One fallen flashlight pointed down the hallway. They’d be coming that way, but they’d keep to the dark. I positioned myself with my gun and my eyes focused on that spot because there was no other way they could come. Not unless they’d doubled back and were coming from behind.
I’d have to risk it.
I heard them before I saw them. Shoes scraped against the cement floor, and I shot into the darkness ahead of me. A hoarse scream came from that direction, and I thumbed off two more bullets, pointing the gun slightly higher than my shoulder.
A third gun went off, and then there was silence.
A body fell to the floor with a thud. All six were dead, but there could be more. I waited.
“Are they dead?”
I whirled to face the top of the stairs and scrambled to find a flashlight. I shined it up into the darkness to find Addison perched on the top stair, her gun in hand. She still had it pointed at the man lying dead just beyond my shoulders.
I cursed, taking note of her pallor. Her face looked drained of blood, and tears streaked down her cheeks. She asked again, not even flinching against the flashlight, “Are they dead?”
The adrenaline of the fight still pumped through me, but it ebbed at the tiny sound of her voice. I didn’t want to answer—not because of what I’d just done, but because I hadn’t acted alone.
She’d helped me. She killed the last one.
“Yes. They’re dead,” I told her. I couldn’t spare her any comfort. “More could be out there,” I said harshly. “Stay here.”
She nodded, and she kept nodding. Over and over again.
“You can stop, Addison.”
“Okay.” And she did, her eyes still on the guy behind me.
“I’ll be right back.”
I stood, my legs a little shaky. This wasn’t my first or even my second attack. I’d been in so many, and I’d survived. I’d lived. That was what I did. But this was the first time, or the first that I remembered, when I was scared.
Addison could’ve died.
I turned, going for the door. I had to see if anyone else was out there, and because of her, I knew I’d be more brutal.
The need to kill was stronger than it had ever been.
ADDISON
I stayed.
I didn’t move.
I didn’t dare move.
My arms were straight, and I held the gun steady. I tried to keep my breathing even, but what if there were more out there? Cole was on his own—No. I pressed my eyes closed. I couldn’t focus on that. Cole knew what he was doing. Trust Cole. Do what he says. And that was what I did.
After a few minutes he came back. I saw a spark of pride in his eyes as he looked at me, and a jolt of satisfaction coursed through me.
“Okay.” Cole stopped inside the door of the barn. His hand went to his shoulder. “I need you to do some things for me.”
I stood and hurried down the stairs, still holding the gun. He was breathing a little heavy, but that seemed normal. We’d just been attacked. Right?
“Were you shot?” I heard myself ask. His hand never moved from his shoulder. It wasn’t an ache he was rubbing.
“I was.”
“What?”
“But it went right through me. I’ll be fine. I promise.”
My alarm lessened, but just a bit.
“I need you to do some things.”
I nodded and handed the gun to him, carefully. “I’m ready.”
“Okay. First.” He motioned to all the doors. “I need you to lock all of the doors.”
“Okay.” I reached for the one next to him.
He blocked me. “Not this one. We have to leave through this one.”
“Yeah. Got it.” And I was off. I fumbled with the first one, not sure where the lock was, but once I found it, I made fast work after that. I hurried back and waited for the next order.
He gestured upstairs. “Take a flashlight and go grab my keys, wallet, and phone.”
I frowned. “Why weren’t those in your pants?” He always kept them in his pockets, even when he slept.
A rakish grin was my answer. “Because I was more focused on getting in your pants.”
I laughed, and that felt better. I wasn’t as tense as I grabbed one of the flashlights. Cole also had one in his hand now. He must’ve grabbed it while I was doing the doors. “So where is your stuff up there?” I asked.
“On a counter in the kitchen.”
“On it.” I didn’t want to waste time, but I circled the upstairs, making sure we weren’t leaving anything behind. I had no idea what Cole was planning. With his items in hand, I went back to find him waiting for me, standing in the open doorway.
He motioned to my hand. “I need my phone.” Then waved for me to keep the keys. “My car is behind the other barn.”