Page 112 of Kings Have No Mercy

“Down, Cutty. Take one wrong step and we’ll blast you.”

“Enough talk,” Velma taunts. “Time for Mace to give it up. The longer you two yammer, the more likely it is we’ll get caught up. Don’t forget the cops are always sniffing around.”

“Where’s Sydney?”

“We’ve kept her busy,” Auden answers. “You could say she’s a little… buried right now.”

My brain goes to the dozens of pieces of equipment scattered across the construction site, landing on the monster-sized dump truck that had been parked next to the tent and a heap of dirt.

They’ve buried Sydney.

I don’t think. I take a split second, spur-of-the-moment chance that catches everybody off guard. But I’m quick and determined about it.

I break out into a run, already prepared to be shot at.

Auden and his guys follow through. They blast their guns. I run in a zigzagged pattern, throwing them off instead of going in a straight line. At the sound of gunfire, my guys take it as a signal to fight back.

A gunfight erupts that easily. The Reapers firing at us. We return their bullets with ones of our own.

I make it to the tarp covering as a bullet hits me in the side. It’s like a hot knife slicing my skin, piercing me straight in the side of my torso. A deep grunt of pain leaves me, my hand coming up to touch the wound.

It doesn’t slow me up. I push through the tarp and head for the large pile of dirt.

“Hold on, Syd!”

33

MASON

I makeit to the dump trunk and pile of dirt as chaos erupts all around me. I drop to my knees and press my ear to the ground. Between the crackle of gunfire and loud voices from the guys filling the air, it’s hard to hear anything else.

…until I strain my ears and urge my sense of hearing to pick it up.

It’s faint and diluted, muffled by several feet of dirt between us, but it’s a woman’s scream. A desperate plea for help, for someone to get her out of there.

“Hang in there, Syd!” I roar back, hoping she can hear me. My head whips in every direction, searching for a way to move this much dirt in as little time as possible.

Across the lot sits an excavator parked by the chain-link fence. I’ve never operated one before. I don’t know the first thing about getting one to dig dirt from the ground, but if it means getting Sydney out of the spot where she’s buried, I’m going to sure as hell figure it out.

I make a break for it, but somebody clamps a hand on my shoulder to turn me around.

Auden swings on me. I leap back at the last moment, barely dodging his clenched fist. He throws another and connects with my jaw. It’s not enough to knock me off my feet, though I stumble a couple more steps before catching up.

I retaliate, block his next one, and then go in for his throat. My hand grips him by his stringy neck and I use my sheer brute strength to flip the script on his ass. I force him back, driving him toward one of the metal beams. He grunts as we collide. His back hits the metal first, then his head.

I don’t let up. I squeeze his throat tighter with teeth gritted and my own side aching like a bitch. I’m bleeding all over the damn place from the bullet wound. Not that I care—my mind’s on the mission at hand, killing these bastards and rescuing Sydney.

He thrusts his palm into my face to push me off. His other hand grapples for his Glock. The struggle changes course again, with me going to block him, and Auden twisting his leg out to trip me up from behind. He sweeps his foot and kicks my balance out from under me. I take him with me.

We both go down, crashing into the dusty ground. He digs his Glock 17 into my gunshot wound, eliciting a howl from me that’s guttural and thick like any rabid animal. It drowns out a lot of the other noise going on around us, even the gunshots.

My side aches, a pressurized pain that’s almost fucking debilitating. But, still, I don’t let it keep me from fighting. I push myself harder, dripping sweat, baring my teeth.

I really might as well be a rabid animal.

My hand snaps shut over his and tries to pry the gun from it. It’s a test of muscle power, who’s got the better grip, the greater raw strength to wrestle it from the other. With my other hand, I grab a fistful of his greasy hair and yank.

The combination works—I’ve got Auden by the hair, and I’ve gained enough of an upper hand to loosen his grip on the gun. I break his hold, letting the gun skid away from us. Before he can attempt to go for it, or some other kinda counter move, I unleash the rabid animal in full force.

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