Page 36 of Talon

As we slip through the gate and onto Blackstone’s property, we stick to the shadows.

“Stay close,” Reaper whispers, leading the way past Blackstone’s meticulously maintained garden.

I doubt Blackstone’s pulled a single weed in his entire life. He’s got an army of staff to do all his dirty work for him. He also keeps a team of guards at the ready. That’s who we’ve got to watch out for.

Tension radiates off Reaper, every muscle coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. He hated being here just as much as I do. We never wanted to come back. Since the day we escaped this place, I’ve never been so close to the main house. It’s unnerving. The fear and suffering I experienced at this place will never leave me, but I can’t let it consume me. I’m not trapped anymore. I’m free. And I’m ready to find a way to bring Blackstone down for good.

We crouch behind a row of tall hedges as a pair of guards stroll past, chatting casually. Reaper knows their routine by heart. The moment they round the corner, we make our move, darting across the open space toward the cover of the garage.

“Almost there,” Reaper murmurs, his eyes locked on the main house.

But just as we’re about to make our final dash, the doors to the garage burst open. A team of guards pour out in a tight formation. They’re aiming their guns right at us.

“Shit!” I reach for my own weapon. The element of surprise is gone, replaced by the terrifying realization that we’ve walked right into a trap.

“Get down!” I shout, pushing Reaper to the side as a hail of bullets flies past.

We find cover behind a low, stone wall. Bullets ricochet off the rocks. Chunks of debris rain down on us. The guards seem intent on killing us. There’s no time for negotiation or escape. It’s now or never.

“Reaper, go left!” I order, deciding it’s best we split up to handle the overwhelming threat.

I leap up and spray a line of bullets at the guards, forcing them to retreat. It gives Reaper the few seconds he needs to get out of our pinned down situation. He takes cover behind a tree. Almost immediately, his arm swings out and he shoots at the guards.

Running for my life, I almost make it to the garden when someone tackles me from behind. I scramble to get out from underneath him and slam my boot into his face. It’s one of the guards. He’s on his feet in an instant, lunging toward me with a vicious snarl.

Raising his gun, he’s ready to shoot. I sidestep him before he can get off a shot. Wrestling the weapon from his grip, I manage to disarm him. Instinctively, I toss the gun away. I’m better off relying on my brute strength and agility, so I don’t even bother to try to go for my weapon.

“Come on,” I growl, putting up my fists.

Years of biker brawls fuel my confidence. I may have lost that fight at Sienna’s, but that’s not happening ever again. The guard charges, and we exchange a series of heavy blows. Each punch sends pain shooting through my knuckles, but the thrill of combat keeps me focused.

Meanwhile, Reaper engages another guard. Their fight is taking him further away from me, but I can’t worry about that. I’ve got enough to deal with right now. Sweat beads on my brow as I concentrate on my own battle, but I worry about my brother-in-arms.

“Is that all you’ve got?” I taunt my opponent, dodging a wild swing and landing a solid hit to his midsection. He doubles over, gasping for breath. I take advantage of his vulnerability to knee him in the face. He crumbles to the ground, unconscious.

“Reaper!” I call, scanning the area for any sign of him.

My heart leaps into my throat when I spot him struggling against his attacker, who has him pinned to the ground. The guard raises his gun, aiming it straight at Reaper’s head. There’s no time to waste.

“Get off him!” I roar, charging forward.

The guard hesitates just long enough for me to tackle him, freeing Reaper from his grasp. Together, we overpower the man as another guard rushes in to join the fray.

“Run!” Reaper shouts as he snaps that guard’s neck. He slams the other guard’s head into the stone wall with brutal force.

We sprint away from the carnage. My heart’s pounding, and my ears are ringing from the gunfire that continues to echo across the estate. We’re almost out of range, but bullets slam into the ground directly behind us.

Reaper and I race into the thick forest that surrounds Blackstone’s ranch. Our boots crush leaves and snap twigs as we sprint toward the clearing where we left our motorcycles. Adrenaline surges through my veins. I feel alive despite the near-death experience.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here!” Reaper yells as we reach our bikes.

We waste no time in mounting them. Their engines roar to life beneath us. Reaper takes off first, kicking up a cloud of dirt in his wake. I follow closely behind, trying not to cough on the dust.

The winding mountain highway stretches out ahead. We skid onto it, leaving a trail of burned rubber behind. Speeding off into the night, I risk a glance over my shoulder. For a moment, it feels like we’ve left the danger behind, but that illusion is shattered by the sudden crack of gunfire. Two men on motorcycles emerge from the shadows, hot on our trail.

“Shit!” I curse, swerving to avoid the bullets whizzing past me. I pull up beside Reaper.

“Take the one on the left. I’ll get the right!” Reaper shouts, pulling out his gun and firing back at our pursuers.

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