Kai rushed as his muscles bristled and his adrenaline pumped. "I'm going to try to hold these guys off."

"Can't we just all stick together?" Panic raced through Tori's voice, and she froze, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

Kai locked gazes with her, needing to drive home his point. "These guys are trained, and they're armed. It's better if we split up. If we can all get out of here without being seen, that would be perfect. But in my world, perfect doesn't exist."

He didn't give her time to argue. Instead, he nodded at Gage.

His colleague took Tori's arm and led her in the opposite direction.

As soon as Kai took a step down the hallway, he saw a shadow move in the distance.

Someone was definitely inside. They'd been tracked. Again.

Kai started to duck back around the corner when gunfire rang out.

A bullet lodged into the wall right next to him.

This guy was shooting at him.

Kai dropped low and grabbed his own gun.

Using the wall for cover, he fired back.

"It's pointless for you to try to run," the man yelled. "Might as well give up now."

Kai didn't answer, didn't give away his location. Instead, he remained near the corner, waiting for his opponent's next move.

As soon as Kai heard the guy coming close, he slammed his hand down.

But the man ducked out of the way, almost as if he'd been expecting the move.

The butt of Kai's gun barely skimmed the man's head.

The man grabbed Kai's arm, and Kai's gun fell to the floor.

Wasting no time, Kai swung his leg and hit the other man's gun out of his hand also.

They were on equal fighting terms now.

They faced off with each other, both in a crouched fighting pose.

"You don't want to do this," Kai growled.

"You should have left this alone."

Kai needed to keep his eyes wide open. He didn't know how many friends this guy had brought with him, and he didn't want to be taken by surprise.

But he had a feeling there were just two men who'd followed them inside.

This man who was in front of him now and another man who was probably trying to track down Tori.

Kai prayed Gage was able to get her out of here.

His opponent took the first swing.

Then the hand-to-hand combat began.

Tori's heart nearly stopped when she heard the gunfire.

What was going on? What if that bullet had hit Kai?

She started to stop, to turn around.

But Gage held her arm tight. "We can't."

"We can't leave Kai to fight this alone." She pulled against him.

He didn't budge. "We need to make sure you're safe."

Gage started to pull her again when she dug in her heels. "Then put me somewhere safe. You go back and help him."

Gage stared at her, contemplating her request.

A yell sounded in the distance, followed by a crash.

Tori gasped, her mind going to worst-case scenarios.

Kai . . .

What was happening?

Gage's eyes hardened with resolve.

Decision clearly made, he pushed her into the reception area. "Under the desk. Don't come out unless I tell you. Understand?"

She nodded and did as he told her. Gage pushed the chair in after her and then put his fingers over his lips to motion for her to be quiet.

As he stepped from the room, another footfall sounded.

And it wasn't Gage's.

Grunts followed. The sound of flesh hitting flesh. Bodies hitting walls. People moaning.

Tori pressed her eyes closed and told herself not to move.

She'd promised Gage she wouldn't. As much as she'd like to think she could help, she knew there wasn't much she could do. She'd only get in the way.

All she could do was pray—which was the most important thing. Dear Lord, be with Gage. Be with Kai. Keep them safe. Protect them. Cover them. Make our enemies stumble. Blind them and trip their steps.

As Tori heard another groan, she pulled her knees closer.

If that man managed to take out Gage, he might come for her next.

What would she do then?

She'd have no choice but to fight. She knew her efforts probably wouldn't do much good, but she'd give it everything she had.

The next instant, more gunfire sounded.

Her pulse quickened, feeling like it might pound out of control. She could hardly breathe as she tried to imagine what was happening out there.

But maybe it was better if she didn't imagine. Too many horrid scenarios rushed through her head.

Then it suddenly got quiet.

Someone walked toward her.

The question was—was it Gage or Kai?

Or was it one of the men who'd been sent here to destroy them?