Page 119 of Cohesion

Good. Peyton was ready for this nightmare to be over. He had more than enough of his own to keep him company, without them coming to life right before his very eyes.

Except that when they jerked to a stop in front of the building at the address they’d been given, the nightmares only got worse. Anguish bracketed Peyton in from all sides, screams flooding his mind as echoes of the past closed in on him like sirens.

It was definitely a building slated for demolition. Or, more precisely, one that had already been partially collapsed. If they’d been told the truth, Sebastian’s body would be in there.

Crushed in the rubble.

Chapter Seventeen

The hope that hadblossomed in Quinn’s heart as they sped through the streets of Sydney to their destination died a fiery death.

“Oh my god,” Will breathed out. He leaned a hand against the window, peering out.

Quinn could barely see through the water filling his eyes. This couldn’t be how it ended. Itcouldn’t.

“No!” Jericho yelled, slamming his hand against the steering wheel. He twisted his hands around it and leaned his forehead on the top curve.

Peyton jumped out of the car and bolted.

“Peyton, wait!” Will yelled.

Quinn cursed under his breath and quickly slid out of the car, running after him. He managed to snag Peyton’s arm as his foot hit the first section of partial rubble. “Stop. Peyton, you’re going to hurt yourself.”

“He’s in there,” Peyton said through gritted teeth. “And I’m getting him out.”

“He’s gone,” Quinn said, his voice thickening on a choked breath.Gone. They’d been too late. Taken too long.

“No, they’re all still inside,” Hunter said, joining them. “There are still sections upright and no demolition crew in sight. They haven’t started yet. Six is going around the side and sweeping the area, but we spotted some guards on the left side of the building.”

“Why?” Peyton asked. “Are they justmaking surehe’s dead?”

Hunter slid a hand into his pocket. “I doubt they’d waste resources like that.”

“There might have already been something wrong with the building,” Will said. “They could be holed up in parts of it that are more secure. My team and I have been in buildings worse than this, with whole operations still going on.” He shifted on his feet. “We have to be careful when we go in, and watch our step.”

Quinn trembled. Clenching his hands did nothing to stop it. Sebastian could still be in there.

Still alive.

But what if he wasn’t? What if all of this had been for nothing, and he still ended up losing Sebastian anyway?

Jericho whirled him around and held his face between his big hands. Quinn couldn’t look away from those fake blue eyes. It didn’t make him feel better. Didn’t heal the pain steadily growing inside him. Would it be better if he could see the brown? He didn’t know.

“They aren’t dead until we recover their bodies, understand?” Jericho said thickly. “Until we ID them, they arestill alive. Nod for me, Quinn.”

Quinn nodded numbly.

Jericho kissed him quickly, a hard press of lips that helped ground him.

“Roy, Diego, check the perimeter, find Six, and guard the door,” Will said, straightening. “I’ll go in first; Peyton, up front with me, Quinn at the rear.” He tapped his boot as if checking the fit. “We go in fast, shoot anything that moves, sweep the first floor before we move to the second. If you see something of interest, call it out.”

“No introducing ourselves first?” Cain asked, smirking. He checked his weapon and did the same boot tap as Will. Was it a TOU thing, or did he develop the habit from Will? “Not very good manners.”

“They don’t deserve manners, and we’re not going in as cops. My boyfriend’s in there, Cain. The only acceptable outcome is him, and Spencer, coming out alive.”

Cain nodded sharply, features tightening. He secured the SIG MCX against his chest, one hand close to the trigger. “Let’s get to it, then.”

Quinn focused on his breathing, head on a swivel as they went in and checked every corner.

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