Page 52 of Loving Lex

Dank, dirty. Clearly nobody thought of this as home. A roach scurried across the counter, running from our intrusion.

Lucky lifted his rifle and I followed suit as we inched our way farther inside.

Together, we cleared the first two rooms in silence, all while my sixth sense screamed in my ear. Where were those heat signatures Maverick saw?

I motioned with two fingers to my eyes then pointed down a dark hallway, indicating to Lucky that I was heading that way. He nodded and pointed toward the front door, then made his way over to let in Jarod and JD.

I knew they’d be right behind me, so I crept down to the first room on my right and peered inside, rifle first. Nothing but a stained mattress on the floor and a bare window that allowed in the scant moonlight.

I spun to check the room to my left—

It happened all at once... a barrage of gunfire rained all around the small hall just as a burly guy tried to wrestle my rifle from my hands.

Big fucking mistake, asshole.

I twisted around like a snake, maneuvering both of us and the rifle, until I had him trapped against my chest in a chokehold, his body a shield. He slumped in my hold as two of his buddy’s bullets hit him in the torso and head, splattering me with blood as I dove into a third bedroom.

“Lex!” Lucky yelled out.

I tossed the dead guy off me and crouched into a fighting stance, my back near the door. “Yeah. I’m good,” I yelled back. “Tango, nine o’clock.”

I rechecked my weapon and ammo, listening for movement outside. Static hummed on my headpiece, but Maverick remained quiet.

Suddenly, something—I’m not sure exactly what, it was so subtle—made me freeze, my hand on my weapon, my eyes slowly taking in the room around me. It was just as empty as every other room. A lumpy mattress in the corner, a thin blanket, barred window.

I slowly uncoiled to stand just as I heard the distinct meaty sound of a stab, followed by a grunt and a body dropping to the ground.

“Tango down,” Lucky murmured over the headpiece. “Fucking JD,” he added even quieter.

That’s when I heard it. A whimper coming from the closet.

I kept my hand on my weapon as I crept closer. I felt more than saw the other guys as they entered the room to have my back. I lifted a finger, indicating silence, as I approached the door. Based on Maverick’s intel, we still had two heat signatures and one weapon unaccounted for.

I grabbed the knob, twisting slowly, my body to the side just in case there was a gun aimed at my chest. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw JD and Jarod flanking either side of the room. Lucky had my six, his rifle aimed directly at the closet.

I nodded and turned back, praying that the one lone person without a weapon was my girl and she was hiding in here.Please...

I threw the door open at the same time I lifted my rifle.

Big, dark eyes full of fear and a hint of resignation blinked up at me.

“Holy hell,” Jarod mumbled, the first to get over the shock. Setting his gun down, he approached the tiny blonde much like he probably would a wild animal. “Hey,” he said, kneeling to her level. “You okay?”

She said nothing, just glared in distrust.

“We’re not here to hurt you.”

JD paced back to the door, poking his head back into the hallway to keep lookout. Apparently, he’d done the math too. I leaned over and checked out the window.

“Anything, Maverick?” I asked into my headpiece, making the girl look at me in question.

“Negative,” he answered. “No movement.”

Suddenly desperate, I spun back. “Are you the only one here?” I demanded.

Still nothing.

“Please!” I begged. “We’re not here to hurt you. We came to help.”

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