Page 87 of Tick Tock, Boom!

Gunfire split the air above my head, bullets echoing through the hall as I kicked in the next door. My boots thundered over cracked tile, gun raised, fury pumping with every step. I had one goal. Find Natalia.

In my mind, I was back on the field. Whatever instinct that ran through my blood, poured out my fingertips as I fired my weapon. Throat shot. Headshot. Another asshole lunged at me., spine cracked under my boot as I drove him down into the ground. They came at me in waves, guns firing, but they barely missed me. I was grazed by one along my cheek which made me angry. I fired three shots and the asshole went down. They all weren’t fast enough. I fired without hesitation, reloading as I moved, each shot finding flesh and dealing death.

Through the comm, Knuckles’ voice crackled, urgent and steady.

"Ten upstairs. I count fifteen on my side. Colt?"

"Six on the east wing, one armed to the teeth. I’m moving."

"Fuck," Knuckles growled, "Tick Tock’s gone Boom."

I moved with agility even though I was blinded by gunpowder. These motherfuckers didn’t stand a chance. Blood slicked the walls as I carved through them, reaching the heart of the building where my true nightmare waited.

Slamming through the last door, I stopped in my tracks. There he was. Croak.

He had Natalia tied to a chair, bloodied. Gabe crying in the corner, wrists bound. He stood between them, a wicked grin splitting his face.

"Well, well," he purred, licking blood off his knife. "Daddy’s home."

"You have a death wish, don't you." I walked into the room, gun aimed at his head.

He snorted. "That’s not how this game goes. See, you took something from me, Tick Tock. And now I take it all back."

“You honestly think I don’t have a bullet ready to put in your head?”

He shook his head, still playing with the blade in his hands. “Probably. But you won’t get a chance to use it until I let you watch her bleed.”

“Gnash,” he growled and before I could move, I felt a gun press to the back of my head. I barely saw the fucker.

"Knees," he grunted.

I dropped. I could hear my brothers over the comms, they were all closing in.

"Hold tight, Tick Tock. We’re coming."

Croak circled Natalia like a vulture. "You’re gonna watch this bitch break. Just like I’ll break your boy next."

He dragged the blade down Natalia’s cheek and I watched as blood smeared the blade. “I told you I’d come back for you.”

He pressed the blade to her throat and her eyes fell on me. “I wonder how sweetly she’d scream if I did this...”

With his other hand, he flashed her the lit cigar. We both watched in horror as he turned and pressed it in the soft flesh right above her heart. She screamed in pain, and I exploded.

Twisting, I slammed my elbow into Gnash’s knee. The gun fired but missed. I knocked him back, grabbed his knife, and slashed his thigh. He went down screaming.

Croak lunged for his gun and I lunged after him.

We grappled. Fists flying, blows to the jaw, the gut, he was fighting to survive while I just needed to find a way to beat him until he couldn't breathe right. The gun skittered across the floor.

Gunfire erupted behind us. My brothers had arrived and with them, chaos ensued.

Croak smashed my head into the floor and I head-butted him back. Blood poured down my face, rage fueling every move. I reached for the gun, my fingers grazing it as Croak fought to drag me back. I punched him hard, landing a blow to his head. He grunted and I went for the gun again. Once again, he clawed at my jeans, dragging me away.

Angrily, I yelled. "Motherfucking, son of a bitch!" I swung my fist and caught his temple. He stumbled off me, disoriented and I reached out, grabbed the gun, rolled, and fired.

The bullet hit him on the side of the head. He jerked, eyes wide, then dropped.

I watched from the corner of my eye as the other fucker who had a gun pressed to my head, lunge at Natalia. At some point she had tipped over the chair. I got up to tackle him but she grabbed a gun from a downed body, and fired.

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