Page 83 of One Way Out

He struggles, but it’s useless.

My wrist rotates, and I stab him in the carotid artery.

I’m a bloody fucking mess as I stumble to my feet, but I edge my back to the wall, peeking around to appraise the guys on the porch.

Fuck, this is also going to be a shitshow.

Easton ain’t getting his deposit back on this place.

The front of the house is lined with large shrubs that are tall enough they reach the railing around the deck. They’re a gift because they’ll mostly obscure my presence.

Swiping my knife off on my sweats, I dry my right hand and grab my gun before crouching.

The ground is littered with sticks and jagged rocks, but I barely notice. Approaching as silently as possible, I stop by the steps and aim. I’m going to have to move around the railing, which is when I’ll be visible, but I’m hoping they won’t notice me until I’m in place.

My head swivels, but I can’t see Omen or Valor. The bond is intact when I finally remember to check it, and I get the overwhelming feeling they’re waiting on me.

Okay, that’s weird as shit.

Leo and I should have bonded a long-ass time ago. We wouldn’t have needed comms.

I finally get my shit together and focus on the link. I have no idea what gets through to them, but I do my best to project a countdown from three.

I move on three, popping around the railing and crouching.

My eyes widen as I spot one of the four men on the porch, aiming directly at me. He must have been obscured by the column at the top of the steps.

I barely have the chance to process that I need to act before Omen lowers from the rafters, slicing his blade across the guy’s throat. He shoves him down the steps, and two things happen simultaneously. The guy’s gun goes off, exploding the bottom step into massive splinters of wood. And Omen pulls himself up, getting out of the way for me to take my shots.

All three men swivel at once, shifting their focus from the front door to their dead teammate.

I take out the one in the middle first because he locates me before the other two. It’s always a gruesome sight when someone takes a headshot, and his blood, bone, and brain explode against the front door.

The one on the left is aiming at me, but the guy on the right has spotted Omen. He’s trapped in, meaning I go for the guy on my right, even though the one on the left is more of a threat—at least to me, personally. I land a shot in his neck and follow it up with a clean circle through his forehead.

I know someone handled the guy on the left…solely because I’m not dead.

It’s then I spot Valor. The massive fucker is tall enough to see over the shrubs and get an accurate shot off to save my life.

Thank fuck for that.

It also means all eight assailants are dead.

Omen swings into view again, hanging upside down from the rafters. “Everyone in one piece? It feels like it.”

“I’m good,” I agree, but it comes out hoarse and raspy.

“You’re the one with a bloody face this time, mate.” Omen chuckles. “Don’t let Valor hold the hose.”

“Is it in your mouth? You’ll want to get that shit out as soon as possible. Is there eyewash in the first aid kit?” Valor asks, coming around to the front.

I snort, shaking my head. “Fuck if I know, but we need to check on Ridge.”

* * *

Ridge leans against the back door to the house, and he frowns when he spots me. “You look like hell…” He shoves off the wall. “You fuckers left me back here twiddling my thumbs. Whatever. Pack up. We’re leaving in fifteen minutes.”

“Saylor is still in heat,” Omen says, coming to a stop at my side.

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