Page 110 of Seduction

“Yes! Yes, she’s alive.”

I ease up, using his shirt to wipe the blood from my gun. Standing, I tilt my head to the other side and, without an ounce of emotion, put a bullet between his eyes. I watch the life drain from his body. I’ve never done that before, always wanting to just move on and try to forget taking a life. This time is different. I’m intrigued with the process. It’s a slow seduction, which will probably culminate when I watch the light go out in Briggs’s eyes. When the man takes his last breath, I turn to Gage.

“Let’s go.”

Razor, Tek, and Venom leave their hiding places, helping Crow and Motor load the bodies in the van. I climb behind the steering wheel, picturing Briggs’s face and the look in his eyes when he realizes he’s about to die.

“Look at you, all grown up and shit,” Gage says, taking his seat next to me.

“I’m not losing her, Gage. I don’t care if I have to kill every motherfucker in my path.”

“You won’t.Wewon’t. She’ll be back home in a few hours, then we’ll wipe out The Pharmacist’s operation. Should have done it before.”

“All set,” Razor says, closing the back doors.

I move out, listening to Gage check in with Rico and the others.

“Rico, status.”

“All quiet, Prez. No movement outside of the building.”

“We’re headed in your direction.”

“Got it.”

We stop a mile down the road, arm up, and continue on foot. Crow and Motor take the van away to dispose of the bodies. They’ll be back later for the rest. Tek travels in front of us, closely monitoring a thermal imaging camera. From what Rico told us, we’re heading for a huge, well-lit building, surrounded by a high chain-link fence. They haven’t been able to get eyes inside, so we have no idea what we’re walking into. There’s one door in the front, one in the back, plus a loading dock. The only windows are so high up, we wouldn’t get through without being seen by the security cameras. It has to be one of The Pharmacist’s warehouses.

We meet up with Rico, Charger, and Allah, crouching in the woods around the compound.

“Still no movement?” I ask.

“A few guys came out to smoke. That’s it,” Charger answers.

“Any thoughts on how we get in, Reaper?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be the brains?” Gage retorts.

I scan the area, looking for something, anything useful, but come up with nothing. “I guess we could knock on the door.” I shrug.

“We’re fucked if that’s the best you can come up with.”

“Prez,” Booker’s voice comes through my earpiece. “Got a box truck approaching. Looks like it’s headed to the compound. Just a driver from what I can see.”

“Take him out.”

Our gazes meet and Gage smirks. I return it, knowing we’re thinking the same thing.

Looks like we’re knocking on the door after all.

We move toward Booker’s location, finding him and Chopper checking the truck. Two bodies lie next to it. Looks like one was riding with the cargo.

“Clear,” Chopper says, looking to his son. “What’s next?”

“You two hang back, keep your eyes peeled. Charger, you drive. Venom, cover him. The rest of us are in the back.” Everyone nods, moving into position. Gage throws an arm around Charger’s shoulders, pulling him to his side. “You floor that fucker until you’re through the walls. Got it?”

“Got it, Prez.”

When we climb into the back, it’s packed with cardboard boxes. Razor has opened one and is sticking his knife into one of the wrapped packages.