I grabbed the blanket, then covered my body as we approached the compound. “Remember. You try to warn them or do anything else, and I’ll kill you where you sit. I’ll be listening.”
He slowed the Blazer, then lowered the driver’s side window. A gust of cold air rushed inside the cab.
“Shit, Trenton. You look like hell,” the sentry said through his mask. “Where’s Peterson? What happened to your shoulder?”
Trenton hesitated.
My finger pressed against the trigger a hair tighter, ready to squeeze. I couldn’t see well through the thick, stench-ridden blanket that covered me from head to toe.
“The partner of the guy we captured earlier got the drop on us back in town. Killed Peterson and put a damn hole in his shoulder,” Trenton replied through strained breath.
“Did you take care of him?”
Trenton hesitated again for a second, then said, “He’s wounded, but I lost him. Came back to get bandaged up before heading back out.”
“Yeah. You look like hammered dog shit. Charlie is with his partner right now. I imagine he isn’t going to be pleased that this man hasn’t been taken care of yet. The guy did shoot him back in that surplus store in town.”
“We’ll get him,” Trenton said.
The Blazer got back on the move. The gust of cold air blowing inside the cab ceased.
“Park somewhere out of the way without much foot traffic,” I said, pulling the blanket down.
Lights shone from the windows of the building we passed, then vanished as the Blazer turned, then stopped. Trenton killed the engine and stayed put in his seat.
I sat up from the back seat. The blanket fell around my waist. I looked out the windows of the Blazer for any guards or other threats, but spotted none.
I moved the blanket from my lower body, then pressed the barrel of the pistol against the base of Trenton’s skull. “Where are they keeping my partner?”
Trenton kept his hand locked on the steering wheel. “The two-story building at the far side of the compound I think.”
“You think?” I pressed the muzzle harder against his skull. “I need better than I think.”
“I’m pretty positive that’s where they took him.” Trenton stumbled over his words.
“You stake your life on that?”
“I do.”
I pulled the dagger from my coat, clutching it in my free hand. I removed the pistol from the back of his head. “Give me the keys.”
Trenton pulled the keys from the ignition, then handed them back to me. He let go of them before I took hold. They clattered off the center console. He reached across his body, scrambling for the door handle.
I sat up, reached around the driver’s seat, and grabbed him. The door swung open. His body squirmed in my arms, trying to get free. Both hands grabbed my forearm and jerked. I stabbed him in the base of his skull, silencing his panted breaths and grunts.
He thrashed in the seat for a second before going limp. I held tight, making sure he had passed. I whispered in his ear, “You’ve been freed from this world.”
I slung his dead weight over the center console, then opened the back driver’s side door. I stepped out of the Blazer.
Trenton’s left leg dangled from the driver’s side of the vehicle. I pushed my door closed, then skimmed over the area. He’d parked the Blazer between a large-beige metal building and a blue shipping container.
The chain link fence ran in front of the SUV. Beyond that, wide open space blended with the ash that blanketed the grounds. I couldn’t spot any good place to stow the body, so I pushed his leg back into the vehicle and left him be.
I closed the driver’s side door and got on the move, working my way around the smaller buildings, vehicles, and crates. I followed along the sides of the structures and around the bumpers of the trucks.
Sentries patrolled the outer perimeter and inside the compound. Each one carried an automatic rifle and sidearms holstered on their hips. I counted four in total. Not much given the size of the compound.
I stooped down alongside a stack of wooden crates, then peered around the corner.
A sentry walked in my direction. I leaned away, then looked back over my shoulder. I scurried the length of the crates to the end, and found a narrow passage that ran between the wall of crates and the fence.
The sentry came into view.
I entered the tight space–slithering down to the other side with my back rubbing along the fence. The air burned my nose and lungs with each breath I took. I hit the far side, and peeked around the corner, scanning for any more men patrolling. The coast looked clear.
I ran toward the last remaining building and slipped past the far side of the structure. I maneuvered past stacks of pallets and rusted barrels, searching for a way inside.
