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His voice bolted me around the corner, not thinking about the danger, as I stepped into the light with my gun raised.
“You’re not going anywhere without me,” I said, tears falling down my cheek.
The four guys stopped, and that’s when I realized that while there might be two guards down here, they didn’t seem to be against Ryker and Cohen if the four of them sitting together and talking was anything to go on.
My eyes raked over both Cohen and Ryker, taking in every cut and bruise. Ryker looked the worse for wear, and I wanted to run to him and tell him how I felt, but it didn’t seem like the right time with the bomb still a possibility.
“Sweetheart,” Cohen said, moving toward me. The guards relaxed when they saw I wasn’t a threat. Cohen wrapped me in his arms, and I held onto him, too afraid to let go just yet, the gun still in my grip.
“You’re okay,” I said.
“That’s debatable. If you’re down here, what’s going on? Where are your shoes, and what’s on your head?” He held me at arm’s length, then noticing the gun in my hand, he took it.
“Let’s move and talk. Ryker?” I asked, peeking around Cohen.
He opened one eye, and it felt like he was happy to see me. “Hey, little hacker. Looks like you get to save the day.”
Rushing toward him, my hands hovered over his body, unsure where to touch him. Everything looked like it hurt.
“Now I wish I’d gone to Dex so I could cut off his penis and shove it down his throat,” I muttered.
Ryker snorted, then grimaced, and I looked to the two guards. “I’m assuming you’renoton Dex’s side?”
They shook their heads, though one appeared doubtful, but I’d let it go for now if they helped us get off this floor. There was no way we would make it up the elevator shaft otherwise. Taking my power pose, I pointed at them both as I started to give out orders.
“Okay, then prove it. Carry him. We need to go. This building is wired with explosives, and we need to get out.”
That had the guys moving, and Cohen took my hand as we started down the hallway. He leaned down, whispering. “Bossy Fin is super hot. You need to use that voice in the bedroom.”
My cheeks heated, but I kept moving. No time to give into temptation until we were clear of danger. If I wanted to use that voice, I needed to make sure we were out of this alive.
We made it to the elevator, and one of the guards scanned their cards to call it. When it arrived without any issue, I began to relax a little. The five of us climbed in and rode it up, quiet as it ascended. My toe tapped against the floor, worried we’d get stuck in here.
The doors opened, and my gut sank as we spotted Dex waiting for us. He had Samson on his knees in front of him, a gun held to his head. Fear ran up my throat, and I tried to think of a way out of this mess. Dex smiled maniacally, and I wondered how he could have gotten the advantage on Samson. When I met Samson’s eyes, he nodded slightly toward the mask still perched on my head. Remembering the can I’d thrown into my boot, I dropped my eyes to it, hoping Dex thought I was just scared.
“Well, well, well. Now that we’re all here, who wants to die first?” Dex cackled like it was the world’s funniest joke.
“How about you?” he asked and, a second later, shot the guard holding Ryker up. I screamed, not having expected the violence for some reason. The man fell, Ryker struggling to stay upright now that the man was bleeding from his chest. The other guard looked at Dex like he didn’t even know the man.
Which let’s be fair… he probably didn’t. Not the real version.
My hands began to shake, my nerves overwhelming me. I couldn’t think under this pressure. I needed to focus my attention, or I’d lose it, and we’d all die. I couldn’t let us all die! I’d haunt myself in death, filled with guilt for taking all these people from the ones they loved—including myself.
Samson. I needed to focus on him. He seemed like the one with a plan. Glancing back at him, I noticed he’d been able to use the gunshot to his advantage, the canister now in his grip. He implored me with his eyes to pull the mask down. So, while Dex continued monologuing about how we were all such disappointments, I shoved the mask over my head just as Samson pulled the ring. The gas began to fill the space, and he lifted it up so Dex would get the majority.
I almost felt bad for Dex, the look of confusion on his face when his limbs began to grow weak. I just had to hope this was knock-out gas and not something lethal. Fudge, why did I have to go and put that in my brain?
The instant he dropped, I reacted, bolting toward him and taking his gun. I held it, my hands shaking, and I debated. He deserved to die, but could I be the one to do it? Would it be better to let him go to jail? Was that enough justice for the crimes he’d committed?
When a hand wrapped around mine, I saw Ryker standing there, his shirt over his mouth, keeping what was left of the gas out. He implored me with his one good eye to give him the gun. Without hesitation, I let go, turning my back as I bent down to help Cohen lift Samson up. He’d passed out too, being so close. We’d only taken two steps when the gun's pop sounded. I tensed, my step faltering, but I didn’t stop. I kept walking, wanting to leave that place and never look back. I already knew it would haunt me for the rest of my life.
Stepping out the door, I practically wept as Milo grabbed me, pulling me into his arms. Asa took over with Cohen to drag his father to a nearby medic. I peeked over Milo’s shoulder as he carried me, needing to see Ryker emerge. When I spotted the uninjured guard carrying him out, my body relaxed, the tension easing out of my bones.
“We did it,” I said, then realized I still had on the gas mask. Milo lifted it up, peering down at me with love.
“I’ve never been so scared, darling. But you were amazing.”
The tears I’d been holding back spilled over, and I clung to Milo as he carried me to the medic. It was done. My revenge had been finalized. The man who’d stolen my innocence was dead. I didn’t feel like I’d imagined I would, and I knew it was because it had been my own guilt that had weighed me down all those years. Now that I knew that Mongoose was alive and Dex had been the one behind it all, I could let go of it.
