Page 76 of Final Exit

Austin made a rude gesture at the window.

The gunmen laughed.

Bailey bit her lip to keep from crying out.

“I had no choice,” Kade continued. “They were going to kill you all. I could only save Bailey. Your deaths will be quick, but painful, I’m afraid. I’m going to press a button to release Sarin gas into the chamber. You’ll see a thick, white cloud, and then your lungs will begin to seize.”

Mason frowned and shot a look at Jace.

“Even if you try to hold your breath, it won’t matter,” Kade said, sounding so matter-of-fact that it shocked Bailey. She never would have expected this of him. Never.

“The gas will affect your nerves. It will make you fall to the floor, unable to move. You’ll be dead in a matter of seconds.” He glanced back at Bailey before continuing. “I really am sorry.” He flipped the control switch again, then moved his finger toward the red button.

Bailey jerked her head toward the window. The Equalizers stood together again, huddled like football players, including Austin. They still thought they could figure a way out of this.

“Please,” Bailey pleaded again. “I’m begging you.”

Kade hesitated, his finger poised over the button.

Dominic shoved him out of the way and slammed his own palm down.

A cloud of white shot out into the lab.

“No!” Bailey cried, desperately trying to free herself from the chair. She wrenched it backward and jerked her legs free, then jumped to her feet.

The gunman who’d been standing by the door stepped forward, pointing his pistol at her.

She stopped, torn about what to do next.

The sounds of cursing and coughing filled the room. The lead gunman had flipped the intercom, broadcasting the sounds from the lab into the booth.

Austin tumbled out of his wheelchair and sprawled on the floor.

Devlin shouted something and knelt beside him, then started coughing.

“How can you just stand there and let this happen?” Bailey yelled at Kade. “Do something.”

“It’s too late,” he said, infuriatingly calm. “There’s nothing anyone can do for them now.”

Ignoring the man with the gun pointing at her, Bailey charged at Kade, slamming her body against him and shoving him back against the wall.

“I hate you,” she yelled, kicking him. “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you.”

He grabbed her in a bear hug, squeezing her against him. “I’m so sorry.”

She collapsed against his chest, sobbing.

“Go,” Kade said quietly over the top of her head. He leaned over the control panel and flipped something. The sounds from the other room went silent. He must have turned off the intercom. “You have what you want. Go.”

“You forget, you’re coming with us. That’s the bargain,” the leader said.

“I know. But only after all of you step out. I want Bailey to lock herself in the control booth until we’re gone.”

The man clucked his tongue. “I have a feeling you don’t trust us.”

Kade laughed harshly. “Trust you? If there was any way for me to unlock the door to the lab and let my friends kill all five of you, I’d have done it. Instead, I’ve killed them.”

Dominic laughed. “Very well. You’ve honored your word. I shall honor mine.” He motioned toward Jack, the one who’d been guarding the door. Footsteps sounded as Jack and the others filed out of the control room and into the warehouse. Only Dominic remained in the control booth with Kade and Bailey.