Page 32 of Ruthless Contract
The door shuddered again, the fourth kick forcing it open. The first man stepped inside just as another climbed through the broken window. Those in the back were having a harder time opening the door.
Even if they shot the doorknob off, the boxes in front of them would cause them problems, keeping them occupied while we took out these three. The first man through the door took three cautious steps into the lab before stopping.
His weapon swept across the darkness as he searched for movement. The second man climbed through the broken window and landed awkwardly on the floor. A third followed seconds later through the front door, weapon raised, scanning the room.
All three were looking for their targets.Us. Instead, they found silence. I watched them through the green glow of my goggles. One started to cough. Another rubbed at his eyes before tightening his grip on his weapon.
The compound was finally starting to work. I looked over at Terzo. Raising my hand, I pointed toward the men near the front door.
"I'll take that side," I whispered, speaking of the door.
Terzo gave a single nod. The attackers continued moving deeper into the lab. One kicked aside a box. The first man rubbed at his eyes again. The second shook his head, a sign that dizziness was kicking in.
The third coughed loudly, sounding like he was choking on air. These men should’ve been dropping by now. Though they wereshowing symptoms of being affected, they were still standing.That damn window!
“What’s that noise?” the window guy asked, voice raspy.
All three men turned toward the canister against the wall.
“It’s coming from that canister,” another guy stated.
“It’s tear gas,” the window guy announced, alarmed. “Get it out of here. We’re not alone.”
Just as he uttered those words and prepared to turn around, Terzo was moving from behind the counter. Terzo fired. The man’s head jerked, blood splattering. Then his body dropped to the ground. With the canister now forgotten about, the other two men faced Terzo.
Rising from behind the lab counter, I fired two rapid shots. Both men’s heads jerked, bodies dropping like dominoes. A bullet whizzed past me, barely missing my face, close enough for me to feel the heat of it.
“Get down,” Terzo yelled. “They’re at the window.”
I ducked and moved back behind the lab table. More shots erupted from the broken window. Bullets slammed into the counters, equipment, and walls around us. Glass exploded from a nearby cabinet as another round tore through it.
The bastard at the window wasn't aiming at us anymore. He was firing blindly to keep our heads down.Fuck!The others must be on the way. Heavy footsteps sounded from the front of the lab.
I glanced toward the entrance and saw two more men rush through the damaged doorway. The moment they spottedmovement from behind the lab table, they opened fire. Bullets ripped across the room.
Metal pinged.
Glass shattered.
I pressed my back against the lab table as rounds hammered into the other side of it. The attackers had us pinned down. Beside me, Terzo remained crouched low. The gunfire continued for several seconds before finally easing.
The moment it did, Terzo leaned out from one side of the table while I leaned out from the other. We fired as the men dived for cover. The window shooter had abandoned his position and was entering through the front.
I fired at him. He stumbled over a body, causing my bullet to miss.Fuck. I continued firing as he used the dead body to cover himself. Return fire started. Damn it, we’d given them time to reload.
Bullets struck walls, equipment, and boxes. I ducked back down as rounds zipped overhead. One struck the edge of the table close enough to shower my arm with splinters and pieces of metal.
Terzo fired several more shots.
I joined him.
Neither of us could see much anymore. The room had become a haze of debris from broken equipment, shattered glass, and pieces of cardboard. The sound of coughing filled the air. Either the gas was still working on them, or the dust was getting to them.
Even so, they were firing blindly, hoping to strike us. The goggles still gave us an advantage, but the dust and debris filling the lab made it harder to see. Then suddenly...
Click...Click... Click.
I frowned. My clip was empty. Across from me, Terzo squeezed his trigger again.
