Page 77 of Red Zone Awakened

CHAPTER30

“There’sa couple of things I need to know before we blow the system,” Mace said as he deposited her in front of the control panel beside the screens, well away from the bodies.“First, how many Freedom fighters are between here and the front doors.Second, I want to look outside, see if there’s a way through Enforcement.Lastly, we shut down the cameras.Now, stick your magic fingernail in the panel and bring up all the cameras on the ground floor, inside and outside the building.”

He took up position facing the screens: legs apart, arms folded, glaring.It looked as though he was about to go to war with the images.

Keiko turned back to the wall with the panel and screens, keeping her eyes away from the rest of the room and the bodies she knew were there.Accessing the panel, she sent a command to the network to show the camera feeds he needed.She felt like she’d been wrung tight and hung out to dry.Every nerve ending in her body was raw, and it was becoming harder to keep her emotions under control.Later, once this was over and if they managed to get out alive, she planned on having the world’s most epic meltdown.Until then, she needed to be strong—for herself and for the freaky Viking with the soft heart.

“Enforcement’s getting ready for an assault,” Mace said.“It looks like there are only a few Freedom fighters between us and the front doors.If we take the back route, it should minimize how many we encounter, but we need to go now, before Enforcement enters the building.”

Movement on the screen showing nearby elevators drew their attention.As they watched, two Freedom fighters—a man and a woman—stepped out into the corridor.They were armed, focused, and looked determined.And they were heading straight for the security hub.

“Shut down the system now,” Mace ordered as he strode toward her.

Keiko sent a command, and the screens went blank.

“Run to the doors and wait beside them.I need to rearm and deal with the surveillance system.”He turned toward one of the fallen men and divested him of his weapons.“It’s a clear path from where you’re standing to the door.Nothing in your way.Don’t look down.Just run.”

Keiko snapped her eyes from the dead body Mace knelt over and did as he said, trusting him to keep her from stumbling or walking into something else she couldn’t handle.Blasts rang out, and she spun to see what he’d done.Smoke billowed from the panel on the wall and the control desk, the shots disabling them completely.

With a swing of his arm, Mace tossed something toward the screens before running at her.He was by her side within seconds and grabbed her hand as they pushed through the door.

“Keep quiet,” he whispered.“And run.”

She didn’t have to be told twice.

* * *

Mace held Keiko’s hand tight as they ran down the corridor, away from the public-access elevators.He’d memorized the floor plan and knew there was another set of elevators and stairs at the far end of the building.They were tucked away in a corner and used for deliveries, but they’d get them to the basement.Hopefully, they’d be safe there long enough to come up with a way out of the building that didn’t attract everyone’s attention.

“Too fast,” Keiko gasped, making him glance back over his shoulder.

Her face was red, and she was panting hard.

“Your legs are too damn short,” he told her.

She frowned but didn’t have the breath to reply, which was probably a good thing for him.Without breaking his stride, Mace scooped her up, tossed her over his shoulder, and kept running.She didn’t complain, just grasped hold of the shirt she’d returned to him and held on tight.

Shouts came from behind them.A panicked warning.Followed by an explosion that rocked the building.Mace smiled, pleased Freedom had discovered the surprise he’d left for them in the security hub.

They turned a corner.The elevator bank lay straight ahead, and beside it, the entrance to the stairwell.Putting on a burst of speed, he reached the stairwell door—just as the elevator’s doors began to open.Three men stepped out.No, not three men—two men and a mountain.

Freedom had cut them off.

It was too late to change direction.His momentum carried him forward, and he barreled straight into them.

Mace tossed Keiko toward the stairwell entrance.“Run,” he roared.

She landed on her feet, wobbled, cast him a terrified glance, and ran.

“Get her,” the mountain ordered, and the two smaller men started after her.

Mace grabbed one of them as he passed and threw him back at the giant.He bounced off and hit the wall.But the second man dodged to the side, slipped past, and followed Keiko into the stairwell.

The door closed behind them with a creak and a thud.

Keiko was alone with the enemy.

Without him to protect her.