Page 26 of Five Fingers of Death

I crawled over to the window and peered over the ledge, spotting two shooters. I held up two fingers, then ducked down and headed toward the window in the corner of the house. They assumed everyone was in this room and was most likely dead. At least, that’s what I was counting on.

Cash and Knight split off, moving to the back of the house. I motioned for Wyatt. “Take the girls and get them to the back room.”

He nodded and started moving while I got going. As soon as I was at the window, I closed my eyes and put myself back in that mindset that I had left behind. When I opened my eyes, I wasn’t the man from the last few years. I stood and sighted my target. I slowed my breathing, let the calm wash over me, and pulled the trigger.

One target down, but that’s when I realized there were more than two. We were sorely outnumbered. One by one, I moved from one target to the next, taking them out while being shot at by their own gunmen. I kept moving positions, keeping them guessing. They fell like dominoes as Knight and Cash took care of the perimeter, clearing the path.

When the firing stopped, I scanned the area, looking for anyone who might be in hiding. There were no signs of movement. Knight walked into the clearing, kicking one body on his way. I stepped out from behind the broken window and moved to the front door, stepping out of the annihilated house. Holly’s business was decimated. It would take weeks to rebuild and make up for all that was lost. But that would have to wait until this was over. Staying was not a viable option.

“I suggest you get the fuck out of here,” Knight said, walking over as he slammed another magazine into his gun.

“You don’t say,” I deadpanned as my gaze swerved to Cash, who came around the other side of the house, wiping the blood from his knife before sheathing it. “I don’t suppose we killed everyone and now you’re going to bury the bodies and tell me we can go back to our lives.”

“They’re only going to send more. You’re going to have to get out of town. Take her parents with you.”

“That should be easy,” I muttered. “Her dad is a fucking conspiracy nut. Can you imagine what he’ll say when he walks into a fucking nuclear silo filled with all those gadgets?”

But instead of bantering in any way, he turned and stared at Knight. “Any location on Jade yet?”

“Rae messaged me,” he said, holding up his phone.

“I take it this conversation is over.”

He ignored me and kept talking to Knight. “Call in a cleanup crew. We don’t have time to waste.”

“Already done. Police are gonna be a problem. This is fucking Colorado.”

“Michael will take care of it.”

“Right,” I nodded. “So, I’ll just take off.”

They walked away without even a word to me, so I turned on my heel and headed back inside, walking up the steps that were torn to shreds. Holly stood in the middle of the room, her hand covering her mouth as she looked at the destruction.

“I just can’t believe it,” she whispered.

“This is definitely not a decorating style that will appeal to many,” Noelle muttered.

“We need to leave,” I said, grabbing her hand.

“But look at this mess. I need to clean it up and?—”

“We don’t have time for that. We need to leave now.”

Her eyes flashed to mine. “Asher, what is going on?”

“I don’t know, but it’s not safe for us here. We need to leave. You too, Noelle.”

“Um…Excuse me?” She shook her head with a laugh. “Nope. Not gonna happen.”

“We don’t have time to argue about this. We have to get your parents and leave now.”

“I’m not going on the run with the Hallmark channel! It’s not happening!”

“Fine, then you can stay with Wyatt.”

A low chuckle came from Wyatt’s direction, and I spun to see him shaking his head at me. “Dude, what are you doing?”

“This is the only way. She either comes with us or stays with you.”

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