Page 6 of Saint’s Revenge

We split up. I move with Judge toward the south side of the building, our boots crunching softly on gravel and broken glass. The warehouse looms larger as we get closer. Three stories of decay and memory.

Judge checks his gun again. I do the same. Glock on my hip, full magazine, one in the chamber. Safety off. Knife strapped to my thigh. Brass knuckles in my pocket.

We reach the south entrance. The same rusted metal door hanging half off its hinges. The same door we used to sneak through as kids when the building was supposedly locked up tight.

I put my hand on the door. The metal is cold. Rough with rust. Judge glances at me and raises an eyebrow.

I nod. I'm good.

He positions himself on the left side of the door. I take the right. We've done this before: cleared buildings together during club business, moved as a unit enough times that we don't need to discuss it.

I check my watch. 12:59:15.

Forty-five seconds.

My heart rate is steady. Breathing is even. This is just another job. Just another fight.

Five years I've been running from this. Five years of telling myself I left that life behind. But you can't outrun blood. Can only face it eventually and hope you're strong enough to do what's necessary.

12:59:40.

Twenty seconds.

Judge shifts his weight. Rolls his shoulders. His jaw is tight, his eyes focused. He's ready.

I pull my gun. Grip it properly, finger off the trigger until I'm ready to fire, barrel pointed down. Judge does the same.

Somewhere inside that building, Riley is hiding. Or not hiding. Probably not hiding if I'm being honest. Probably watching everything unfold and deciding whether to intervene. I can't think about that.

12:59:50.

Ten seconds.

Phoenix's voice crackles through the comms in my ear, barely audible. "On my mark."

I move closer to the door. Plant my feet, and Judge does the same on the opposite side.

My breathing is steady. My hands don't shake.

This ends tonight.

"Go!" Phoenix orders.

I kick the door open. The metal screeches, the sound echoing through the empty space beyond. Judge moves through first, gun raised, sweeping left. I follow immediately, sweeping right.

The warehouse opens up in front of us. Cavernous and dark, lit only by a few bare bulbs hanging from the ceiling. Scaffolding along the walls. Old machinery scattered across the floor. And men... I count six immediately, scrambling for weapons as doors burst open on all sides.

Gunfire erupts from the east entrance. Brick's voice roars something I can't make out. More gunfire from the west. Echo and Wraith are in.

A Viper swings toward me, shotgun rising. I fire twice, center mass. He drops. Judge takes down another one to my left. The man goes down hard, skull cracking against concrete.

More men pour in from a doorway near the back. I have no idea how many, but they're all armed. All firing. I dive behind an old piece of machinery as bullets tear through the air where I was standing. Judge is behind cover to my left, returning fire in controlled bursts.

Phoenix's voice cuts through the chaos on the comms. "Second floor. Demon's up there."

I look up. See the metal staircase along the far wall leading to the second level. See shadows moving up there in the darkness.

And then I see her. Bruised. Bloodied. Lying on the floor, barely being able to move.