Page 138 of 5+Us Makes Seven

Then I saw a car approaching slowly from down the road ahead of me. A nondescript, grey sedan. It pulled up lazily in front of the building, and a large, bald, older man got out. He looked around quickly, eyes resting on my car for a brief second before heading to the metal front door of the warehouse.

He knocked loudly on the metal and the door was opened a few seconds later. I peeped through my binoculars at the entrance, spotting two thuggish figures as they ushered the older man inside. I recognized one of the guys from the other day at Eden’s.

This is the place. I’d thank you, Goldie, if you weren’t such an asshole. No, the only thanks you’ll be getting any time soon is gonna be from your prison wife.

I waited a while longer for any further signs of activity. Another long span of time passed. My eyes narrowed as the steam rising from the chimney began to thicken about twenty minutes after I’d seen the guy enter the building.

Work’s started then, I guess.

I was considering my options when a large black van sped down the road from the same direction the car had come from. It swung violently around the corner, tires squealing. It broke sharply as it screeched to a halt outside of the warehouse.

Three figures got out the car, the flash of chrome from pistols bright in the view of my binoculars. All three looked mean, angry and slightly panicked. Two were white guys I didn’t recognize, but my eyes locked onto the third. Dark black skin, long dreadlocks tied behind his head.

Cathal. So why has one of Conall’s most trusted goons sped here in a hurry?

I cursed aloud, guessing something had got them spooked. I wondered what happened, and my first thought was of Eden. I hoped Lucas had got her safe to wherever he was taking her and made sure she was looked after.

The guy was looking around, his head snapping from side to side, gun held in a tight two-handed grip. His gaze rested on my car. I froze.

I could see his eyes narrow at the car and hoped his vision wasn’t great. He looked away, walking towards the entrance of the warehouse. He poked one of his thugs in the chest and waved him towards my car.

Shit.

I sat there as still as I could, holding the binoculars as the guy swaggered lazily over to the opposite sidewalk. A pistol was held casually at his side, and he was rubbing a fat hand over his clean-shaven head.

Well, I guess now’s as good a time as any. Let’s do this.

I took out my cell and wallet, everything in my pockets that would hinder me, and put them in the passenger footwell. I unclipped the pistol holstered to my hip and slowly lowered the binoculars. The guy was approaching the car, eyes narrowing as he spotted me.

I clicked open the driver's door and rolled out, coming to a kneel behind the door. I was mostly obscured from the thug’s line of sight, and any inaccurate bullets were likely to ricochet harmlessly off of the metal.

“Police!” I shouted, loudly and firmly. “Freeze, you’re under arrest! Put your hands where I can see ‘em!” The guy froze for a second, then brought his gun up to aim lazily at me.

“Fuck you!” Then came the moment I was waiting for. He shot at me, the bullets hissing high and wide above my head and to my right. The bangs echoed loudly from the building behind me.

Well, he’s just signed his own death warrant. Don’t have to justify shooting a guy that’s just shot at me first. Or any of his friends, for that matter.

In less than a second my gun was in my hand, and I clicked the safety off. I popped up out of cover, gun rising to my eye level as I aimed at his head.

I squeezed the trigger, and his head snapped back, arms convulsing as he dropped to the floor with a loud thud.

A moment later a head was peering out of the front door, looking over to see the commotion. A few gunshots rang out from the doorway, going harmlessly wide. The door was closed hurriedly as I slid over the hood of the car and began to sprint across the road towards the van, which was parked haphazardly between me and the building.

Perfect cover. Idiots.

My eyes were on the van as I approached, checking there was no one hiding in waiting. The front seats were empty and a brief glance into the back told me that was empty, too.

An empty van. So they came here to grab something in a hurry. Looks like Conall is cleaning house, but unfortunately for him he’s a little too late.

I was one step ahead of him, but I had to act quickly. The element of surprise was in my favor, and I didn’t want any more backup to shoot me in the ass before I could act.

I weighed up my options and decided on a plan of attack. The front door was probably locked and guarded, guns trained on it. I’d have to find another way in and fast.

I jogged quickly to the wall of the building, head low. I was out of sight of the camera as I reached the tall, corrugated metal wall. I rested my back against it and chose a direction. I headed right toward the side of the building. I popped my head round to find a figure standing at the doorway, head swinging from side to side. He didn’t spot me.

“Ain’t no sign of him, Cathal! Where the fuck is he?” he shouted angrily.

I heard a muffled shout in response from the building, followed by the bark of another. A third voice shouted something inaudible

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