Page 191 of Split You Open

With a moan, I force myself to move again. Something’s wrong. Moving isn’t so much as painful as it feels impossible. It’s like weights have been laid on top of me.

Sweat coats my skin as I try to steady my breathing. Each deep breath I drag into my lungs, I’m very aware that it’s carbon monoxide. From what I can see, the garage isn’t very big. You couldn’t get another SUV in here, that’s for sure. Which means that it won’t take long for this whole place to fill with poisonous fumes.

Swallowing hard, I roll again so that I can get on my knees.

Rather than get there though, the back of the trunk swims and I collapse onto my stomach. Bile climbs up my throat and I dry heave. My entire body is beginning to tremble from pain and fatigue.

As much as I want to take a second to recover, I don’t have time to waste.

Gritting my teeth, I force myself to move.

I’m going to get out of this mess and see my guys again. I just have to keep moving.

Forty

Ledger

“Rhett, Santi, come in,” Wes says over the walkie-talkie.

There’s some feedback before Rhett answers. “We’re here.”

“How much longer until you’re in position?”

“We need about five more minutes.”

“Good. Ledger?” Wes asks next.

Grabbing the walkie-talkie on my hip, I bring it up and answer, “Same.”

I glance to my right. I can’t see very far thanks to the thick woods, but I know the others are out there, spread out but making their way toward me and the house Blair’s being held in. The three of them left the cabin first, parking their trucks on the property where Santi and Rhett play their game. From there, they’ve been making the trek on foot. It was the simplest and safest option for the three of them to fan out from the top of the fishbowl and head toward the house rather than us all park along the road near the house, cluster together, and barge onto the property.

“Alright, unless someone says otherwise, the plan is a go,” Wes says. “Everyone turn down the volume on your walkie talkies and stay vigilant.”

The reminder to go quiet is for Rhett and Santi. They’ve never been on a mission like this before and this isn’t like one of their games. We don’t know how many men we’re about to go up against, but we know they’re trained and highly dangerous if they got the best of Anchor and Blair. It’s why it took so long for us to get out here. Blair’s in trouble but if we want this rescue mission to go well, we had to prep those two before heading out.

Stay out of sight until it’s time—even then, take cover often.

Keep moving.

Be unpredictable.

Keep everyone’s attention.

Be your bloodthirsty selves.

The last demand came from me. Rhett and Santiago might not have been in the military and know to work as an efficient team, but what they do know is chaos, death, and pain.

Their lack of military experience is also an advantage here. Rhett’s ability to look death straight in the eye without flinching will make him practically invincible. Santi’s competitive streak and viciousness when it comes to his kills will make him unpredictable in the best way possible.

Wes will watch their backs while he picks off his own kills.

He might not have the best long-distance aim between the two of us but he’s a hell of a lot better at handling quick moving targets than me.

Those three are the best distraction team I could’ve hoped for under the given circumstances.

Anchor said there were at least fifteen men to contend with which means we’re outnumbered and probably outgunned—something Anchor continuously pointed out when we left him behind, fuming and sputtering in outrage. Who knows how many more guys Dixie has on hand?

Thankfully, we’ve got mayhem on our side.