Page 72 of Ravaged By the Dark

There were three figures in the room: one was tied up, one was female, and one held a gun. If he were a betting man, he’d guess that was Cody and Renee with a guard. He took the lead, and they stayed as low as they could next to the wall. Bullets were hitting the concrete above them, and concrete-dust coated them as they moved.

Trev touched his shoulder, and he immediately stopped and knelt as Trev took out the guard running their way from a side aisle. By the look on the man’s face, he was simply running scared from the action, fleeing from the heat only to be hit by the fire. Trev’s Maxim 9 made a soft sound as he fired, and the man landed face-first on the concrete.

Arek spotted Tyson among his group, and the dark demon that lived within him roared to life. He wanted his blood. He wanted to make sure this threat was neutralized for good.

“You go for Renee and Cody. I’m going for him.”

Trev grabbed his bicep before he could take off. “That fucker won’t leave Renee here. He’s gone through too much effort to get his hands on her.”

“What’s your point?”

“Trying to grab him out there is too dangerous. Let the Syphons do what we need and lay in wait in the office for him to come to you. I can get Renee out of here, but rushing off half-cocked and getting killed, isn’t going to end in a happily-ever-after for the two of you.”

“Fuck, I hate that you’re always the smart one.”

Trev’s smile widened. “That’s why I get paid the big bucks. Come on, let’s go get your girl.”

Loud screaming was coming from inside the office. Arek threw open the door, gun and knife in hand, ready to take on any threat. Instead, he found the guard now had something silver sticking out of his eye, and Renee was hunched over, throwing up.

Pride soared in his chest as he pieced together what had happened. As the guard ran wildly toward Trev, his brother calmly raised his gun and shot the guy in the face, shutting him up permanently.

Renee looked over as the guard stopped screaming, and her eyes shone with happiness he’d cherish forever. Arek ran to her and gave her already badly bruising face a once over.

“Is any of this blood yours?” He gripped her shoulders, taking in her stained clothes and red shaking hands.

“No, it’s….” She nodded toward the dead man. “You…you came.” Renee’s voice wavered.

“Of course I came. I always will.” He squeezed her shoulders and laid a quick kiss on her forehead. “We will need to talk about you running off on me, though.”

“I’m sorry, I thought I’d caused enough trouble. I was trying to fix it by myself.”

“You two can talk later. Cody needs a hospital, Arek,” Trev called out as he released the bindings holding Cody to the wall. The guy groaned as he crumpled to the floor. Renee ran to her brother, and between her and Trev, they were able to help him stand.

“Trev, get them out of here, might as well use the door.” Arek pulled the gun free that was strapped around his ankle and released the safety. “Here, take this.”

He held the gun out to Renee.

“You’re not coming?”

“No.”

“But…”

“I have to stay.” Arek’s jaw was set, his eyes firm with his decision. Renee looked like she was going to argue, her eyes shining with unsaid emotion that warmed his heart.

“I love you too, now go.” She bit her lip, and he offered her a little smile before the small party slipped out of the office door and rounded the corner into the darkness.

“We’re clear and heading to the hospital. May the spirits of our brothers be with you,” Trev’s voice came through his earpiece, and his hand instantly went to the dog tags around his neck. A calmness washed over him. The dance with death was once more about to begin, and his hands itched for the kill.

Arek leaned against the wall and listened to the yelling and gunfire. His eyes closed as the stench of death filled him and transported him to another time.

The sound of the helicopter flew overhead.

“We’re almost there. Keep moving!” Trev called out as they struggled to climb the final large peak standing between them and safety.

Bullets peppered the ground around them. There was no point in looking back. He either made it or got shot—they’d long ago used the last of their ammunition.

“Move!” Arek yelled and pushed on the back of the civilian man he was protecting.