Page 133 of Hard Rain

“At least get the locations from him.”

Fierce’s smile glinted in the dark, and he moved past him.

“I’ll keep him alive that long. Now come on, there’s a holding room on the bottom level. I bet that’s where they took Whip.”

After that, he stayed silent.

A few moments later, Fierce stopped so abruptly Axel nearly ran into him.

“Problem.”

Six men stepped from intersecting hallways ahead, spreading out without a word. None of them wore tuxedos now. Jackets had been discarded. Pistols and knives glinted beneath the emergency lights.

Charleston’s last line of defense.

“You take left,” Fierce said quietly.

“Was planning on it.”

The closest man charged.

Axel met him head-on, driving a shoulder into his chest hard enough to throw him backward into another thug. His Glock barked once. The hallway exploded.

Fierce moved beside him like smoke.

One second, a knife flashed. The next, it clattered across the concrete while its owner folded silently to the floor.

No wasted movement.

No hesitation.

Just bodies dropping.

“Move!” Axel shouted.

They pushed forward another few feet before two more men poured through a security door farther down the corridor and opened fire.

“They’re buying him time,” Axel growled, ducking and returning fire.

“I know.”

Every delay twisted the knot in his gut tighter.

Axel dropped another man and looked toward the stairwell leading to the lower level.

So damn close.

The hallway filled again.

He spun and lifted his Glock.

Come on, fuckers.

Let’s dance.

FOUND

His head throbbed behind his eyes. His mouth felt like cotton, his tongue heavy, his limbs sluggish but responding. Not numb. Just delayed. His stomach rolled once before settling again.