Page 126 of When Darkness Calls

“Yeah, this is going to be a disaster if we push on. Those guys know we’re here, we can’t install the cams, and I don’t think we can even check if there’s any stock here, Cay,” I whisper to him, crouching behind a tall crate with Nick.

“No, just wait. They might leave. We have to get something out of this mission, guys. This was the last meet up, so something has to be there.” I can hear his frustration over the slight static.

I sigh. “Okay. Okay. Ten minutes and that’s it.”

But we should have just left then. I don’t know exactly how it happened, but one second, we’re spread out around this loading bay in the building, hiding behind crates and barrels. The next second shots are flying by our heads, whizzing around the room, smashing into concrete, sending a spray of debris clouding the room. There’s yelling, curses, and a sharp cry of pain that has my stomach sinking into a pit in the ground.

“What the fuck was that? Alex?” Cade rages.

“Here, boss.”

“Nick?”

“Alive.”

“Grayson!?”

My eyes rake over the scene, loud bangs, flashes of light, and orders being made to the men hunting us.

“Grayson Williams you better fucking answer me right now or so help me God!” The sweetest voice I’ve ever heard screams into the radio. I chuckle.

“Right here, sweet girl. I’m okay.”

I can hear her sigh in relief and then Cay speaks again.

“Keeg?”

And it’s silent.

“Keegan, can you hear me?” He asks again, urgently.

But there’s no response.

“Keegan!? Answer me!” The smoke begins to clear and from across the room, I make eye contact with Alex as Cay calls for Keegan over and over, eyes wide. He’s panicking, frantic.

“By—By the stairs,” Keeg gasps and we all move.

Staying in the dark created by the industrial lights overhead, we stick to the walls, maneuvering around the guards.

Lying behind a pile of what looks like old palettes and metal scrapes, Keegan is clutching his leg, breathing deeply.

“Keeg!” Alex shouts running to him.

“A—” I’m cut off by the new wave of bullets raining down upon us. The three of us dive behind the pile next to him.

“What are we going to do?” Keegan asks me through shaky words, and hissed breaths.

“How bad is it?” I nodded to his leg, and he shook his head.

“Through and through. Nothing major but I have to keep the pressure,” he mutters.

I nod, looking at Nick and Alex.

“You guys have to cover me. We’re gonna get out of here. Cade?”

“What do you need, Grays?”

“Exits. We’re at the West Stairwell. Keeg’s shot. Where do we go?” I look around the hazy room, the outline of about six people barely visible.