There was a hallway to the left of the large room. Corbin motioned to the rest of the group and they moved in that direction. Their footsteps were silent as they walked across the padded carpet of the hallway. As they approached the first doorway on the left, Corbin paused, listening for any sound of movement. That strange feeling of something more was growing stronger in Declan’s mind. He didn’t understand it, and he tried to focus on it. As he did, he realized that his borrowed night vision was failing. A sudden understanding dawned. There was another person with a Praetorian ability nearby. An ability that he was unfamiliar with. He tried to reach out with his own ability and touch that other mysterious ability, but failed. It hovered just out of reach.
He glanced over in time to see Corbin reaching for the doorknob. Declan put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. He wasn’t sure if the door was rigged with an explosive, but he didn’t think they should take any chances. He motioned Rylee, Miller and Corbin back from the door. Corbin seemed to understand what Declan meant to do and nodded. The rest of the team took several steps back from the door as Declan focused on the knob, using Jon’s ability to turn it slowly as he’d been taught.
The knob turned slowly and he gave the door a little push with his mind. As it moved, Declan found himself holding his breath against what might happen next. He was braced for anything. Corbin had his weapons trained on the small opening, waiting for an ambush. Rylee was watching the big room they’d entered through and Miller had his guns trained on the hallway ahead of them. Declan pushed the door the rest of the way open to reveal a small office dominated by a desk in the center. Miller traded places with Corbin and thoroughly looked over the room before moving inside to check behind the desk. He turned back to face the team, shaking his head. Empty.
Declan should have been relieved that there was no danger here, but he felt the opposite. The longer they went without seeing anyone else, the more tightly wound his nerves became. Miller moved back out into the hallway, leaving the door open. They began to move deeper into the building. The four of them moved methodically toward the room they’d been assigned to breach. It was just ahead on the right.
Once again, the others moved back from the door and he used Jon’s ability to slowly turn the knob. As he did, Declan felt a slight resistance that he hadn’t felt when he’d opened the other door. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but he focused harder and forced the knob around. There was a faint click and Declan suddenly realized that he’d screwed up. He knew a micro–second of sheer terror before he felt someone slam into him with the force of a truck. He landed hard, a good five feet from where he’d been standing, Corbin above him. The blast of heat coming from the doorway he’d just been standing near was like an inferno. Debris rained down on both of them and Declan’s ears were ringing from the sound of the blast. Corbin moved slowly to his feet. Rylee and Miller had their weapons drawn and were scanning the area even as they looked the two of them over, making sure they were unharmed.
Declan ignored the fact that breathing seemed beyond him just then and struggled to his feet. He knew Corbin had been acting on instinct and he was grateful to the other man for saving his life. He just hoped he never needed him to do it again. He wasn’t sure he’d survive it a second time. He coughed a few times and sucked in a deep breath. His chest hurt, but he was alive. He clapped Corbin on the shoulder and gave him a grateful nod. “Thanks, man,” he said hoarsely.
Corbin smiled back and gave him a questioning look. “You okay?” he asked. Declan held up a thumb to indicate that he was fine. Corbin spoke into his radio, “No harm.” There wasn’t much need for silence at this point. Everyone within five miles would have heard that explosion. Now, time was of the essence. They needed to get Grace and get out before they were found. Miller quickly scanned the interior of the room. He shook his head.
“If anyone was in there, they’re not anymore,” he said.
They began walking again, quicker this time, with less interest in stealth. The sound of gunfire erupting from the back of the building had them all pausing momentarily before they all began to move even faster.
Declan felt that strange sensation in the edges of his consciousness and tried to grab it again. Again, it escaped his grasp. Frustrated, he focused on Bree’s aiming ability and stayed alert, looking for any enemy soldiers as they moved. At the end of the hallway, Miller poked his head around the corner briefly. “Two on the left. They’ve got Bree and Sawyer pinned down. They can’t get a decent shot without getting their heads blown off.” He leaned back against the wall.
Declan looked at Miller. “High or low?” he asked.
Miller studied him for a moment. “One high, one low,” he said. Declan nodded and checked his gun one last time. His eyes had adjusted well to the darkness of the building since he’d stopped mimicking Miller’s ability. He instead focused on Bree’s ability. He needed to be fast and he needed to be accurate. He listened to the sound of gunfire, waiting for a lull. When it came, he didn’t hesitate, hoping Miller was right.
He moved quickly into the hallway, sighting the dark figures on the left and fired several rounds quickly. He knew he’d hit them. He didn’t have to see them to know. He’d felt it. The sureness of his ability working had been coursing through him. He ducked back behind the wall, just in case he was wrong, though. There were several moments where the only sound heard was his own breathing.
“We’re good,” Declan’s heart leapt at the sound of Bree’s voice in his ear. He closed his eyes for a moment. She was okay. He hadn’t let himself focus on the fear he’d felt when the sound of gunfire had started. Rylee met his eyes and he knew she was thinking the same thing. Her family was safe.
