Page 15 of Tag

He never saw me coming.

One quick move—arm around his neck, body crumpling silently to the ground.

I flipped the breaker to kill the lights on the south end and jammed the backup generator wires just to make sure.

A scream echoed from somewhere deep in the warehouse.

A girl’s scream.

My blood ran cold.

Please don’t let that be—

Aponi

I didn’t look back.

The hallway reeked of piss and bleach. My boots moved silently across the floor as I neared the north wall.

One door. Steel. Reinforced. A sliding bolt on the outside.

I heard voices behind it.

A man laughing. Something thumped hard against the wall.

A whimper followed.

I lifted the bolt slowly, heart pounding. My Glock was steady in my hand, safety off.

I kicked the door in.

The man was already moving toward the girl on the floor—Kaylie. She was bruised, bleeding, but alive.

“Don’t.” My voice came out like a growl, low and lethal.

He turned, sneering—underestimating me.

Big mistake.

He lunged. I fired.

Once in the leg. He went down screaming.

I crossed the room and grabbed Kaylie, pulling her up into my arms.

“I got you,” I whispered. “You’re safe now.”

She clung to me, sobbing.

Then I heard gunfire erupt near the east corridor.

Tag.

Tag

Three men. Two rifles. One pistol.

They came out fast—sweeping the hallway where I’d just cut the lights.