by Norris, Kris
“I’m sure empty offices are a dime a dozen, here.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be the upbeat one? I’m sure your sixth sense will suss one out for us.”
“I’m not a damn psychic bloodhound. It doesn’t quite work that way.”
“I don’t care how it works, just that it helps us avoid people while getting what we came here for.” He motioned to the stairs. “If I recall correctly, you like taking point.”
Six shook his head but started climbing, moving a bit slower than he normally would. He wanted to give his senses time to kick in. Give him enough of a warning they could react accordingly without boxing themselves in.
Five flights up and nothing but the soft press of Kam’s boots against the stairs. She was trying to be silent, like him and Crow, and she was doing a damn good job. But there was still a slight scuff as she placed each foot—a hint of sound any Spec Ops soldier would pick up.
Hopefully the majority of the agents here weren’t ex-military. Or at least, not Special Forces. People who’d trained just as hard as Crow and him. Who would stop at nothing to track them down. Not that Six could do anything other than attempt to avoid any kind of chance meeting.
Two minutes in and they’d reached the eighth floor. Had an ear pressed against the door. Nothing penetrated the heavy metal surface, leaving them guessing. Crow punched in the codes, again, palmed the handle then started to turn it when the image hit Six. People walking on the other side. An alarm sounding as they stepped out into the fray.
He grabbed Crow’s hand, giving the man a shake of his head as he circled his finger and pointed up. Crow raised a brow but nodded, releasing the handle then following Six up another flight. Six paused, again, waiting to see if he’d get any kind of reading, when voices sounded above them. The telltale whoosh of a door opening and closing echoing down the stairs. There was a slight squeak, then footsteps. Heading down. Getting close to the landing between floors.
Six gave Crow a shove, grabbing the handle as the other man disengaged the security features, finally pulling the door wide as Crow stepped out. He didn’t draw his gun or clear each direction—just moved into the corridor beyond, back straight. Confidence radiating off him in waves. And damn, even Six had to remind himself Crow wasn’t part of the staff. The way he carried himself—head high. Shoulders pressed back. Chest out. He looked every inch the CIA agent he’d become. He’d even managed to ease off on the intimidation vibe he usually had going. Notched it down from lethal Delta Force warrior to fierce CIA officer.
Six palmed Kam’s back and guided her through, keeping her mostly hidden behind Crow. Though his senses hadn’t gone squirrelly, he couldn’t negate the fact that there might be a threat. His ability wasn’t foolproof, and he needed to respect that. Use his other training to keep them safe.
Crow led them away from the stairwell, turning the corner as the door opened behind him. Those voices following after them. Crow pointed at the next intersection, veering them right, down the aisle, then around another bend. Footsteps sounded close by, easy laughter floating to them through the air.
A curse then Crow was heading for a door at the end of the corridor—shoving it open and motioning them inside. A man spun toward them, but Six was already moving. A quick uppercut, then his arms around the guy’s head and neck. Squeezing tight. The man struggled, trying to grasp at Six’s forearms before his movements slowed, then stopped. Body limp in Six’s hold.
Six laid the guy on the ground, hiding him behind the desk. He looked up, clenching his jaw when he realized Crow wasn’t with them. That the other man had closed the door, a shadow below the edge signaling he was standing right outside.
Then, his voice carried to them through the door. Casual conversation. As if he knew whoever had walked past. Which freaking meant their time was limited.
Six turned, but Kam was already in the chair, tapping at the keyboard. She shoved a thumb drive into one of the ports—waited until it activated then started running lines of code until a series of letters and numbers appeared on the screen, unlocking it.
She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I’m in. I need five minutes, tops.”
He nodded, knowing they probably didn’t have that long. Hell, if they got sixty seconds without this entire op blowing up in their face, he’d consider it a freaking miracle.
More tapping. Her clicking the mouse through various folders. Scrolling through them so fast he wondered how she could even tell what the names were. Then, a pause. Her opening up files, drawing her finger down the monitor. An inhale as she gazed at him, again. “Got it. I’ll unlock it, and copy it all over. I can run the decryption back at Gibson’s place.”