“All good here,” Corbin replied. He motioned to the other three. “Let’s move,” he said. They turned the corner and moved to meet up with Sawyer and the rest of the team. As they moved down the hall toward the others, Declan realized that the odd sensation he’d been feeling was now gone. He reached out with his ability, trying to seek out anything he could mimic. He only felt the familiar abilities of his team members and Miller. He hoped that didn’t mean that there was no one else alive in this building. Where was Grace?
Bree’s heart leapt at the sight of her mother and Declan walking unharmed toward her. They were both a bit dusty, but they were whole. When she’d heard the explosion earlier, she’d felt like someone had taken the air from her lungs in a rush. Her hands were still shaking slightly, even after hearing Corbin’s assurance that no one had been harmed. Seeing everyone in one piece was what she’d needed. She took a deep breath and released it, trying to appear normal. She greeted the others with a nod as Sawyer relayed the events so far. They’d entered the back door and seen no one. They’d begun moving down the empty hallway ahead of them. Halfway down, there was another hallway off to the right. According to the floorplan they’d studied, the room they were looking for was that way.
They’d been cautious, anticipating an ambush. But a quick study of the hall showed it to be empty and they prepared to begin checking the rooms. The room on the left was an empty office. When they heard the explosion from the front of the building, they ducked inside the room, waiting for word from the other team. It took less than a minute, but felt like hours to Bree as she waited. They knew they needed to move quickly now. If anyone was still here, they would know they weren’t alone.
They moved back toward the doorway, alert, guns ready. They were preparing to open the door on the other side of the hall when a bullet tore through the wood and lodged itself in the wall, narrowly missing Bree. The three of them dove back inside the other room and crouched behind a large desk until the first round of shooting stopped. They immediately began to return fire, ducking back down behind the desk to reload as another barrage of bullets came toward them. The desk they hid behind was solid wood, but it wouldn’t hold up against this for much longer and they all knew it. Sawyer met Bree’s gaze and the two women shared a look of understanding. They needed to end
this. Fast. When the shooting stopped again, Bree immediately leaned out from behind the desk and took aim. As her finger tightened on the trigger, she watched the two people in the doorway fall and only then became aware of gunfire from a different direction. Suddenly it was silent. She hadn’t even fired her gun.
After a moment, she realized that someone from Corbin’s team had taken out the enemy soldiers. She took a deep breath and spoke into her radio. “We’re good,” she said and sighed. She quickly checked her guns to make sure they were loaded and ready to fire if need be. Then they stepped into the hall to greet the others.
Corbin took a moment to assess the others and make sure everyone was unharmed, his gaze lingering on Sawyer for a moment longer than the others. When he was assured that they were all okay, he nodded toward the last unopened door. “Last option,” he said. “Could be set to blow like the other one.” Jon and Declan came forward, both ready to volunteer to open the door. Corbin looked at them each in turn and said, “You two decide but we do this slowly and carefully. If anything feels wrong, you stop. Got it?” They both nodded.
Jon turned to Declan. “I got this one,” he said. Declan started to shake his head but Jon spoke again. “Nothing against you, Declan because I know you’re good. But I’ve been doing this for longer and I think it’s best if it’s me.” Declan knew Jon was right but he hated the idea of the other man putting himself in harm’s way for him. Again. Still, he nodded and moved back to where the others were standing at the end of the hall. Jon stood closer, but still far enough away from the door to hopefully avoid being blown up.
The others watched as Jon stared at the door. They couldn’t see the knob turning in the dark, but they knew he was reaching out to it with his ability, testing it. They all heard a click as the latch released and the door opened a mere crack. No one moved for a full minute. Jon sighed in relief. He turned back to face the others to give them the okay when he heard a muffled sound from behind the door. He held up a hand for the rest of the team to stay put. He crept forward and put his hand on the door, pushing it slowly open. When he realized what he was seeing, he froze for a moment. “Shit,” he whispered. Jon didn’t normally swear but it seemed an appropriate reaction at this moment.
He quickly regained his composure and scanned the interior of the room before he walked in. The room was empty except for a single occupant. In the center of the small, windowless storage room was a woman tied to a chair. She looked young to Jon, maybe a few years older than Bree. Her eyes were terrified and she was breathing quickly. Jon gave her a reassuring smile, even as he felt his own heartrate speed up a notch.
“Hey,” he said in a calm voice. “It’s Grace, right?” The woman nodded, unable to speak through the cloth gag shoved into her mouth. Her face was tear–streaked and she motioned with her head as though warning Jon away. She was trying to speak but he couldn’t make out the words. He didn’t need to. She was telling him to leave her. He smiled again and shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere,” he told her. “We’re getting you out of here.”
Sawyer entered the room behind Jon and he heard a quiet curse come from her. “That was my first response too,” Jon said as he studied the woman in the chair. “But it’s not particularly helpful right now.” Grace was wearing a black vest which by itself was unremarkable but the bright red digital timer counting down in the center of her chest was what had caught Jon and Sawyer’s attention.
Sawyer turned to face the rest of the team who were peering through the open doorway. “One of you stays. Everyone else, outside. That’s an order.” Corbin moved to enter the room but Miller put a hand out to stop him.