A door popped open a few paces in front of me. I hugged the sheet metal wall and froze. I spotted a flash of movement heading outside through the tiny crack between the door and the jamb. A single target from what I could tell.
My hand closed tighter around the handle of the dagger. I secured the pistol in my waistband and stalked my prey, inching closer to the open door. I listened for multiple voices, but heard none.
A black-gloved hand grabbed the edge of the door, then pushed it closed. The guard had his back turned to me, training a blind eye to my presence.
I closed in with the dagger at the ready.
He stopped, then turned about, spotting me. He reached for the pistol on his hip. I grabbed his hand, then forced him against the wall. He shoved his hands into my chest and pushed away.
My forearm pressed against his throat as I leaned on him. He punched me in the ribs twice, then reached for the pistol. I removed my forearm from his throat, then rammed the tip of the dagger past the mask filter, hitting right under his chin.
The dagger hit flesh, then nicked the side of his jawbone. His eyes popped open as I shoved it into his skull. He reached for my arm, clawing at my jacket with frantic hands. I held firm until he went limp.
His wide frame slid across the wall and hit the ground hard. I craned my neck and looked toward the far end of the building for any additional inbound men. I peered over my shoulder. All clear.
I moved toward the door, then grabbed the handle. I pushed down, then pulled. The door opened.
A dim light lit the dark space near the rear entrance of the building. I scanned for any threats, then slipped inside. I gave one last look down the side of the building, then shut the door behind me.
Footfalls sounded close by. I clutched the dagger tighter, then moved to a dark corner ahead of me, and wedged my frame into the black space. I waited patiently, ready to strike down the inbound threat and to finish what these people started, once and for all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CORY
The back of my head throbbed. It hurt to move. My neck felt stiff—locked into place. The side of my face pressed to the cold surface of the floor, sending a chill down my spine.
“You all right?” Anna asked, standing near my head. Her voice sounded muffled, distant.
I opened my eyes. A haze coated my vision. I blinked, then moved my hands. I lifted my head from the concrete floor, then turned it.
“Damn it,” I said, grumbling through clenched teeth.
“Yeah. Looks like they tagged you pretty good.” Anna grabbed my arm and pulled.
I got to my knees, paused for a moment, then leaned against the wall. The world spun. Dizziness swelled inside my head. The inside of my mouth was dry, my lips coarse to the touch, and I felt a bit nauseated.
“Where are we?” I asked, blinking and running my tongue around my mouth. “How long have I been out?”
Anna stooped next to me, then stood up. “The McCones’s place, I think. You’ve been out for a bit. Not sure how long, though.”
My hand massaged the back of my head. A small knot had formed from where Stocky pistol whipped me. I blinked a few times, clearing the blurred vision out.
The empty room was lit with a single lantern that gave off a tiny bit of light. As far as I could tell, only Anna and myself were inside.
“Where’s Cindy?” I asked, rubbing my eyes with my forefinger and thumb.
Anna sat down against the wall near the single steel door. She crossed her legs, then leaned her head back. “They took her shortly after we were brought here. She’s been gone ever since.”
Shit.
“Shadow?”
“Not sure.” Anna dipped her chin and picked at a loose thread on her jeans. Her face contorted in a scowl–lips pursed. “Haven’t seen her since the motel. Don’t know what they’ve done to her. Bastards.”
The dizziness waned with each passing second. The sick feeling tormenting me ebbed as well. The throbbing in my head lessened, giving me a reprieve from the constant pressure inside my skull.
I got to my feet. The world spun. I pressed my hand against the cold surface of the smooth wall, took a deep breath, trudged over to the door, and tested the handle.
“It’s locked. Won’t even budge,” Anna said in a curt manner. She continued picking at the loose thread on the seam along her pant leg. “Believe me. I pounded on the door for a while.”
I sighed, then released the handle. “Great.” I placed my hands on my hips, then skimmed over the room again, searching for anything of use or a possible way out.