“Better make it fast, sweetheart. I have a feeling we’re really short on time.”
A purse of her lips then her fingers flying across the keyboard, again. Blurring the motion as she dragged files onto the thumb drive’s icon. She looked as if she’d readied them all to copy when the handle rattled.
Six spun the chair, scooped her into his arms, then dropped. Right beside the guy he’d knocked out. Whose face was red. Tie cocked off to one side. Top couple of buttons missing. Kam stiffened in his arms, trying to make herself as small as possible when the door squeaked open, heavy footsteps on the other side.
“Looks like I missed him.” Crow. Voice steady. Even. As if it was just a regular day. Another Monday afternoon. “Probably off taking care of business.”
He accentuated the last word, eliciting a round of laughter from whoever was with him. “If you don’t mind, Steve, I’ll hang out for a few. In case he comes back.”
The guy—Steve—sighed. “I suppose it’s okay. But do me a favor and head downstairs before you leave. Get Smithers to reissue you some new ID. New codes and clearance papers. These old ones could land you in some serious trouble if security wants to check things out.”
“Will do. Like I said, I only wanted to gather a few things I’d left behind that Carl had boxed up for me. Didn’t really think it all through.”
“Right. Just, try to avoid anyone else seeing you until you have the new clearance, or we’ll both be in trouble.”
“Of course. Good seeing you, again.”
Footsteps retreating. The swoosh of the door closing. “Jesus, that was too close.” Crow’s head peered over the edge of the desk. “You get what you needed?”
Kam jumped up, returning to the keyboard. She held up her hand, slowly counting down until she hit one of the keys—popped out the thumb drive. “Got it. Just give me thirty more seconds to upload a virus that will wipe all the cameras for the past ten minutes, as well as destroy any feeds for the next ten, and I’ll be done.”
“Damn. You computer nerds are scary. Though, I was a bit…concerned about the cameras. What story I’d spin if we got identified. I tried to have us avoid any full frontal shots, but this is much better. Less chance of it coming back to bite us in the ass, later. Just…make it quick. We need to roll before anyone else wants a meeting with Carl.”
Crow went back to the door, listened, then opened it once Kam had rounded the desk—nodded that she’d finished uploading the virus. He angled it wide, then froze. Fucking froze as all the color blanched from his face. His fingers tightened around the frame before he shut it, having the presence of mind not to slam it those last few inches.
Six shouldered up to him, nudging him when he simply stared right through him. “Crow? Buddy, we need to get the hell out of here before Steve decides to be helpful and call that Smithers guy, himself.”
Crow swallowed, coughed a few times, then finally shifted his gaze to Six. “It’s her.”
Six frowned. “Her?”
“Devlyn. And she’s heading this way.”
Chapter Twenty
Devlyn? Who the hell was Devlyn, and couldn’t Crow handle it the way he’d handled Steve? Talk about the weather then brush it off as him picking up some box? Bullshit his way out until the person left? Or at the very least, get them inside so e
ither he or Six could knock them out. Hell, Kam was pretty sure the new surge of adrenaline would make her invincible.
She stepped closer then stopped. Crow’s face was ashen. As if someone had drained all the blood out of him. The pale color highlighting the overly white look of his eyes, the stunning blue barely registering. All the years she’d known him, even peripherally, and she’d never seen the man react like this.
Fear.
That’s what was written in the lines of his face. The way he clenched his jaw as his nostrils flared, each ragged breath shallower than the last.
Six stepped in front of Crow. “Damn it, Crow, now’s not the time to lose it.”
Crow growled, shoving Six as some of the color returned to his cheeks. “I’m not losing it. I’m just…” He fisted a hand against the door but didn’t punch it. “If Dev finds us, it’s all over. She’ll have us locked up in a damn isolation ward in the lower levels before we can blink.”