“No,” he said. “She’s my teammate. I got this.”
Corbin sighed and met Sawyer’s gaze. They shared a long look before he turned and ushered the rest of the team back down the hall. Walking away was the hardest thing he’d had to do tonight, but he needed to show her that he trusted her to handle this, even if it terrified him.
Declan followed the others out of the building, once more realizing that Jon was putting himself on the line for the rest of them. Bree looked nervous but Rylee wore a blank expression, clearly hiding her worry for Jon. Once outside, Bree turned to face Declan. “Tell me about the explosion,” she said. He knew she was trying to distract herself from what was happening inside the building but he understood her reasoning. He took his time telling the story of how he’d nearly blown himself up and Corbin had saved his life.
“Thanks for that, by the way,” he said, looking at Corbin. The other man had his eyes trained on the building, his brows drawn low in worry. He only gave a distracted nod at Declan’s words. Rylee walked over to stand with Bree, slipping her arm around her daughter’s waist. The group drifted into silence as they waited.
Jon bent close to Grace and studied the vest under the light shining from a small penlight in Sawyer’s hand. He followed the paths of wires with his eyes before he reached up to remove the gag from Grace’s mouth. She immediately began to speak. “Just leave,” she said. “There’s no time. Please. Just go. I’ll be okay.”
“I don’t think so, Gracie” Miller said, his mouth quirking into a half–smile. “Bulletproof or not, we’re all leaving together this time.”
Grace opened her mouth to argue again but Sawyer silenced her with a finger. “I get it, but since you’re the one tied up with a bomb strapped to you, we get to call the shots. Sorry. Keep quiet or the gag goes back on. We need to think.”
Jon stifled a smile at Sawyer’s gruff tone but couldn’t deny that it was effective. Grace stopped arguing. “Can’t take it off without detonating it.” He studied the timer. “Rowan,” he said into his radio. “We need your help on this one.”
Miller pointed his phone at the device, streaming the video to Rowan who was studying it back in Ops. “Pan left,” he said in their ears. “Stop right there. Zoom in. Hmm. Okay, time check?”
Sawyer said, “3 minutes 6 seconds. Kinda need to hurry this one, Ro.”
“I’m working on it,” came Rowan’s distracted voice. “Give me a minute.”
Jon met Sawyer’s gaze. “Sure,” she said. “Take all the time you need.”
They could hear Rowan mumbling under his breath as they all watched the red numbers relentlessly count down, closer to zero. With every second that ticked off the clock, Sawyer could feel her nerves being strung tighter. She really didn’t want to die here tonight, but she knew she had to try to save Grace. She forced herself to breathe deeply and slowly and her expression to remain composed. The timer dipped to 2:21.
Finally, Rowan spoke to them again, his voice tight with nerves. “Okay, listen up. This is really important. There are two wires you gotta cut, but you have to do it just right. Don’t do anything until I tell you to, okay?” Sawyer took a deep breath and looked at Jon. He nodded.
“Got it,” Jon said.
“See the light blue wire?”
“Yeah,” Sawyer said. She handed the pen light to Miller who trained it on the device.
“Don’t cut that one yet, but I want you to be ready,” Rowan said. “Now, see the red wire? The one coming out of the timer on the right?”
Jon nodded, “I see it.”
They could hear Rowan taking a deep breath and releasing it. “You’re going to have to cut the red wire first but then you only have a second to cut the light blue one. You have to be quick, but do not cut the light blue one first. Once you cut the red wire, the timer is going to shoot down to zero fast so you have to cut the light blue one immediately. Got it?” Jon could feel his stomach tighten and a drop of sweat rolled down his back. He looked to Sawyer who was composed, but he could see the fear in her eyes. She nodded and swallowed. The timer ticked down to 1:30. It was now or never.
Sawyer held a small pair of wire cutters around the blue wire as Jon did the same for the red wire. “Ready,” he asked her. She nodded. “Here goes.” He snipped the red wire and closed his eyes tightly.
Several seconds pas
sed and they heard Rowan calling Sawyer’s name in their ears. Jon opened his eyes and saw that the timer had stopped at 0:32. He let out a deep breath that he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. His gaze went to Sawyer who wore a relieved expression before her face broke into a huge smile.
Miller laughed. “You did it,” he said. “Grace, open your eyes.” The terrified woman had been convinced that she was going to die. Miller leaned down and took her face into his hands. “Hey,” he said gently. “You’re okay. It’s over.” Grace finally opened her eyes and let out a strangled laugh, even as tears ran down her face.
She took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “I wasn’t quite ready to see how indestructible I really am,” she said and laughed again.
“All good,” Sawyer said into the radio with a smile. “Bomb disabled and we’re heading home.”
Rowan’s voice came back, relief clear in his tone, “Never had a doubt. Come on home.”
The three of them helped Grace out of the vest and cut the ropes that tied her to the chair. Her limbs were stiff from being held captive for so long, but she stood with minimal help from the others. Miller kept an arm around her waist as they walked toward the back of the building where the others waited. Grace leaned on him slightly, seeming to appreciate his strength. Jon and Sawyer followed behind them.
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