Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“I have suppressors in my guns, but even those will make noise.”
“Try to kill as many as you can up close, but don’t take too many chances.”
“If I draw too much attention, they’ll double down on the exit to that fuckin’ maze.”
“If you get killed, you can’t help them. Even if she has to fight for a little while, you can get her out if you stay alive.”
“You got a drone armed and circling?”
“I do. Say the word, and I’ll provide your diversion.”
“Not ’til I say.” Shadow wasn’t sure he trusted Giovanni to hold off until he gave the word, but he hoped he’d let Shadow have the last say since he was the boots on the ground.
“Roger,” Giovanni said.
Shadow hurried to the entrance and opened the door. Giovanni guided him through the massive house. He ran into several guards, whom he disposed of easily. The closer he got to his destination, though, the thicker the crowd. Still, Shadow fought his way through. He made as many closeup kills as he could, breaking necks or slitting throats. He needed quick kills that weren’t messy, so he tried to keep it to the former. Soon, it wasn’t possible.
“Stop pussyfootin’ around and get it done, Shadow!” Venus snapped. “Shoot the motherfuckers!”
“Do it, Shadow!” Giovanni’s voice was a whip.
He knew they were right. He just wanted to give Millie the time she needed. “Where are they?”
“At the exit,” Giovanni said. “She’s exiting now. There are six guards nearby.”
“How far away am I?”
“A hundred feet.”
Shadow took out his sidearms and started shooting. Even with the suppressed firepower, the noise was distracting. No way the guards didn’t know something was coming their way.
“Need that distraction now, Gio.”
“In five. Four. Three…”
Two seconds later there was a deafening explosion. The building shook and dust rained down. Shadow gave up all pretense at being quiet, shooting or stabbing anyone in his way. His only goal was to get to Millie.
It wasn’t long before he heard Millie’s battle cries. Then he spotted her. She was a blur of motion, taking out one man after another. Shadow shot two men headed in their direction before shooting one directly in front of him.
“Millie!” he shouted as he barreled ahead. “Millie! Shoot the bastards!”
She didn’t acknowledge him but took out the one gun she had left and pulled the trigger. The sound was like a thunderclap in the darkened house. Gunfire could be heard off in the distance, probably heading to the explosion set off by Giovanni’s drone.
They killed the last two just as Shadow reached her side. He felt wild. On the verge of a killing rage. “Where’s Katya?”
“Over here.” Millie went to the corner where her sister huddled and pulled the child to her feet. “Come on, honey. We’ve gotta get out of here.”
“She OK?”
“Yes. Her incisions need to be stitched. One at her temple is starting to soak through bandage, but I think she’s fine.”
“I’m scared,” Katya whimpered.
“I know, baby. But Shadow’s here. He’ll get us out of here.”
Shadow felt his chest expand even as the pressure and rage he felt mounted, trying to break free the monster inside him. It had been years since the monster had been this close. Never had he wanted to let it free more than he did right now. Anything to keep Millie and Katya safe.
“Quickly,” Giovanni said, this time speaking on the open channel between Millie and the rest of them. “Go back the way you came. Everyone is gravitating toward the diversion.”
“Let’s go,” Shadow said, urging the girls back the way he’d come. Millie picked up Katya, the little girl wrapping her arms and legs around her sister. Shadow led the way. “You stay on my fuckin’ six, Millie. Don’t get in front of me, don’t get beside me. I have to know where you are at all times.”
“But --”
“No buts!” he roared as he continued on. “On my fuckin’ six!”
She didn’t answer, but he knew she’d comply. If for no other reason than she knew it was safer for Katya.
By the time they got out of the compound, guards were moving back to the house, realizing the explosion must have been a diversion. “Gio? Can you drop another one?”
“Negative. Only have one drone with one payload. If you keep going the way you’re going, you’ll be intercepted just before you get to the cliff where you rappelled from.”
“Is the campsite still secure?”
“Affirmative. No one’s spotted it. Head that way and be prepared for company.”
“How many?”
“Ten to fifteen,” Venus said.
They ran as hard and as fast as they could, trying to get just that little bit ahead of the coming mob. Once they reached the cliff, Shadow knelt and readied his weapon, making sure they were fully loaded and that he had full clips at the ready.
“Get her up that fuckin’ rope!” he bit out.