Page 98 of Iron Willed Warrior

I made a split-second decision. “You’re coming with me. You wanted to leave. Well, here’s your chance.”

He nodded. “Yeah. Maybe we shouldn’t take the elevator, though. If we run into Ryker on our way out? I’d prefer to avoid that.”

“How else can we get out?”

“There’s a fire exit through a back stairwell.”

I nodded, a possible new plan taking shape in my head. “Can you shut down the front-door access to the building above us? And the elevator too?”

“That’ll set off big-time alarms at the gatehouse.”

“You’re the computer guy. Can you bypass the alarms?”

“No. I don’t have that kind of security access down here. Only the guards do.” Josiah cringed. “But if we open the fire exit door, it’s going to notify the gatehouse too. Either way, they’ll realize something is up. They’ll come running.”

“You’re the computer expert, I’m the gun expert. Leave that part to me.”

Once we were back on the surface, I would set up an ambush for Ryker and the remaining guards. Take them out, then find a vehicle to get us the heck out of here. It was notmy most detailed plan, but at least I had the head of Stillwater to use as a hostage.

“No offense, but you don’t look like a gun expert.”

I smirked, holding the gun against my chest and petting the top of it affectionately. “Don’t let appearances fool you.”

“Uh, right. Good point.” He took a step back. “Are we going now? Can I grab some of my stuff?”

“Sure. I left someone back in your room. Garon Westwick.”

His eyes bugged. “TheGaron Westwick? The guy who freaking owns Stillwater?”

“At the moment, he’s my hostage. I need you to help me carry him.”

Josiah grabbed a wheeled cart from the corner of his office, removing some equipment. “Will this work? We can put him on top of it. And my suitcase.”

“Works for me.” I gestured with the gun. “Lead the way.”

An alarm siren blared, and red emergency lights flashed on the wall. Josiah and I both jumped. I glanced through the glass door, but there was no sign of any guards.

“What is that?” I demanded. Had Josiah done something? Or was it the virus? Did Stillwater’s system know it was under attack?

Josiah ran to his computer. “It was triggered manually at the gatehouse. Not from here.”

“Check the camera.”

He tapped at the keyboard. “I can’t. The one at the gatehouse isn’t working.”

“Shit,” I muttered. I had no idea what was going on. If it was good for us or bad. I just had to grab Westwick and get out of here. Maybe this alarm could work to our advantage if it distracted the guards.

Of course, our fire alarm diversion hadn’t worked so well at the resort, had it?

Don’t think about that, I told myself.Don’t think about Cole. Just get this done.

We ran down the hall. Josiah went first, wheeling the cart, and I followed at the rear. We passed the elevator. Made it to Josiah’s room. He waved his keycard and pushed open the door. Then he stopped in the doorway.

“What the ever-loving?—”

Maybe I should’ve warned him about the dead guard. “Just grab your belongings, Josiah. We don’t have much time.”

Westwick was conscious and writhing on the cot, as if that could help him get free. The man grunted around his gag and glared murder at me. I used the keys to unlock the cuff at his ankle.

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