“Maybe she’ll… Shit. Get behind the door. Kam, back behind the desk. Let’s pray she only takes a glimpse inside because if she spots us…”
Crow’s temple jumped at the veiled remark. If this Devlyn person saw them, one of them would have to take charge—most likely knock her out. And since Crow would be the only one in the position to do that…
Kam darted back behind the desk, inhaling when Six rounded it and dove at her just as the handle rattled. A click then a swirl of air. The hinges creaking slightly as a wedge of light brightened the floor in front of them. Kam only had a sliver of space visible between the bottom of the desk and the floor, but she noted the shadow extending toward them. The dull pad of boots against the carpet.
“Carl?”
Shit. She was inside the doorway. Not quite all the way judging by her voice. The slight hollow sound from her being perched in the threshold. Was that another step inside? Had the shadow gotten closer? Larger? Could she see Carl’s body spread out on the floor? Maybe get a sense of being watched with Crow hiding behind the door?
“Christ, doesn’t anyone work in this damn facility? Men.”
A huff, then another step forward. Another opportunity for her to catch them. Six dragged Kam closer. All but climbed on top of her, obviously hoping to shield her from view. From bullets or knives this lady might throw. Which sounded pretty farfetched. Sure, they’d be busted, but she doubted the other woman would shoot first.
Of course, Six would immediately consider all the worst-case scenarios and plan for them. Which, if she was being honest with herself, was one of his most alluring traits. How he never let himself get sidelined. Always had a way out. Alternate plans. Though, she wasn’t sure how they’d get out of this one short of Crow cold-cocking this Devlyn person over the head—leaving her beside Carl behind the desk.
More footsteps, and it sounded as if Devlyn had turned—had taken a step toward the hallway.
“Hey, Devlyn. Carl still not back?”
Shit. Kam recognized that voice. It was Steve, the guy Crow had managed to blow off a few minutes ago.
A snort. “I swear the man spends more time in the bathroom than any woman I’ve ever met.”
“He does eat a lot of Mexican food.”
“Thanks, Steve. Just what I needed. A visual.” Another huff and a tap of her boot. “I’ll just come back later.”
More steps away then an obvious pause. “Wait. What do you mean still? How long has he been gone?”
Crap. If Steve mentioned he’d talked to Crow, no way the lady would leave. Not if Kam’s suspicions were correct—that Devlyn had been intimately involved with Crow. That it had ended ugly. That kind of emotion didn’t fade easily. And Kam bet her ass that Devlyn would storm in. Wait for Carl so she could question him. Interrogate, really.
Kam gave Six a shove, motioning to the computer. Six pursed his lips but eased off her, alternating his gaze between her and the door as she slipped right—did her best to hide her head behind the monitor as she peeked above the surface enough to access the keyboard. Thankfully, the damn thing hadn’t gone to sleep yet—locked her out, again.
She reached for the keys, tapping in a few commands—making her way to the root directories—as she watched the doorway. She couldn’t see Devlyn, the door hanging at a forty-five. But there was a disturbing quiet on the other side, as if Steve wasn’t quite sure how to reply.
Ten seconds. That’s all Kam probably had before the man broke—admitted to seeing Crow.
“Earth to Steve?”
Make that five seconds.
Kam scrolled through a series of options, finally finding the access she wanted. Two seconds and she had the screen up—the alarm system at her fingertips. Another two and she had the fire protocol loaded. Just one more button…
The sirens broke the relative silence, blaring through the room and echoing down the hallway. Panicked chatter mixed with the loud noise, footsteps pounding the floor beyond the door.
“God damn it. What now?” Devlyn. Voice irritated. The pitch slightly higher. Then, she and Steve darted away—heading back down the corridor.
Kam released the breath she’d been holding, only to have Six grab her shoulders—twist her to face him. Then, his fingers lifting to her cheeks. Holding her captive. He stared at her, looking as if he wanted to yell and kiss her with the same breath. The kiss won out as he slanted his mouth of hers. It was fierce. Passionate. And over far too quickly.
Crow grunted behind them. “For fuck’s sake, let’s go before the damn fire department shows up.”
