Page 30 of The Norcross Rescue

They strode toward the entrance to the atrium. Like it always did when he was on a mission, his focus narrowed, his senses sharpened.

He and Saxon flanked the main doors. He heard a few murmurs and rustles inside.

Saxon crouched and pulled out a small camera on a flexible cable. He slowly fed it into the room, studying the small screen.

“One bogey, wearing a tiger mask to the left. He’s armed with a rifle, agitated. Another with a horse mask beside him.”

“The others?” Vander murmured.

“Gorilla on the far side of the room. Bear in the office on a computer.”

“Wolf?”

Saxon shook his head. “No sign of him.”

“Brynn?”

Another shake of his head. “Most guests are sitting on the ground. I can’t see her. She must be there, somewhere.”

Vander’s mouth flattened, his fingers clenching on his gun. “I’ll find Wolf. You go right and take Tiger. Rhys, you have Horse. Try to keep the guests calm.” He touched his ear. “Siv? Boone? You in position?”

“Roger that, Vander,” Siv replied. “We have eyes on the guy in the gorilla mask.”

“Siv, Gorilla is your target. Boone, you take Bear at the computer.”

“Got it,” Boone murmured.

The sensation of a cold finger stroked down Vander’s spine. Something was wrong. He could feel it. Where the hell was Wolf? And where the hell was Brynn?

“Go.”

Vander and Saxon whirled through the door.

Vander lifted his gun and strode through the room. Guests scampered backward with sharp cries.

Tiger jerked, trying to whip his rifle up.

Saxon pulled the trigger. The first bullet hit the man in his right shoulder and with a cry, he dropped the gun. His second shot hit the man’s other shoulder. He stumbled back, hit the wall, then dropped to his ass, leaving a smear of blood on the wall.

Not dead, but he wasn’t going anywhere.

Rhys was on Horse in a second, but the man had already dropped his gun and thrust his hands into the air.

Two vents above burst open and Siv and Boone dropped down, both landing in a crouch. They rose, guns aimed. Siv launched herself at Gorilla. After a brief scuffle, she had the man on the ground, her knee pressed into the center of his back.

Boone came out of the office, shoving Bear ahead of him.

“Vander.” Carolyn pushed to her feet. Her lip was swollen and bleeding. “Thank God.”

“You’re all safe now,” Saxon was saying to the guests. “Please stay calm.” He pulled out his phone, no doubt to coordinate with Hunt.

Suddenly, Horse lunged forward. Vander saw a glint of the gun he’d had hidden under his shirt.

In a split second, Vander knew the man was too close to the other guests. Vander couldn’t risk firing his weapon. Without conscious thought, he grabbed the last thing he had in his pocket and tossed it.

The letter opener lodged in the man’s throat.

He grabbed his neck and made a choking sound.