Page 25 of Sinful Submission

“Left,”Aaron’s voice directed through my phone. “Third door.”

A guard rounded the corner and raised his weapon when he saw me, but my bullet took him in the throat before he could squeeze his trigger. Blood splattered the wall behind him as another rushed to check on the noise. He joined his friend on the floor with a matching hole in his chest.

Gunfire erupted from Cruz’s direction—he’d found company. The sound of his Glock mixed with pained screams told me he was enjoying himself.

“The storage area ahead,”Aaron guided. “You have heavy presence.”

I slipped my knife free, and my blade gleamed in the dim light. The first guard never saw me coming; I slit his throat, let his body drop, and gave my attention to his partner, who reached for his radio but suffered from my blade’s invasion in his heart. The third managed to lift his weapon, but I was quicker, sending a bullet tunneling between his brows.

“Go up one level. The northwest stairwell is clear,”Aaron said.

Storm’s rifle whizzed in rapid succession. It was music to accompany my hunt. More men fell as he cleared my path, his bullets sifting through the windows to meet his targets. Cruz’s gunfire had gone quiet, but the lack of cursing meant he’d found his rhythm.

The stairwell held three fresh corpses, and blood pooled beneath them. Storm was also finding his rhythm, knocking off hostiles before I neared them. So far, Aaron seemed to be holding his end of the bargain but trust only went as far as the next bullet.

The second floor opened into a maze of curves, dark corners, and dead ends. These men had chosen their ground well, but it wouldn’t save them. They were positioned to have perfect kill zones, but much like the men at warehouse forty-nine, they were unprepared for The Paradox.

Blood flowed as I carved through their defenses, each kill driving me closer to Santari while feeding the violence in my soul. Their bullets ignited the room, but I was already sliding my blade into their flesh by the time their machine guns powered.

“She’s in a secure room,”Aaron’s voice crackled. “East wall. But they have concentrated security there. At least eight men.”

“Copy.”I switched lines and buzzed Cruz.

“You good?”

“Always,” I said. “Meet my position. I’m coming up on Santari, but she’s heavily covered. Storm, watch the exits.”

“I’m behind you.”Cruz materialized from the shadows, with fresh blood darkening his shirt. “These motherfuckers can’t shoot to save their lives. Literally. Who hired them?”

“We’ll find out eventually.”

Gunfire filled the hall as we pushed toward the secure room. Guards dropped while trying to mount a defense. Their training meant nothing against our rage as Cruz and I sprayed the walls in DNA.

When silence filled our space, I scanned for movement. “Storm, status?”

“Still clear up here. But headlights are approaching from the north. A convoy of vehicles.”

“It’s time to move.”I faced the security door. “Aaron. Code.”

Numbers lit up my phone screen. I punched them in, and the locks disengaged.

Santari sat tied to a chair inside with defiance burning in her eyes. The sight of her bruises ignited fresh rage in my blood but watching her stare down her captors with such fire made my dick throb. She’d grown stronger in here - darker.

Cruz and I snapped the necks of the two guards who’d frozen – surprised by our entrance.

Their bodies hit the ground and Cruz whistled. “That was too easy.”

“You got here quicker than I expected.”Santari grinned as Cruz cut her free. He drew her into a hug and held on tight.

“You didn’t doubt us, did you, Goddess?”I said, checking the corridor.

“No. But I expected your arrival by dawn.”

“We would never rest until you were safe,”I said.

“Can you walk?” Cruz asked.

She moved from his embrace, and grabbed a fallen guard’s semiautomatic weapon, and steadied her grip. “Yes.”

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