Page 56 of Consume Me

“My former organization,” Norris said quickly. “I haven’t been with MI-18 in decades and Hammond knows it.”

“You’re never really out. I thought we sent you that message quite clearly a few years ago.” Hammond shrugged. “I guess you didn’t understand.”

“No, I’ve simply never chosen to allow anyone else to determine my fate.” Norris didn’t try to move closer to me, but he stepped between us just as another contraction hit.

“Now, Norris, she doesn’t look good. You’re sealed in here and she’s about to have a baby.”

“Get to the point, Jack,” Norris demanded.

“I can help you out of here, but you must do two things.”

“If you think I’m going to help you, you piece of—”

“Now. Now. I’m the one with the gun and the one who knows that, in less than a minute, every explosive in this corridor will detonate to ensure scorched earth. You remember what that means, right?” He pointed the gun over his shoulder at me. “She won’t make it out of here without my help.”

“What do you want?” Norris spit out.

“They’re very simple requests. You should have no issue fulfilling them,” Hammond said with a smirk.

We were running out of time, if what he said was true, and he was acting like this was all a game.

“First when we get to the ground, you’re going to let me go.”

“MI-18 won’t let you stay loose for long,” Norris said in a low voice.

“That might be true, but I’ll take my chances. Something tells me Alexander will be more specific in his shots this time and I have my own affairs to wrap up.”

Norris eye’s darted to me, and I nodded. We had to think of the baby and Hammond was our best shot out of here.

“And the second thing?” Norris asked. I didn’t understand how he could stay so calm. Between the gun, the sirens, and the smoke, I felt like I was having a panic attack. It definitely wasn’t ideal labor conditions.

“I want you to tell me the truth. I want to hear you say it,” Hammond sneered as though this was his real prize.

What truth? I waited for Norris to respond, but he stood silently. “You already know. I don’t need to confirm it. I’ve seen the files.”

“But I want to hear it from your mouth. I want to hear you say how you betrayed the royal family.” Hammond lowered the gun. This was a confession he wouldn’t take by force, but I didn’t understand what he meant.

“I betrayed no one.” Norris hadn’t changed position. He’d shown no sign of guilt.

“Then no deal. We all die here.” Hammond lifted the gun once more. “Would you like me to make it quick? I’m sure she would. She’s already in enough pain.”

Norris’s eyes flashed to me, crinkling around the edges as he regarded me. Something unrecognizable passed over his face before he closed his eyes.

“Please,” I begged him. “I can’t do this much longer.”

My lungs were beginning to burn from smoke and the contractions were coming more closely together. I cried out as another one hit, and then Norris confessed to the last sin I’d ever expected him to commit.

Chapter 22

ALEXANDER

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. The alarms ringing through the house didn’t seem to have a source. That didn’t stop them setting off the sprinkler system. Water sprayed overhead and we dodged left and right, trying to evade it as much as possible. Our tactical gear kept it from soaking into our clothes, but slippery weapons didn’t help anyone.

“There!” Someone yelled, the alarms nearly drowning him out.

Tendrils of smoke were seeping out of crack in the paneling. The fire was in the house. We just couldn’t see it. That meant we’d been right about the passageways. It couldn’t be coincidence that somewhere deep inside this hell house someone had lit a fire.

They were here, and now they knew we were here.