Page 237 of Lethal King

“Hmm. I’m not used to this thermal imaging shit, but if I’m seeing this correctly, it looks like she’s in a room at the far end of the hall on the top floor. That’s the only red blob that isn’t moving.”

“Is she alone?”

“No,” Tytus coughs. “There are three other blobs in the room. They’re pacing back and forth. It looks like there are at least a dozen in the hallway outside, too. And two dozen more on the way there.”

“I’ll take care of them all,” I sneer. “Just lead the way.”

Their blood will be my reunion gift to Rozalia. That and a kiss. A kiss that says what I was too cowardly to admit, even to myself.

I love that fucking girl.

“Wave for me,” Tytus says. “I need to know where you are.”

Putting my radio away, I pull out the first of my four guns and swing it in the air.

“Can you see me?”

“Ah, there you are,” Tytus mumbles. “You’re going to want to make a sharp right. But watch out, there’s a group of four blobs barreling down the connecting hallway.”

“I’ll paint the walls red with their blood.”

“Do it then.”

Bursting out in the hallway, I make that sharp right. It leads me down a long open hallway. Up ahead, I can hear approaching voices. I slide up against the wall, just before the hallway turns down a corner.

The few seconds it takes for them to catch up feels like an eternity. But the second I see that first pale face, I go blind with rage.

Three quick shots rip from my muzzle. Three bodies hit the floor. The fourth one gets a shot off at me before I can get to him. But the bullet races harmlessly over my head.

“Big mistake,” I growl. Lunging forward, I manage to land a single shot in his gut, right before my shoulder digs into his chest.

A rush of blood spills from his mouth as I tackle the fucker to the ground. I don’t stick around for a wrestling match. Pushing myself off his convulsing body, I aim my gun down and fire.

Chunks of skull and brain matter splatter against my pant legs. I trudge forward.

“It looks like there’s a set of stairs just up ahead. To your left,” Tytus points out.

I find them quickly enough.

“Any surprises up there?”

“Oh, a whole lot. You’re going to have to go up against a mini-battalion. Bet you’re going to wish I was there.”

“I’d rather keep working like this,” I grunt. Cracking my neck to the side, I get ready to put my life on the line.

I’m not scared.

But I am nervous.

I’m not allowed to die. Not until I’ve felt Rozalia again. Not until she’s heard that four-letter word come rushing from my mouth.

“If I were you, I’d go now,” Tytus suggests. “They all seem to be turned to a window. My guess is that they’re trying to help their buddies outside.”

“How is that battle going, by the way?” I ask, starting up the stairs.

“It’s hard to tell,” Tytus notes. “All I see are a bunch of red blobs.”

“I guess so,” I grunt. Lowering my voice, I reach the top of the stairs. Behind a closed door, I hear muffled gunshots. Snipers, it sounds like. That’s good news. They’ll be slow and distracted.