Page 101 of Iron Willed Warrior

Time to find Brynn. Manning had said she’d be inside Building B at the center of the property. If so, I would go through those guards too. Anyone and everyone.

A neat row of golf carts was parked beyond the gatehouse. The most obvious strategy was to grab one of those carts and head straight up the central path. It was either that, or melt into the shadows of the solar fields in an attempt to be stealthy.

But I had left stealth behind a few minutes ago. Right around the time Manning had driven us into that concrete post in a desperate attempt to get my weapon. Nah, I was done with the undercover thing.

It was time to march up to their door and kick it right the fuck in.

Finding a cabinet of keys in the gatehouse, I grabbed one labeled#3. The cart in space three revved to life. Except for the siren, the property was eerily lifeless as I drove up the central path. Building A looked like a front office, with a sign markedDynamic Solar. It was deserted. I kept a carbine aimed forward, my other hand on the steering wheel, waiting for the next attack. Yet it still didn’t come.

Building B loomed in front of me. No sign of any guards out front.

But a Stillwater mercenary suddenly reared out of the shadows. Bullets pinged on the cart. I swerved to the side and returned fire. Once I’d reached the solar panels, I leaped out of the cart and disappeared in the shadows. Watching.

Movement at nine o’clock. The guard was searching for me.

I pressed the trigger gently. A barrage of gunfire burst from my weapon. The guard grunted and collapsed.

I found him on the ground bleeding from a wound to his thigh. Looked like he’d taken a hit to the artery, which meant he wouldn’t last long. But he wasn’t down for the count yet. He raised his gun to fire at me again, and I grabbed ahold of it, slamming it into his face. I threw his gun into the shadows beneath the solar panels and stomped on his wrist when he went for his knife.

The man cursed me as I dragged him to the entrance to Building B. I rummaged in his pockets for his keycard. Swiped it, then lifted his hand to use his fingerprints on the biometric scanner.

I let the guard fall to the ground. He didn’t move again.

The lock clicked open. I kicked the door wide, raising my carbine again in case someone was waiting to take me out. I had just been standing in full view of the camera by the entrance. But aside from the ever-present sirens and flashing emergency lights, it was quiet inside.

The interior of Building B was cinderblock and concrete. On the right, a doorway led into what looked like a break room. On the left was an elevator. The button didn’t respond when I pushed it. I tried waving a keycard, and the elevator came to life. The doors glided open.

I stepped in and hit the down button. It started to descend. When the doors slid open, I pressed myself against the wall, gun ready. Waiting to see who might be here to greet me.

I heard the slick sound of a gun cocking.

“I have Westwick. Drop your weapons and come out with your hands up, or his brains will be splattered against the cinderblock.”

I blinked. “B? Is that you?”

The siren kept up its shrill racket, yet still, I could hear her gasp. I stepped out of the elevator, gun hanging at my side. Brynn stood there with an M4 rifle of her own.

“B,” I said again, choking on emotion. Shock and relief and pure joy to have my sights on her. Exactly where she belonged. Withme. “Hey, honey.”

I held out my arm, and Brynn almost collapsed against me. I held her tight and pressed my forehead against hers.

“I am so glad to see you,” she said. “Ryker said they killed you. I didn’t want to believe it, but… I could’ve used your help a few hours ago, but better late than never.”

I sputtered a laugh and pressed a quick, firm kiss to her temple. There was way too much happening inside me. A million things I wanted to say to her. All that had to wait.

Quickly, I took stock of the cart behind her with a man draped across it. It took a moment for me to register him as Garon Westwick. Duct tape covered his mouth and his blond hair was a mess.

“Figured I would swoop in after you’d already done all the work.” I nodded at Westwick, who was trying to yell around his gag. “You’ve been busy.”

“I have. And I would love to get the hell out of here.”

“Me too. Who’s your new friend?” I pointed at the skinny guy who was leaning against the wall like he wanted to disappear into it.

“That’s Josiah.” Brynn paused, considering something. “I know what Stillwater is hiding down here. They’ve got a bunch of servers to run a dark web marketplace for members. Josiah is the tech guy. He’s been held prisoner here for a few months. He’s coming with us.”

“Computers,” I said, and she nodded, eyes full of meaning.The virus, I thought.

“I have a lot more to tell you, but that’ll have to wait.” She tilted her head in Westwick’s direction. The man was listening to everything we said.

---