Page 79 of No Lies No Promises

While he stuffs the compact computer inside his vest, I snatch a phone, barely visible in the back.

“Thirty seconds,” Daed says.

Arm around my waist, Sean propels us out the door. As we fly down the steep stairway, the whine of a thousand hornets echoes throughout the building.

“The drones,” I whisper. “They’ve been activated.”

If they’re armed with the virus, we’re screwed.

Chapter 42

Sean

On the factory floor, Lil and I take cover under the iron staircase, praying the erratic drones won’t crash into the frame.

Daed shouts in our comms. “What the fuck is happening in there?”

“Toy drones activated.” Tearing off my night goggles, I pull my flashlight from my utility belt and sweep it around the room.

Thank God, most of the UAVs remain sealed inside their plastic packaging, or in pieces, waiting to be assembled.

“Do they have the virus?”

“No idea.” As the words leave my mouth, shouting echoes off the back wall. Snippets of frantic conversations reveal our worst nightmare.

“Scratch that.” My chin lowers to my mic. “These toys crash? Everyone’s dead.”

Daed doesn’t miss a beat. “Plan B. Evacuate.”

“On our way. Over.” Grabbing Lil’s hand, I trot down another route toward the door by the loading dock.

We pass a machine surrounded by stacks of propellers, motors, and assorted plastic parts. A box’s bright orange biohazard sticker brings me to a stop.

“Oh shit.” Her gaze tracks mine. “Sean, don’t touch it.”

“Not an option.” I’m guessing this is the pathogen. This might be our only chance to grab a sample.

Trying not to disturb anything, I lift the flap using my weapon’s muzzle. Inside, blood collection vials rest in fitted Styrofoam trays, each holding a clear liquid.

Dammit. My stomach drops. “Dante, we found the virus. I repeat, we found the pathogen.”

He doesn’t hesitate. “Got it. Consider every drone lethal.”

My grip tightens on my weapon as one of the motherfuckers hovers at eye level. Creepy cartoon eyes stare above its painted smile. Jesus, what kind of sick mind thought that up?

When it zooms away, I tear off a piece of bubble wrap and slip a vial into a vest pocket.

Eyes widening, Lillian lowers her head and nods before we creep forward. So far, no one else has ventured onto the manufacturing floor.

No surprise there.

We’re almost at our exit when gunfire erupts. A bullet zings past my ear. As it lodges in the machine to my left, I tackle my woman to the floor, thanking the almighty I wrapped the damn vial before putting it in my vest.

A male voice I never wanted to hear again rises above the chaos. “Ceasefire. I need my daughter alive.”

Lil shudders under me. “You stay. I’ll give myself up.”

“No fucking way. Lose the NVGs and follow my lead.” Dropping on all fours, I crawl toward our destination. “Stay close.”