“I’ve already checked the room as well.” Anna glanced up at me, then released the thread that wound around the tip of her finger. “There’s an AC duct toward the back, but it’s out of reach.”
I glanced down at Anna, getting a better look at her face. Her right cheek looked bruised. The bottom corner of her lip was puffy, swollen even. I pointed at her cheek, then her lip. “What happened there?”
“Being mouthy. I have a tendency to do that.” She shrugged. “I got a shot in on that short, stocky guy when they were bringing us down here. He didn’t like being hit, much less by a woman.”
I shook my head, then walked away from the door. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?”
“More than you know.” Anna pulled her legs toward her chest, then rested her forearms on the tops of her bent knees. Her hand reached over and palmed the gash under the sleeve of the white coat she had on.
“Yeah. Seems that way.” I paced around, looking to the wood rafters and the AC duct that hung down from the ten-foot ceiling. I dug my hand into my pocket to fish the phone out, but found nothing more than empty space.
My hands balled into fists. I sighed, shook my head in frustration, then turned toward Anna.
She stared at me. “What’s wrong? Well, besides the obvious.”
“They took my phone. Granted, the battery was dead and the screen had a nice crack in it, but it was the only lifeline I had to my wife and son. Now that’s gone,” I replied, aggravated.
Anna nodded. “I’m sure they are. We’ll reach them in time.”
“Are you sure about that?” I shot back, perturbed with myself. “I should’ve just listened to what you said and—”
“And what? Leave her to the whims of these ruthless thugs?” Anna pointed at the door. “Don’t beat yourself up too much. You felt you were in a position to do the right thing. Besides, the hit men don’t know where your family is staying, so they should be safe until we get there.”
I scratched at the stubble growing from my chin. “Yeah. They shouldn’t, but I still worry about them. Hell, look at what’s happening outside. It’s the end of the world, I’ve got a bounty on my head, and now we’re trapped in another situation with more bad people.”
“Our world is full of them, Lawson,” Anna replied. “It’s a hard life to escape when you’re as entrenched as we are. Shit. I have a hard time remembering when I had any peace. Any sort of normal existence.”
“You and me both.” I shook my head. “I’ve been a brawler most of my life and got tangled up with the wrong crowd. From there, it only got deeper until the point where I lost who I was, and it hurt my family. I thought I got out, but Mr. Coleman dragged me right back in with the promise of money.”
Anna nodded, then continued to pick at the loose thread on her jeans. “I know how that is. My father was a contractor. Skilled and deadly. He worked for some big crime families up north around the Boston area when I was growing up. He made many enemies over the years, taking out some powerful targets. It got to the point where he started to fear for our safety and he began training me to fight and handle myself. At the time, I didn’t know why. I mean, I enjoy fighting. Always have. I’m good at it. I thought it was just something for us to do together. You know, a little father daughter bonding.
He finally came clean and told me what he did for a living after a break in at our home. For the longest time, he said he was in sales. Anyway, I drifted further into the dark, criminal underworld when he, my mom, younger brother, and even the family dog was killed. Since then, I’ve been trying to track down the bastards who snuffed them and who placed the hit.”
“And here I thought my past was complicated.”
“You’re not the only one who has gone through the meat grinder,” Anna said, twisting and pulling at the now frayed denim. “And this isn’t the worst spot I’ve ever been in. Don’t get me wrong, these guys are bad, but between the both of us, we’ll figure something out. You’ll get back to your family, and I’ll find the answers I’m after.”
The lock to the door clicked. Anna looked to me, then stood up. She moved away from the entrance and stood at my side.
The door swung open. Beams of light moved in the darkness, then shined at our faces. I lifted my hand, shielding my eyes from the punishing, bright-white light.
Two black-clad figures walked inside with pistols drawn and trained at us. They moved to either side of the entrance, keeping the lights fixed on each of us. Stocky and Blondie entered right behind the large, muscular men with two more hulking guards standing out in the hallway.
