Page 95 of The Flame of Carson
“You’re no match for me.”Anderson taunted.
Stacey smirked, “You are a cocky shit, but that don’t mean a thing in a fight.”
During their skirmish, Gage managed to maneuver himself behind Anderson.Silent as panther, Gage gripped Anderson in a choke hold.Whether it was instinct or Marine training, Anderson pulled off an escape and rounded on Gage, turning his back to Stacey.Stacey dove into action and quick as a snake, grabbed Anderson and executed a hip throw.As one, she and Gage moved, advancing on Anderson, who was getting back to his feet.
“This is where you and your so called brother fucked up Anderson.You two didn’t factor in that Stacey and I are a unit.”Gage panted.
“Attack one, you have to deal with the other.”Stacey added.
“I’ll kill you both.”Anderson hissed, taking his fighting stance.
“I warned you when you called me asshole, this is your biggest mistake.”Stacey warned as she and Gage moved as one watching Anderson.
Anderson lunged at Stacey first.She knew he still viewed her as the weaker threat.Stacey blocked him and as she spun away from Anderson, Gage shifted and delivered punch and kick combinations.When Anderson was knocked off balance, Stacey moved in.As one, Stacey and Gage kept Anderson on the defensive.They would not give him the chance to get the upper hand.
“On your left.”Gage stated.
Stacey pivoted to her left and blocked Anderson.“Go low.”
Gage crouched and when Stacey threw her punch, he was there to come up from the ground and execute an uppercut.Anderson hit the deck and was unmoving.While Gage rolled the dazed man onto his stomach, Stacey reached into one of Gage’s utility pockets to pull out another set of zip cuffs.This time, Gage was able to secure the man’s wrists.At that moment, multiple footsteps were heard on the metal stairs.
“Subject secured!”Gage called out, keeping his knee in the middle of Anderson’s back.
“You two all right?”Ethan asked as he and the others moved closer.
“Yeah.We’ll be better when we can get him in a cell, and we can go home.”Stacey sighed.
Federal Agents and MPs hauled the still dazed Anderson to his feet and started moving him toward the stairs.Gage got to his feet and instantly pulled Stacey into his arms.The two held each other tight and let out relieved sighs.Gage caught Tony and Danny moving over to the computer station that Anderson had set up.Seconds later he heard Tony and Danny curse.
“Fuck!Out!Everyone get the fuck out of here now!”Danny cried.
No one questioned him and just ran for the stairs.Not fifteen seconds after getting out of the building, the explosions began.Gage and Grant grabbed Stacey and the two men pushed her to the ground behind one of Blackout’s SUVs, as the final explosion shook the ground.Burning debris rained down on Blackout, the feds, and the military police.After several minutes, everyone slowly started getting to their feet.Looking through the smoke, dust and flames, the group turned to look at what was left of the warehouse.
“Jesus.”Stacey breathed.“Twenty seconds later and we would have been blown to the moon.”
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“Yeah.Okay, thanksHarker.Please keep us updated.”Gage said, ending the call as Stacey stepped out of the bathroom.“How are you feeling babe?”
“Human.What did Harker have to say?”Stacey answered, moving to stand in front of him in only her bathrobe.
Gage lay the phone on the bed, gripped her hips, and looked up at her, “he said it looked like there wasn’t much left after the place blew.He said miraculously, Tony and Eli found what looked like Anderson’s laptop.Or what there is of it.Tony and Eli are going to try and see if they can get anything from it.”
“And Anderson?”
“He’s in a secure cell, but I don’t know where.Only Ethan, Harker, Fortner, and Major McCandles know.Speaking of the Major, he’ll be here tomorrow and wants to be there when you and I give our statements of what happened before the others got there.”
“Fine with me.”Stacey agreed.Then a thought occurred to her.“You told Ethan you found several booby traps, did you...”
Gage smiled, “Yes, I had them on me and yes, I gave them to Ethan.When I cried out in pain when Anderson and I started fighting, that’s why.I landed on one of the little boxes and it dug into my hip.Hurt like a bitch.”
Stacey giggled and ran her fingers through his hair.“Oh, poor baby.You need me to kiss it better?”
Gage laughed.“As much as I would love that, I’m exhausted.I’m sorry...”
“Gage, baby, I’m with you.Let’s get a few hours of sleep.It’s damned near midnight and Ethan and the feds want us in for our interview in like seven hours.After they’re all done with us, we can come home and then see what happens.”
