Page 98 of When He Fights
The two vics were gone.
Kane’s phone wasn’t ringing any longer.
Once more, he stared up at the small bomb.He’d seen bombs before.In other places, other times.In a café in Paris.In a hospital that had become a nightmare scene.Other times, other terrible memories rolled through his head.As a Marine, he’d seen so much violence.Too much.He’d never been able to escape it.
Now, here…the bomb was right above him.And time was running out.
He wondered if Ana had read his note.
He was so glad his mom had made him always write those freaking notes.Because if he didn’t make it out of that place, Ana would know how he’d felt.She would know that she’d been his everything.He’d lived for her.He’d die loving her.
“Bomb squad will be here in minutes, understand?”Gray was back.Hurrying toward him.“I’m not going to leave you.I’ll be right here the whole time, and we will figure this shit out together.We’ve done it before.We can do it again.Just another survival story for us, am I right?”
Maybe.
Unless…Kane had to voice his worry.Because he needed Gray to get the hell out of there.“If Logan has a remote detonator, he could blow it at any point.Doesn’t matter if I hold this door open or not.”
“Don’t say that.”Gray took another step forward when the jerk should have been backing away.“Why in the hell are you going to put that negativity into the universe?There’snoremote detonator.Say it with me.There is no?—”
The red light flashed to green.“There is a remote detonator,” Kane rasped.“Run,now!’ Maybe it was a remote detonator.Maybe the bomb had just been equipped with a timed delay so that if the door didn’t close, the bomb would still go off after a certain amount of time.
Either way…
Fucking green.
Gray had seen the flash to green, too.Only Gray wasn’t running toward the rear of the dojo.Gray hurtled toward him as Kane remained on the threshold of that damn building.Gray’s body hit Kane.They flew over the threshold and landed outside.
And the building erupted.Fire.Glass.Chaos.
Hell.
ChapterTwenty-One
“Kane.”
He couldn’t hear anything.
“Kane!”
But he could see Gray’s mouth moving.His friend leaned over him, and Gray’s lips were clearly forming Kane’s name over and over again.
Blood dripped onto Kane.Blood from Gray.His friend was bleeding and cut and he was shaking Kane.Gray could stop that crap any minute.
“Kane!”
The bellow finally broke through to Kane’s ears.Sounds rushed back to him, a big gush, like a dam breaking.The back of Kane’s head throbbed sickeningly—probably from where he’d slammed down onto the pavement in front of the dojo.And then Gray’s heavy ass had fallen on top of him.
Kane had cushioned the fall for the bastard.That was what you did for a friend.Cracked your skull open so your friend would be alive.
“You’re okay!”A wild smile curved Gray’s lips.“Sonofabitch, you’re okay!”He hauled Kane up and hugged him.
“No!”Emerson’s sharp voice.“He could have a broken neck or a spinal injury!Youbothcould have severe injuries!Stop!Stay still until the paramedics can get to you!”
Kane wasn’t staying still.Fire was bursting in the air above Gray.Plus, something was…broken beneath Kane.He reached down and found the shattered remains of his phone.
“That was Tyler and Ana calling,” Emerson hurried to explain as she crouched next to them.Gray had blood and ash and cuts all over his face.Emerson was right beside Gray, and she looked completely pristine.Not a hair out of place.Dress without a wrinkle.“Ana knew there was a bomb inside.She was trying to save you.”
Ana.
