Page 57 of Play Dirty

Another burst of gunfire came over the line, and then Ronin spoke. “Loose ends are wrapped.”

“Madigan?”

“Near the safe room with Azrael and Eastman. I’m good. They’re both injured but stable.”

“Sadie?”

“I’m clear. Madi, you need help down there?”

“Yep. We’re going to need transport for Eastman and Az.”

“I can fucking walk,” Az growled.

“Az says he needs a stretcher.” Madigan ducked the half-hearted punch Az threw with his good arm.

“I’m on my way,” Sadie said. “Is that fucking Christmas music? This whole place is decked out like a Disney World Christmas nightmare. It’s gross.”

Madigan had noticed the faint strains of music earlier, too.

Sadie’s voice came over the line again, this time in a growl. “Cas, can you turn that shit off?”

“Nope. I’ve just gotten back into the system so I can see again, but I can’t—oh. Wait.” A triumphant cry followed and the Christmas music went silent. “There we go.”

Madigan chuckled. “Where’s your holiday spirit, Sadie? Better watch out or Santa will skip your house this year.”

“Get your chimney stuffed, asshole.”

“Did this morning. Highly recommended.”

“Just for that, you’re all getting presents this year, and you’re going to regret it so badly.” Sadie huffed. “I fucking hate Christmas music. Anyone notice how it starts earlier every year? I swear to fuck, I’m going to walk into a mall at the height of summer and ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer’ will be playing and I’m going to lose my shit.”

“Well, that solves my question of what to get you for Christmas this year. Depends it is,” Jonah said drolly.

“Very thoughtful, brother, but you’d probably be better off giving those to Cas. Help him get a head start on stocking the massive supply he’ll need for your old ass in about ten years. Consider it the grown-up version of a savings account.”

“You’re no longer invited to Christmas dinner,” Cas grumbled.

“Thank God.” Sadie cackled. “Mission accomplished.”

“As if you would ever step foot in a mall, anyway.” Madigan snorted as Sadie kicked the door wider and entered the room.

“Fair assessment,” she demurred, and then whipped her gun up and shot the Santa ornament Madigan grabbed off the floor and lobbed in her direction. A confetti of red and white plastic rained down to the floor. “The fuck was that?”

“Christmas spirit reflex check. Yours is dead.”

“Jonah,” Sadie spoke into the comm. “New plan. I’m going to need two body bags down here.”

“Hey,” Az protested. “I’ve not said a word. I’m with you on Christmas.”

“You’re guilty by association. Oh, yes, I heard that sweet little exchange between you two earlier. We all did.” She made a retching sound. “After we get out of here, I’m flying directly to fucking Germany and finding some death metal bands to tour with for a solid month until I feel fucking normal again.”

“That stuff about the reward was what you’d consider sweet?” Cas sounded horrified.

“Gave me a toothache, yeah,” Sadie grumbled.

“We’re officially all-clear,” Jonah jumped in. “Fuzz is on the way, but Ronin’s moving the van. You still want those body bags, or can you muster the strength within yourself to tough it out for another half hour?”

23