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I nodded my agreement and turned toward the cabinets under the sink. We'd hidden guns damned near everywhere in the manor after someone gutted Jace. As much as Joey hadbitched that it was irresponsible, I knew we were all happy that we had. Grabbing the two pistols we'd stored in the cabinet, I handed one to Leighton before signaling for us to move back around the kitchen island.

Joey was leaning against the counters, peeking around the entryway into the breakfast, a gun already in hand. Glancing back at us, he motioned for Leighton to cover him, barely waiting for L to get into position before he stepped out into the open. The rest of us filed in behind him when nobody shot at him.

I kept to the wall, my eyes trained inside the kitchen in case an intruder finally decided to come through the window there. Leighton moved to the breakfast windows, carefully shifting the curtains aside to scan the back patio. At the same time, Joey and Craig grabbed whatever weapons they'd stashed in the breakfast nook.

"It's clear back there as far as I can see," Leighton spoke in a hushed whisper. We still need to be careful in case they're hiding outside the motion lights reach, waiting for us to drop our guard again."

"If we can get to the stairs, I can post up at the top and drop anyone who comes in through the foyer." Joey said. "Someone needs to get to the cameras and see what we're dealing with, and we need to secure the Princess."

"We move as a unit until we're sure we can get to the stairs without issue," I started, just as the lights in the house cut off.

"Pretty sure that means they cut the power, boys." Leighton's voice was grim.

"Cameras aren't good without power, Rich." Craig added. "We need a new plan."

"We should probably figure out where the fuck the rest of our men are. Nobody else should have made it this close to the manor. Not again." Leighton growled.

"What about the walkies?" Joey asked.

"Still in the camera room." Craig replied.

"So, the plan hasn't changed. Get to the camera room, get our fucking men on the walkie and find out what the hell is going on. Don't die in the process. Easy." I whispered.

"Yeah, just a normal Saturday. No sweat." Leighton chuckled.

We moved cautiously and silently, using our familiarity with the manor's layout to our advantage. The house was eerily quiet as we cleared the rooms off the gallery. I struggled to keep my mind focused. The lack of movement or sound in the manor caused me to worry about Az and Victoria. There had been enough time between Joey's text to Az and us reaching the great room that we should have seen them by now.

Carefully moving to peek into the great room for any sign of intruders, I motioned for Joey and Craig to move to my side. The space was as still and silent as the rest of the manor, but I refused to take chances. On a silent count of three, we moved into the room as a unit, Leighton trailing behind to provide cover fire if needed.

"What the fuck is going on?" Craig whispered. "There's nobody. If this is an attack, we should have takensomefire by now."

"Count our fucking blessings and arm up." I replied.

The four of us crept through the great room, uncovering every weapon we'd stashed until we were all armed to the teeth. Joey had retrieved a pair of night vision goggles while Craig and I stuffed guns anywhere we could in our tuxes. Leighton, ever the lunatic, pulled a machete from beneath the couch before signaling that he was finished. Shaking my head at the ridiculous grin on his face, I turned to face the foyer.

"We move as one, watch each other's backs." I ordered. "You have your marching orders, lets find out who the fuck decided it was wise to try us."

We started to move faster as we covered the short distance between the great room and the foyer, making sure we cleared the corners and nooks as we moved closer to the camera room. Joey split off as we approached the staircase, heading for the second-floor balcony. Craig, Leighton, and I continued on toward the dining room.

We'd almost cleared the archway into the room when the door to the office behind us burst open. We spun in surprise, and before we'd had time to react, five gunshots rang out in quick succession as armed men began to pour out of my office.

"Go!" Joey shouted above us as the five men he'd shot hit the floor.

"Move, move move!" I yelled, ducking inside the dining room with Craig.

Leighton didn't need any encouragement. "Leeeeeroy Jenkins!" He screamed, charging headlong into the crowd of adversaries.

Muzzle flashes filled the foyer, and gunfire echoed through the house. I jerked my head toward the camera room for Craig to get inside and grab the walkie as I started laying cover fire.

"You shot me, you asshole! That wasn't very fucking nice!" I heard Leighton bellow just as he was silhouetted in muzzle flashes.

He charged the gunman closest to him with his machete raised, thrusting it forward into his attacker's face.

The sounds of gunfire and chaos had exploded from the calm so quickly it was difficult to process the madness. I gritted my teeth, grabbed the edge of the large dining table, and flipped it onto its side, creating a makeshift barrier. I felt a coupleof stitches pop, which only irritated me with the adrenaline pumping through my system.

"Leighton, don't get yourself killed, you psycho!" I shouted over the gunfire.

Leighton's laughter responded, and I could hear the sickening sound of his blade against another attacker. "Oh, come on, Rich! Where's the fun in that?!"