Page 26 of Mitchell
When Seryn stood, Mitchell grabbed his arm. "Don't do anything to get yourself killed."
Seryn nodded and then sat back down again. He had plans to step out into the open with guns blazing, but he couldn't with the command Mitchell had given him. It was too risky.
Seryn crawled under the cars, moving to where he thought the shooter was.
The guards stayed close to the cars, using them for cover. They searched behind every vehicle, which meant they didn't know where Seryn and the others hid.
Seryn pulled a knife from his coat and waited for the right moment. When one of them drew close enough, Seryn sliced the blade across the Achilles tendon. The guard dropped like a stone. His gun fell from his hand and skidded across the pavement.
The move, while effective, left Seryn exposed. He wiggled out from under the car.
As soon as he was free, the uninjured guard zeroed in on Seryn.
A gun went off. But it wasn't a loud bang. Instead, it was a gentle puff of air.
For a moment, he thought the guard had got a shot off, but then he registered that the guard's gun didn't have a silencer. The guy fell to the pavement like a stone.
The other guard might have been down, but he wasn't dead yet. Seryn plunged the knife through his chest.
It was while he was standing up that he noticed the way Mitchell lay sideways against the car with the gun in his lap. He panted. His face was red and covered in sweat.
Seryn ran to him, but Evan took charge. He pulled Mitchell's shirt up, pulling out some gauze and pressing it against Mitchell's side. Evan met Seryn's gaze. "Can you and Todd lift him?"
Seryn nodded and wheeled the chair over. It rolled quite a distance from them. The momentum of Seryn pulling Mitchell down had sent it backward.
Mitchell was heavy, but they got him in the chair. Somewhere during the process, Mitchell passed out.
"Let's go before security gets here." Seryn went as fast as he could with Mitchell in and out of consciousness.
Evan ran ahead, leading the way toward his car. It seemed miles away but was just one parking lot over. Still, they needed to get Mitchell horizontal, and quickly.
They were in the car. Seryn and Mitchell were in the back while Evan and Todd sat in front. Evan drove. They made it out of the parking lot in time to see a half dozen uniformed security guards exiting the hospital.
"Head east on the highway. We'll switch cars at a rest stop somewhere."
Evan spluttered. "No way. I love this car."
"They have the licenses plate number, Evan. We'll get stopped by the cops. The crime boss who's chasing us pays some of them off." That last part, Todd said to Seryn. But it fell on knowing ears. Todd wasn't aware of the circles Seryn ran in. Some people who paid cops off were the same ones who hired him.
Seryn pulled out his phone, pressing the button for Daruss. "I need a car. I'll text you where we are."
"Is everyone okay?"
"Not yet." Seryn ended the call. He didn't want to get into a lengthy conversation with Daruss about it. They were nearly clear.
Mitchell blinked his eyes open, gazing up at Seryn. He cupped Seryn's cheek.
"Are you okay?" Mitchell's voice sounded as though he had gargled with rocks.
"I'm fine."
Mitchell nodded and shut his eyes again. His hand fell away.
"It's going to be okay, mate."
Mitchell nodded. "You did good, sweetheart."
Seryn didn't know he needed the praise, but when it came, it went straight to his heart. His mind cleared again, and he relaxed a little.
