Page 109 of Queen Of WildCards

Hiseyes whirled on me, and the look in them made me feel uneasy.Itwas the look of a broken man, cracking apart and relishing the pain as he did whatever he could to feel useful.

"Spade, do you really think charging into their stronghold armed to the teeth is a smart idea?"

BlackJackstrolled in with a frown on his lips, his hair combed back and slicked down, a suit and tie gracing his lean frame as he tucked a gun into a shoulder holster beneath his coat. "It'sbetter than nothing, which is what you're doing sitting there like she's going to magically fall back into our laps."

Ifrowned, hating that he was right but knowing damn well we could get killed pulling this shit. "Doyou think they hurt her?"

Spade'sshoulders hunched, andIsworeIheard him clench his jaw so tight a tooth cracked beneath the pressure. "Ifthey did,I'llmake them hurt a thousand times worse."

Acehad left the room but returned now, a bit worse for wear but mostly cleaned up, his polished three-piece business suit pissing me off the longerIstared at it.

Hehuffed in annoyance asSpadecrowded him out of the room, not letting him further than the doorway. "I'mgoing to help,Tyce, get out of the fucking way."

Spadesneered at him, and the look could have turned a lesser man to stone. "Don'tyou think you helped enough already?"

Aceflinched, but he held his ground. "Ijust got off the phone with an old friend—"

BlackJackstepped up, his hand falling onSpade'sshoulder before the man could do something reckless, like shoot his friend. "Wedon't need your help,Ace.I'llget us in there.We'llextract her and bring her home, where she belongs."

"Lethim come,"Ispoke up, not backing down as all three men stared blankly at me. "Wecould use another set of hands, and let's be realistic; he's not going to do anything to get himself killed.Itwas a mistake.Let'slet our queen decide if he's worth saving or not.She'sthe one he betrayed."

Acelooked like he might wither away and die at the suggestion thatMallorydish out his fate, but there was no choice but to go with it if he wanted to leave this house alive.

* * *

Theestatethat for all intents and purposes should have been in an upheaval was startlingly quiet when we approached.Theguards that should be stationed in front of the house were missing, and the cars in the drive had all been gifted flat tires, courtesy of someone who knew how to incapacitate a vehicle, no less.

"Thisdoesn't look good, guys,"Imuttered, spotting two inert forms by a guard building. "Lookslike two downed guards by the entrance gate.Wearen't the first ones here."

Spadelet out a fucking whine at the news, his already frayed mental state breaking more under the knowledge that there could be two factions to fight our way through to get to her. "Fuck,I'llkill them all, man, if they hurt a hair on her head, shit—"

BlackJackslapped him on the back of his head, rolling his eyes. "Shutit, moron.Silenceequals an element of surprise."

Wesnuck around to the front door, and the evidence of an attack was more evident here—not that the dead guards weren't already a huge indication.Thedoor had been rammed in, most likely by pros, the screws holding the latch in place ripped straight from the wood and left to cover the floor, bits and pieces of wood scattered around them.Thedoor lay on the ground beyond its frame, scores in the wood surface, most likely from the ram and several pairs of boots.

"Theybreached the front pretty easily, no casualties,"Acemuttered, his brain kicking into analysis mode like it did when he was formulating a plan that left no room for error.Hisneed for control was slipping back in, taking over again, andIwinced as my boot came down on shattered glass, the sound echoing abnormally loudly around us.

"Fuck."

Weall stopped and listened for the sound of another group of people, but the air was unnaturally still, like there was nothing living in this house.Notanymore.

Hadthere been a shootout?Hadthey fought to the last man, taking every single attacker down with them?

Wepressed on, sweeping the house, finding not a single soul in the building before we came to the back door and found the sight of the bloodbath.

Atleast twenty men lay in a backyard garden, some draped over bushes, some laying on the cold ground, their bodies all sitting in pools of their own blood, riddled with holes and slashes that told a gruesome story.Nota single body stirred as we walked by, not a single one held a pulse.Butthey all wore the same uniform, and that alone told me they were the same bastards who'd attacked our group at the coffee shop, and just like there, they'd failed here, too.

Theguards out front all wore a very conspicuous uniform, and none of these bodies had the same clothing.

Spadespat on one as we walked through the yard, his disdain rising to the surface. "Fuckingworthless scum, attacking people while their backs are turned.Youget what you deserve."

Werounded the building, coming face to face with an ongoing standoff, the four of us managing to drag ourselves out of the line of sight before being spotted.

BlackJackmoved around the area and took the high ground, mapping out the road ahead before returning to us with a frown on his lips.

"Fourmen along the far wall, all armed, looks like some of theKingswe've encountered at the gym.They'repinned down, six men to the left of the poolhouse, all hunkered down, reloading, regrouping."

Spadegrowled, his eyes wild again. "Anysign of our girl?"

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