Page 66 of Wizard's Spitfire

“ETA, one minute,” Boomer’s voice comes over the coms.

We walk the girls toward the front.

“Stay behind us,” I say.

“Aren’t you Luci’s new stepdad?”

I smile. Something I didn’t think I would do under these circumstances.

“Something like that. You ladies did a good job getting away from the shooters.”

A blaring alarm goes off. Loud enough I cover my ears. I have them covered for a split-second before my training kicks in. That’s Valentina’s alarm.

“The girls' alarm!”

“Go! I’m right behind you.”

I run toward the sound. It’s in the boys’ field locker

“Cerberus, boys’ field locker.”

I scan the perimeter slowly only when I get to the door. It’s ajar. I listen before quickly popping inside. Head still intact. Itake a deep, quiet breath and get my bearings. I hear the girls screaming. They’re in the showers.

I can’t use the com. I hit the silent button and make my way with stealthy speed to the locker room. I find two dead Russians along the way and Crab unconscious and bleeding. I glance long enough to see his chest moving. He’ll need attention. I need thirty seconds.

Please, God, don’t let him die.If my partner were with me, they’d take care of Crab while I continue on. I can’t give myself away and endanger the girls.

“Come with me or I’ll shoot him in the head.” A thick Russian accent yells.

I use the mirror again and survey the scene. Lucia catches my eye in the mirror. I hold up a finger to my lips. Ace is on his knees with a gun to his head. Another dead Russian on the floor behind them.

I pull my flashlight and look in the mirror. Valentina’s looking back and forth. I mimic turning on the flashlight. Then I mimic looking away. I line up my shot in the time it takes for her to turn on the flashlight. I close my eyes. He screams. I pull the trigger. The girls scream.

“Light!” Ace chokes out.

I open my eyes, thankful the flashlight is off, and run to the girls. They throw themselves in my arms. Seconds later, I hear pounding boots. I move out of their arms and put my body in between theirs and the door, M4 at the ready.

Smoke, followed by Blue, Demon, and Wrath, come through the door.

“You’re safe, girls,” I say.

They tackle-hug me again. Ace barely gets the gun out of my hand before the girls swarm me.

“I was so scared,” Valentina says.

“I knew you’d save us,” Lucia says, hugging me tighter.

Francesca silently weeps in my arms. I rub her back as soothingly as I can.

“All clear. We have all suspects accounted for. Either in custody or deceased,” Marshal Blake says over the coms.

“Let’s get you home.”

I lead the girls out of the lockers. Crab isn’t lying on the floor anymore. Someone must have gotten him medical attention.

I look at Smoke.

“Crab?”

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