Kam glanced at Crow as Six took them both to their feet, holding her hand tightly in his as he rounded the desk, heading over to Crow. “I didn’t know what else to do. Your buddy, Steve, was about to tell Devlyn he’d been talking to you.”
Crow sighed, nodding. “You did great. I… Let’s just go. Hope we can blend in with the crowd.”
They checked the hallway then moved out, making a beeline to the stairs. Crow kept his head bowed forward, obviously trying to avoid being recognized as they trailed behind a small group of people hurrying toward the exit. They kept a reasonable distance, winding down the stairs to the same door on the main floor.
Crow pulled it open, peeked out, then cursed. “Well, that’s not good. I was concerned this might happen.”
Six moved forward, shaking his head as he peered around the frame, letting Kam get a glimpse at the row of armed security agents scanning everyone’s ID as they exited the building. “What are the chances they’ll believe we left our IDs upstairs?”
“About minus a hundred. Hate to break it to you, buddy, but this is standard protocol. In case the alarm was staged. It also provides a way of checking everyone gets out. That none of the IDs are false.”
Kam crossed her arms when Crow glanced at her. “I didn’t see either of you coming up with a better option.”
Crow chuckled. “Damn, you’re defensive. And I’m not complaining, just trying to figure a way out. It’s not like my ID is going to pass, either.”
“Is there another exit?”
“That would defeat them checking everyone.”
Kam glared at him. “You don’t have to be an ass about it. I was just thinking out loud. Tossing suggestions around. So, we need a distraction.”
Six grunted, reclaimed her hand. “Stay close and follow me exactly.”
“Six?”
But he was already moving. Stepping out then behind a group of four. Three men and a woman. He kept shifting—sidestepping one way then the other. Kam caught a glimpse of movement in front of them. That Devlyn woman looking over her shoulder. But Six already had them sliding behind a pillar, holding their position for several heartbeats then moving out, again.
Devlyn was gone, her copper-colored ponytail just visible before she turned the corner. Disappeared. Six gave her hand a squeeze then started walking. Kam followed his lead, changing directions whenever he indicated it with another squeeze and a shift of her hand. They were only several feet away before he veered toward the l
eft side of the building.
Six gave them both the signal to hold on then darted back into the throng of workers. He slipped between several employees, vanished for a few moments, before a woman was shouting. The crowd stumbling to a collective halt.
His voice sounded above the gasps and cries. “Medic. We need help over here.”
Two of the agents at the door pushed their way forward, making the crowd step back. Three men were splayed out across the ground, eyes shut. Blood on two of their faces. Frothy drool dripping out of the third’s mouth.
One of the agents waved to the other three at the door. “Damn it, Johnson. I need help over here.”
Another two men headed for the group as Six appeared in front of them, nodding toward the door. Kam moved out, sticking behind him. The one agent was still checking IDs—trying to slow the steady outward push of the crowd—when he looked up at Six. Six smiled, stepped forward then hit the guy hard in the chest with two fingers. A quick throat strike and the guard was down, breath wheezing, feet kicking at the floor.
Six stepped over him, walking forward then stopping abruptly. He spun, shoving Crow to the side a second before Devlyn charged around the corner, darting past them as she ran toward the downed agent.
Six held firm for two seconds, then they were off, once more. Faster than before. They didn’t head for Crow’s truck—bypassing it as they crossed the street and continued on. Kam caught a glimpse of Rigs moving out from the shadows with Blade. The man unlocked Crow’s vehicle, waited until Blade had jumped in, then climbed inside and drove off. Passing the line of fire trucks screeching to a halt outside the building.
Colt’s truck pulled out in front of them, idling by the curb until they’d jumped in. Then, he was gone. Turning in front of the row of police cars whizzing past, sirens blaring. Lights flashing. He took a few more turns, then there were going up the on-ramp. Heading north. Kam knew Colt would eventually turn them around. Rendezvous back at Gibson’s. But for now, she was content to sit there. Breathe because she swore her lungs weren’t working. Were locked up tight.