Page 11 of The Demon's Fire
The commander toppled his chair. His head jerked toward the door as he sprinted for Skyler, launched himself across the desktop, scattered papers, and tumbled her backward onto the floor.
****
Kolerolled off Skyler, shoving her under the desk.
“What the hell?” She wrapped her arms around her knees, cramped in the small space.
“Lock your lips, Chief, so I can listen.”
“To what?”
He clasped a hand over her mouth. There it was. Gunshots, yelling, doors slamming, running feet.
Kole shot upright, a finger pointed at Skyler. “Stay here until I come for you. Right here.” He unholstered his gun, handing it off to her. “Do you know how to use this?”
“Yes, but…”
“No buts. If a stranger comes through the door, you shoot. Got it?”
“Got it, but I should go out there.” She scooted from under the desk.
Kole pushed her back, banging her head on the underneath side of a drawer. “You’re going to keep your pretty ass parked here until I come for you. Are we clear?”
She glared. “Crystal.”
He doubted she’d follow his orders.
“What are you going to do?” She peeked from her cover.
“Won’t know until I get there.”
Kole drew a double-edge dagger, opened the door, charged through, and fell into a crouch. Four Alliance agents stood in the outer office, guns drawn, facing the hall.
“What’s happening?” He pushed upright.
“Unsure, Commander. Heard shots. Came running. Abello directed us in here to protect the chief along with her people,” said the shortest of the four men.
A blond with a crew cut pointed toward the door. “The other guys are holed up in the hallway. Somebody’s taking potshots at them. Butch is down.”
The youngest agent, who was probably still carded in a bar, blinked and turned to his buddy. “Fuck, you say. Butch?”
“How’s everybody in here?” Kole scanned the office.
“We’re all good,” shouted Laurie behind an overturned table with another female. “I don’t know where Cal is.”
Kole spotted other employees hidden by furniture.
“Some people are safe, locked away in their offices.” Laurie’s voice wavered.
Kole fixed on the young agent who was nearest the exit. “Shut this door behind me.”
“It’s crazy out there, Commander. Are you sure you want to go?”
“Crazy’s my kind of place. Love it.” He grabbed the knob, turned it, and raced through with bullets flying over his head. A guy in the hallway duck-walked toward him with a shield.
“Heard you were here, Commander. I’m Agent Nico Abello.”
With ammo pinging the guy’s top-notch shield, Kole asked, “What’s going on?”
