Page 116 of Cohesion

Six pulled his sword from its sheath and swung it in a perfect arc.

“Holy shit. He gets asword?” Cain asked. “No one told me that was an option. Where’s mine?”

“I got a spare,” Six offered.

“He’s not getting a sword,” Roy objected. “Don’t even fucking think about it.”

“Why did you bring a spare, Six?” Jericho asked.

“No one else is getting a sword,” Hunter said, face pinched in pain. He pointed at Six. “Don’t cut off limbs. Don’t decapitate. And don’t gut anyone.”

Six rolled his eyes, hand dropping. “There’s not a lot left after that. What am I supposed to do with it? Cut up a salad?”

“Six.”

“Alright, alright. Loosen up a bit.” Six switched his grip, angling the curve of the sword slightly behind himself. “It’s for flare and effect, and it makes guys piss themselves. Am I at least allowed to shoot someone?”

“The aim is to not have to,” Quinn said. “I don’t care who these people are, or what they’ve done. We’re here for information, not senseless murder.”

“Boring.”

“Diego and I will stay on the perimeter,” Roy said, slapping Diego’s chest. “We’ll watch your… uh… six.” He glanced at Six. “We’ll watch your back. Look, man, I can’t call youSix. What’s your real name?”

“It’s Six.”

“Seriously?”

“Parents got sick of naming kids, I guess,” Six said, shrugging.

“Do you have a brother named Seven?”

“As a matter of fact…” Six paused. “No.”

Peyton hooked his fingers in the waistband of Will’s pants. Will pressed a kiss to the back of Peyton’s head and gathered his hair up. “Tie?” he asked quietly.

“Fuck.” Peyton shoved a hand in his pockets. “I don’t have one on me.”

Will took one out of his own pocket and secured Peyton’s hair up in a ponytail.

Will turned his head to where Cain was standing at his shoulder. “Stay out here with them.”

Cain shook his head. “No fucking way. I’m not letting you go in by yourself.”

“I wasn’t asking. I won’t be alone. Make sure no one surprises us from behind, please.”

Cain let out a disgusted breath. He didn’t look happy about it, but he nodded. “Fine. Don’t have too much fun without me.”

“I’ll try not to.”

Will checked his weapon over one last time before following everyone across the quiet street. He let everything inside him settle, and the buzzing in his ears stopped.

He glanced behind himself, checking where Cain, Diego, and Roy had situated themselves, time slowing down as they moved through the front doors.

Peyton tagged three ofthem with weapons as soon as they got inside. It was in the way they sat, obvious there was extra weight on their hips. He doubted the others were completely empty-handed either.

The first one to spot them stood, reaching for his waist as he twisted into an upright position from his stool. Peyton slammed his hand against the man’s chest to stun him, elbowed him in the side of the head, and then twisted to get the gun out himself, levelling the idiot’s own weapon at him.

“Get on the floor,” Peyton said, deadly calm. When the man didn’t respond straightaway, Peyton flipped the gun in his hand, smacked him across the face with it, and forced him onto the ground with a quick sweep of his leg, tripping him.

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