Page 36 of Knight Watch

Chapter Sixteen

Kingsley scanned the area,not seeing any of his team but he knew they were on the lookout, slowly surrounding the building. He had a horrible feeling about this and regardless that the area had been cleared by his men, it felt off somehow.

He turned to face Sydney. The last few hours he had seen a lightness in her that hadn’t been there before and it seemed to have changed her, steadied her. He wasn’t conceited enough to think it was his doing, but he liked to think he’d had a hand in it. Now, her face was once again guarded, and he mourned the relaxed look he’d seen in her eyes just moments ago.

He would see to it once this was over the look she had worn when she’d teased him would be the only one she wore. She’d had a shit time, and she didn’t deserve it. She deserved everything that was good, and he’d decided as she lay in his arms that he was going to be the man to give it to her. Her genuine warmth and sympathy on hearing about his brother cemented that decision.

Shoving that away for now, he once again scanned the area and saw nothing. With a small shake of his head he checked his flashlight and opened the car door before crossing to Sydney and putting himself between her and the open space. If bullets started flying, he would take them not her.

Reaching the door, they saw the lock was rusted, broken, and hanging uselessly. Pushing the door open slightly he listened and hearing nothing, not even a rat running across the concrete, he moved inside.

“I think the key is for the office,” Sydney whispered.

“Let’s move.” He took her hand and moved through the dark empty space toward an office located near the back. Old machinery and boxes made this place perfect for an ambush. The door was closed and as he tried the handle and found it locked, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Turning, he looked around at the dark shapes and saw no movement. “Come on, I want out of here.”

They moved into the office and Sydney went directly to the filing cabinet. Using the key and some wiggling she opened it. Her radiant smile came to him in triumph, and he took a second to enjoy it.

“Quick.”

Pulling it fully open she started going through the files dismissing them until she came to one named ‘Princess Pea.’

Taking it out she tucked it in her jacket and then closed the drawer. “This is it. Dad used to read me The Princess and the Pea when I was a kid.

“Great, let’s go.” His command was cut short when a bullet shattered the glass beside his head.

Instinct took over. He dropped to the floor covering Sydney with his body before activating his comm. “Report, report! We’re under attack. Location is the office on the south-east corner.”

James’s voice rose above the noise as he advised them he was heading in their direction. He must have been close because the firing switched directions, targeting him and the rest of the team.

Kingsley crawled to the window and checked outside. Shadows moved, but he couldn’t be sure if it were friend or foe. “It looks like they snuck up on us through the forest.” He heard a noise inside the remains of the mill. “Possible intruders inside.”

This time Caitlin answered, her voice cold and clipped. “Entering the mill from the north entrance, following attacker. Stay put. Mason in pursuit. Cain is rounding up the other side, covering our flank. James is closing in on you two from outside.”

Kingsley cursed under his breath, not that he had a choice but to stay where they were. They were pinned and he wasn’t going to risk Sydney’s life. He had to rely on the four operatives to get them out of there alive.

Sydney was shaking when he looked over at her. “Don’t worry, the team has our back. I need you to stay calm and do exactly what I tell you.”

She nodded, but he could see her control was hanging by a thread. She followed his signal to remain low and behind him. Gun drawn, he remained at an angle by the door so anybody trying to enter the office would get a bullet between their eyes.

“Corner sniper out. I saw two others running, but they were going around the corner. Mason, we need somebody else inside.”

James’s voice came back over the comms. “Cain and I are busy, and Cait is outnumbered.”

Two shots came from inside the mill, and a man howled in pain. It seemed Caitlin was slowly and surely turning the odds in their favor. More shots sounded followed by someone running. Not being able to act or move almost drove Kingsley crazy.

A massive explosion came from outside causing the decrepit building to shake as dust rained down.

Before Kingsley could ask what had happened, James came on the line. “Bad news, King. Your Mustang has been blown to kingdom come.”

“Don’t care about the fucking car, find me a way out, now!”

The sounds of a firefight intensified inside the building.

“My side is clear. I’ll run to the window, and cover you while you get out that way.”

Keeping an eye on the door, Kingsley peeked at the window and saw James at the edge of the trees.

“Too far. We’d be in the open too long.”