Page 5 of Emerald Flame
Kiara had a refuge in Savage? All of this was new to Warren, but it wasn’t the time for a discussion.Let me get this set up with her.
As the rifle fire continued slamming in heavy sprays against the front entrance and the rear exit, he forced himself to focus. “I want everyone heading up to the roof.”
He switched to telepathy.Kiara, come to the locker room.
Already here.
He addressed the group. “Kiara is going to get us out of here. Who can levitate?” Most of the hands went up. Only a couple of the support staff were without flight capacity and the drunk would have to be corralled.
He gestured to them. “Pair up with an officer. We’re leaving by way of the roof. Let’s go.”
He didn’t try to explain the mechanics. He headed to the service stairs at a run, trusting everyone to keep up.
Kiara, where are you?But by the time he was halfway up the stairs, he already knew since the door to the roof was standing wide open.
Then suddenly Kiara appeared at the top landing, but away from the doorway. “I’m not sure how many I can take at a time.”
“Tell us what to do.”
“First, all of you need to know this is going to hurt.”
Warren lowered his chin. “We can take it.” He saw the bright glint in her eyes.
“Give me the first three.”
Warren waved three forward. Kiara started instructing them. Each nodded. Three powerful wolf officers grabbed hold of her arms. Muffled shouts of pain followed then they all disappeared.
Kiara’s voice was in his head.We’re taking off. Can you see us?
Not even a little.
The next thirty seconds were painful as he waited. Three wolves safe. Sixteen to go.
Kiara reappeared. “Let me try four this time.”
Warren shoved the next four up the stairs. “Do as she says.” No one argued.
He could hear gunfire now inside the building. He had to take action or Julio’s forces would find them trapped on the stairs. As he ran down, he issued orders for everyone to obey Kiara to the letter.
He grabbed two officers he trusted. “We’ll defend the station until everyone is out.”
Roberts joined them, pulling his rifle in front of him.
Warren saw the set of chin and that fur now lined his cheeks in thin arrows. Roberts hadn’t served in regular border patrol work for years, but he’d do.
He had the two officers head to the rear exit and start firing at the door to keep Julio’s forces from coming in that way. Then he and Roberts moved toward the front. Using some filing cabinets as cover, he fired at the three wolves who had breached the main entrance. Each let loose with several rounds. Julio’s men went down.
Both Warren and Roberts sank to the floor as Julio’s outside force started hitting the building again.
He directed his thoughts to Kiara.How we doin’?
I’ve got another four in the air. I’m releasing them now. Two more groups of four, and we’re good. I’m almost at the doorway. Okay, I’m gathering the last group that’s on the stairs. But where are you and the other three?
I’ve got them with me, including Roberts. We’re holding off Julio’s forces.
Okay. I’ll let you know the second I’m heading back.
Warren heard the wolves at the rear exit. They’d kept up a steady fire. He and Roberts hit the doorway once more with a fine spray of bullets. The steel shutters that were supposed to cover the front glass doors now hung at an angle.