Anna balled her fingers into a fist, then shifted her weight between her skinny legs.
The muscles in my arms tensed. I looked past the men, hunting for Cindy, but didn’t see her.
Stocky stared at me, but didn’t say a word. The dark circle around his eye showed where Anna had punched him.
Blondie stepped forward, walking with a limp. He had a bandage over the bridge of his nose. He glanced over at Anna, then looked back at me with malevolent eyes.
I took a step toward Stocky. “Where’s Cin—”
Blondie decked me in the face with a right cross. His fist smashed the side of my jaw. My legs weakened. I collapsed to the floor at his feet.
Anna took a step forward, arm raised as if to engage him. His men doubled down on her, training their pistols at her. She stopped.
“That’s for shooting me in the foot,” Blondie said, cold and callous. I rubbed my jaw, then glanced up at him from my knees. “And this is for causing us so many problems.” Blondie punched me again, sending me to the floor with another hard right cross to my jaw that I couldn’t muster the energy to block. His fist felt like concrete. Pain lanced through my head, making it ache and throb. He shook his hand, then stumbled, favoring his injured foot.
“But don’t worry. As much as I’d like to kill you two right now, you do have a purpose.” Blondie massaged his hand. “A way to set things right and fix this mess we’ve found ourselves in.”
A tooth felt loose on my bottom jaw. My tongue probed it. Blood and spit filled my mouth. I spat it to the floor, then flitted my gaze back up to Blondie.
“Is that so?” I asked, running the back of my hand across my lips. Anna grabbed my arm, helping me back to my feet.
Blondie shook his hand, staring at me. “It is. I had a nice chat with your female friend. She filled me in on what happened and who hired her husband and friend to hit our establishment. It didn’t take much to make her talk. A simple threat of killing her kid made her spill her guts.”
I massaged the side of my f
ace, then opened my mouth wide. “Is she still alive?”
“For now, but for how long depends on you two,” Blondie answered.
“How’s that?” Anna asked.
Blondie looked at her, then smirked. “Well, seeing as we have a contract killer in our midst, I’d say that we could have some use for that sort of skill set at the moment. I know we’ve never had the pleasure of working with you, but your reputation certainly precedes you, Miss Snyder.”
Anna looked to me, then back to Blondie. He looked her up and down, lining the edge of his lips with his tongue.
“How do you know who I am?” she shot back, tense and ready to fight.
“Oh, we’ve known about you for some time and that you’ve taken jobs for Domingo. There aren’t too many female contractors out there, especially ones that can fight and handle themselves like you can. This truly is a pleasure. Mr. McCone is looking forward to having you help us out,” Blondie said with a coy smirk.
“What do you want from us?” I asked, bringing Blondie’s attention back to me.
“It’s pretty simple. She’s going to go to Domingo’s place, take back what is ours, and kill him,” Blondie answered. “It shouldn’t be an issue for Miss Snyder to gain access given their relationship and all. You’ll stay here.”
“And if we refuse to go along with this?” I asked.
“Then I kill you, Miss Snyder, the woman, her kid, and anyone else tied to you,” Blondie replied, pointing at Anna and me. “And to let you know, I’m not asking but telling you how this is going to go down. Besides, seeing how both of you operate and handle yourselves, I suspect this won’t be too hard for you to accomplish.”
“Fine,” Anna said, lowering her arms and relaxing her hands. “If you want this done right, I’ll need help.” She turned and looked at me. “I can take him with me as backup. That way, you don’t have to use any of your men, and since we don’t have much choice in the matter–”
Blondie mulled it over, staring at Anna for a second, then at me. He nodded. “No, you really don’t. It’s either this or a bullet to the head right now. Though, it would be a shame to waste such talent as yours. Who knows, this could forge a new relationship between us. Mr. McCone is always looking for new talent to add to the roster. You, my dear, would be a valuable asset.”
Brink of Extinction | Book 2 | Stay Alive Page 19