Page 181 of After the Burn

“Six men in the east warehouse. Two enhanced. Curtis carries keys for the women’s building, and Caesar keeps most of the extra weapons in a small room beside his office.” She recited all of that without taking a breath.

“You’ve been busy,” I said in admiration.

She shrugged. “I’m nosy. It’s a useful trait.”

“Well, getting to the women won’t be a problem.” I raised the keyring that I had taken from Jonah.

“Yippee!”

I looked toward the door. “Radio?”

“I already one-clicked.” Wren wiggled her fingers.

“Did you get anything back?”

“No.”

Good.

The men outside knew we were in, and that was enough.

The compound had gotten louder as evening approached. That helped our agenda. We slipped out the side door. Wren led the way as I followed silently behind her.

The first man we killed never saw us. He rounded the rear corner of the warehouse as Wren and I pressed against the wall.

Wren stepped into his path. “Hello.”

He frowned. “What are you doing back⁠—”

I came up behind him and put one hand over his mouth, then put my knife beneath his ribs.

He jerked, and Wren caught his wrist before he could grab for his weapon.

I drove the blade higher, and his body softened. We lowered him quietly to the ground.

Wren looked at me. “Teamwork.”

“Makes the dream work.” I finished.

I was sharing in her madness.

We shoved him behind a stack of empty drums.

The second was more difficult. He was enhanced and heard us before we could approach. He spun around swiftly, and Wren dodged under his first attack. I aimed my knife at his side, but he caught my wrist.

Damn.

He threw me against the wall, making a sharp pain shoot through my shoulder. Wren leapt onto his back, but he shrugged her off. She hit the ground hard, and a wave of anger flared inside me. I kicked his knee hard, causing him to stumble.

Wren came up with the knife and drove it into the side of his neck. He grabbed her as I drove my blade into the base of his skull. His body went still.

For one second, all three of us stayed upright together.

Then he dropped.

Wren was breathing hard. “When we get out of here, I think we should open a burger joint.”

I just stared because… I had no words.