Page 166 of G.O.D.S Omnibus

A loud screech pierces my ear.

“Laughn!” I scream, fighting to get out of Brennan’s hold and go after them.

“It’s no use. They’ve terminated contact with us and have gone rogue. We stick to the plan and get her out of here,” Boston says, rounding the corner of the corridor. “This level is clear. We have to get down to Marlow. Let’s go.”

Khale comes running around the corner and stops next to Boston. “Jolie.” He nods his head and turns away from me, heading back the way he just came.

As a unit, we move through the hallways until we reach a lift. Once inside, I try to get Brennan to put me down again, but he growls in my ear and tightens his arms around me. As the lift reaches the level below us, the guys create a wall in front of me.

“Get her down to Marlow. Don’t worry about us,” Boston tells Brennan, who nods in affirmation.

The doors slide open, and I peek over their heads, taking in the carnage before me. Colt and his team are standing behind a hastily rigged barricade in the centre of the room, bodies tight with tension, heavily armed and guns drawn. Large double doors on the opposite side push wide and they open fire as black-clad people rush in. Bodies fall to the ground before they even make it a foot into the room.

“Fucking cunt,” Colt yells as blood gushes out of his shoulder and he takes cover, ducking behind a desk.

“Colt!” I scream. He pops his head around the side and looks at me with a huge smile.

“Just a flesh wound, Cupcake. Chicks dig scars.” He disappears again, then pops up to open fire on the men still trying to take us down. Everyone covers Brennan as he racesacross the room with me and pushes through a door leading to a set of stairs.

Brennan keeps me glued to his chest as he flies down the steps two at a time. His body stills on the landing as the sound of pounding footsteps echoes through the hallway. He makes a slight whistling noise, and I listen intently as it’s repeated back. Leland appears seemingly out of nowhere and races towards us. “It’s clear all the way.” He points over his shoulder. “Get to Marlow and get the hell out of here! The rest of us will exit through the front of the building.”

Brennan nods as Leland moves past us and up the stairs.

After double checking that the hallway is clear, Brennan tightens his arms around me and takes off. We keep moving until we finally reach a door at the very end of the hall. Brennan knocks twice and shouts that it’s him. Marlow opens the door, ushers us in, and closes it behind us.

“We have to go,” Brennan tells him.

“No, I want to find Laughn, Creed, and Chester first,” I demand. “I need to know they’re alive.”

Marlow walks back over to the screens that fill the wall and types away at the keyboard, causing the screens to flicker images of different areas of Olympia. They have to be here somewhere, and if anyone can find them, it’s him.

“Fuck,” Marlow swears, scouring the screens. “I can’t see them anywhere. They could be out already.”

“We can’t wait any longer. I’m sorry,” Brennan murmurs in my ear as he moves us through the room. I look over his shoulder, frantically searching the screens, but Marlow presses a few more buttons and they all go black.

We pass through another door and darkness envelops us. Their footsteps bounce off the walls as we move further through the tunnel, and it becomes so pitch black that we can’t see anything in front of us.

“Wait for me.” It’s Case’s voice. Of course they need him. “I’m here—I just had a few setbacks.”

His hand brushes my back as he moves to take the lead, and it isn’t long before we hit fresh air. Brennan’s car is parked just off to the side of the tunnel entrance. They all pile in as Brennan places me into the backseat. Case slides across the seat and takes my hand, and I squeeze his in reassurance that I’m actually here and not still somewhere in the facility.

The drive back to Creed’s house is filled with silence. No one speaks or dares to utter the words we’re all no doubt thinking. The reality that some of our team may not make it back is too painful to voice aloud.

We pull into the driveway, coming to a screeching halt. Looking around, it appears we are the first ones back.

Brennan, Marlow, and Case jump out of the car and all rush to my side to help me get out. Before they have a chance, I push the door open and slide out, rolling my eyes.

“Guys, I can walk.”

They all take a step back from me. Marlow and Brennan turn on their heels and move towards the house, but Case sidles up next to me and stays by my side.

I blow out a breath and feel a sense of relief when I walk through the doors. Jimmie is in the foyer as we pass over the threshold. His eyes widen when he sees us and he rushes over to me.

“You’re okay! I’m so sorry. I didn’t know,” he apologises, making my brows furrow.

“Didn’t know what?” I ask.

“That his bitch knew we were alive,” Case snaps, stepping in front of me and blocking my view of Jimmie.

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