Page 37 of Comforted By The Mountain Man
"South team is encountering resistance," Grayson's voice comes through, followed by the sound of shouting in the distance.
My heart pounds as we work our way deeper into the warehouse. Every shadow could hide an enemy. Every sound could be Ryder calling for help. The silence is oppressive, broken only by the distant commotion from Grayson's team.
"Movement on the upper level," Ezra's voice crackles through the radio. "Northwest corner, looks like office space."
That's when I see it. A flash of movement in one of the upper windows. Small. Child-sized.
"I've got eyes on a possible target," I whisper. "Upper level, east side office area."
"Confirm," Beckett orders.
I pull out my phone and zoom in on the window. There, pressed against the glass with his hands flat against it, is a small face with familiar dark curls.
"It's him," I breathe. "It's Ryder."
Every instinct screams at me to run toward those stairs, to get to him as fast as possible. But I force myself to stay put, to follow protocol.
"West team, can you get a visual on the upper level from your position?" Beckett asks.
"Negative. Too many obstructions from here."
"South team is fully engaged," Grayson reports, his voice tight. "At least four hostiles, possibly more. We're keeping them busy but you need to move fast."
That's all the permission I need. "I'm going up there."
"Wait for backup," Beckett orders, but I'm already moving toward the metal staircase leading to the office level.
"Asher, goddammit, wait for me!"
I hear Beckett following but I can't slow down. Ryder is up there, twenty feet away and I can see him crying through the window. Every second I wait is another second he's scared and alone.
The stairs are old and loud, each step echoing through the warehouse despite my attempts at stealth. But I don't care about noise anymore. Let them know I'm coming. Let them try to stop me.
The upper level is a maze of cubicles and abandoned office furniture. Fluorescent lights hang dark and broken from the ceiling, creating patches of deep shadow between the few working emergency lights.
I move through the maze toward the room where I saw Ryder, my weapon raised, finger on the trigger. Behind me, I can hear Beckett's heavier footsteps and the occasional burst of radio chatter from the other teams.
The door to the office is closed but light spills out from underneath. I pause just outside, listening. Voices. At least twomen, maybe three. And underneath their conversation, a sound that makes my vision go red.
Ryder crying.
"Please," his small voice carries through the thin door. "I want my mommy. I want to go home."
"Shut up, kid," a gruff voice responds. "That puta’s gonna get what's coming to her."
That's it. That's all I can take.
I key my radio once. "Going in now."
"Asher, wait for–,"
I don't hear the rest of Beckett's transmission because I'm already moving. I take three steps back and then launch myself at the door, hitting it with my shoulder. The cheap hollow core door explodes inward, splintering off its hinges.
Three men turn toward me, all of them reaching for weapons. The closest one has a gun already in his hand, raising it toward me. I don't give him the chance to aim.
I tackle him hard, both of us crashing into a metal desk. His gun goes flying, skittering across the floor. My fist connects with his jaw and his head snaps back with a satisfying crack.
"Daddy Asher!" Ryder's voice cuts through the chaos. He's huddled in the corner behind an overturned chair, tears streaming down his face but he's alive, he's whole, he's okay.
