Nick had his cheek pressed to the post, blood dried along his jaw. “You okay?”
“Pissed off.”
"They have shit angles at us if I come to you," Doyle said. "Unless we want to draw them out and you come to me."
"Let's go to him," Sterling whispered. "You two first. You take the rifle. Doyle and I cover. Then I'll follow."
"Since when are you the sacrificial lamb?" Nick asked. "That’s my role."
"Does it fucking matter?" Sterling let out a long breath. "We both have people we love, and neither of us want to die. Now, go." Sterling caught Doyle's attention and signaled. Doyle nodded.
"Ready." Nick took Juniper's hand.
She nodded. "Let's do this."
Sterling pressed his back to the post. The second Nick and Juniper took off running, gunfire erupted from all directions.
Nick fired from over his shoulder.
Doyle fired from behind the table.
Sterling changed it up and eased out from his position.
Crouching low, gun up, Pike moved from the forklift toward the loading doors. Sterling saw the angle open.
Pop!
Hit Pike in the shoulder, and he dropped his weapon.
A second shot rang out from behind Sterling and hit Pike high in the chest.
Pike staggered and went down hard.
Sterling raced toward the table and dove. "That's one down."
"Two to go," Doyle said. "Rutgers is to our right, and Charlie’s by the door. His shadow’s inching closer—he's gonna make a run for it."
Seconds later, Doyle stood, fired once, and Charlie screamed, grabbing his knee. "Move again, and I'll kill you."
Pop! Pop!
Doyle flung backward, clutching his shoulder. "Fuck." He groaned.
Pop! Pop!
Sterling didn't hesitate to shoot back the second he saw Rutgers. Kill shot to the forehead. Sterling wasn't proud of it. He never liked killing people, but sometimes it was necessary.
Rutgers crashed to the floor with a thud.
Nick rolled to sitting and pressed a hand to his side. “Everybody still have the parts they started with?”
“Mostly,” Doyle said, grabbing his shoulder.
Juniper crossed to Bea, kicked the gun farther away, and crouched long enough to check her pulse. “I found a heartbeat, but it's weak, and her breathing’s shallow. We need an ambulance.”
“On it,” Nick said. "Cuz we need one for Doyle, too." Nick tore off his shirt and tied it around Doyle's shoulder. "This doesn't mean I like you, or that I forgive you. It just means I don't want you to die because I want you to give up names."
"Trust me, I get it."
