Page 42 of Trigger Discipline
A spray of water gushed out from the alley, Phin was about to be backed down. Torrential, flooding gallons poured out in a frothy spray only to pool and race across the asphalt. The water drew everyone’s attention, and Gabriel could see the bright red fire tanker peeking out from behind the alley.
Blake appeared holding a pair of jumper cables.
“Get off the street!” he screamed, pressing the cables together so they spat electricity.
The taser.
They made a really, really big taser.
“Get back!” he screamed, running back towards his men. He swung a hand out to grab the bloody National Guard soldier by the front of his plate carrier, dragging him towards the first car he could find.
The spray coming out the back of the tanker slowed. Water pooled down the streets, running in rivulets towards them. The Handler and FUD were soaked by the water, standing in puddles.
Blake dropped the cables.
Electricity crackled across the water, racing towards the confused aliens. It hit the FUD first. It screeched, head flying back and limbs freezing. Body tremoring and twitching, its pinchers squeezed until they snapped off. The Handler tried to move, but it was hit next, frozen in place. Their noises died off when the current stopped. The Handler teetered for a moment before collapsing onto the FUD, pinning its limp body to the asphalt.
Gabriel could hardly breathe through the ozone smell and the stench of burning rubber. Gun trained on the aliens, he tentatively jumped off the car while Judd followed close behind. He pointed to his eyes and then toward the downed aliens. Judd nodded quickly, stepping out behind him to surround the bodies.
They didn’t move. Smoke curled into the air, smelling like a grease shop. Swallowing past the smell, he cleared the area, watching the aliens for a long moment before his heart thudded against his chest.
Blake.
Spinning on his heel, he checked the alley. The tanker filled up the entire space. There would have been no room for Blake to get away from the electricity. Mouth dry, he racedforward to bound up the truck, slamming the hood down on the exposed jumper cables. On a knee, he peered into the cracked windshield to find the cab empty.
They’d rigged up the hose from the back of the tanker and zip-tied it to the front of the truck so the water would spray forward, then ran the jumper cables from the battery under the hood.
He didn’t see anyone.
His heart was jackrabbiting in his chest, lungs squeezing. Panic ran down his spine in a cold sweat. Where was he? If he had been shocked, then his body would be?—
“Gabriel?”
He jerked at the sound of his name, looking up to see Blake and Phin hanging from an exposed pipe in the crushed wall of the nail salon, just over the truck. They must have leapt off it at the last second to hang from the pipe by their hands.
A sigh of relief punched its way out of his lungs. His knees felt like jelly. Yanking the jumper cables free, he slammed the hood down and jumped up onto it. Grabbing Phin’s belt, he helped pull his feet back toward the truck so he could drop down safely. Grumbling about being ‘too damn heavy for this monkey shit,’ he jumped off to join Judd near the aliens.
Gabriel did the same with Blake. Wrapping his arms around his waist, he pulled him close to his chest, letting his body slide down until his boots touched down on the hood. His eyes were wide, sweat beading across his temples, brown hair flat against his head. He was breathing heavily, fingers still curled from where he’d been hanging on for his life. Like the muscles had permanently cramped in that position and refused to let go.
“That was—” he began, unable to find the words.
“A terrible idea,” Blake huffed, leaning into Gabriel’s grip, his body trembling.
Swallowing thickly, Gabriel realized he was hugging Blaketo him. Their bodies were pressed together, Blake’s head fitting nicely just under his chin. He was clutching his wrists, trying to stop shaking.
Gabriel couldn’t stop himself from pulling Blake even closer. He tried to reassure himself by feeling his warmth, the firmness of his body. His hand crept up to the back of Blake’s neck, and he ran his fingers through the soft hairs along his nape. He was safe.
“That was the second time you’ve saved my life.”
Color flooded his cheeks before Blake grinned toothily, pulling away from Gabriel to massage some life into his hands. He wouldn’t meet Gabriel’s eye. “Make this a habit and I’ll start keeping track.” He stepped off the truck, landing lightly with a glance back. “Maybe I’ll make you a punch card or something. Buy ten life saves, get one free.”
Gabriel shook his head. He was so reckless—and damn if he didn’t want to keep him safe.
Gathering himself, he looked past the saucy paramedic to his men standing around the aliens. The injured National Guardsman was holding his side, hunched over as he stared down at the bodies.
Judd grabbed the back of his plate carrier before his knees gave out. Under the blood, his face was deathly pale.
“What’s your name, soldier?” Gabriel asked as he approached them.