Red Awakening (Red Zone 2)

Keiko sent a command to the system, and the screens went blank.

“Run for the doors and wait beside them. I need to rearm and deal with the cameras.” He turned toward one of the fallen men and divested him of his weapons. “It’s a clear path from here to the door. Nothing in your way. Don’t look down. Just run.”

Keiko snapped her eyes from the dead body and did as he said, trusting him to keep her from stumbling or walking into something else she really couldn’t cope with. Blasts behind her had her spinning to see what had happened. Smoke billowed from the panel on the wall and the control desk. Mace tossed something toward the screens and then ran for her. He was by her side in seconds, grabbing her hand and pushing through the door. He dragged her in the opposite direction from the elevators.

“Stay quiet,” he whispered. “And run.”

She didn’t have to be told twice.

…

Mace held Keiko’s hand tight as they ran down the corridor, away from the main elevators. There was another set at the other end of the building, ones usually used for deliveries, and beside them there were stairs. They’d head to the basement and hole up until he found a way out of this mess.

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; “Too fast.” The gasped words came from behind him, and he glanced over his shoulder.

Keiko’s face was red, and she was panting hard.

“Your legs are too damn short,” he told her.

She frowned but didn’t have the breath to reply. Mace didn’t hesitate. He scooped her up, tossed her over his shoulder, and kept running. She didn’t complain, just wound her hands in the shirt she’d returned to him and held on tight.

There was a shout behind them. A panicked warning. And then an explosion that rocked the building. Mace smiled as he ran. He wondered if Freedom had enjoyed the surprise he’d left for them in the security hub.

They turned a corner. The elevator bank was straight ahead, and beside it, the entrance to the stairwell. He put on a burst of speed, reaching the stairwell door just as the elevators began to open and three men stepped out. No, not three men—two men and a mountain.

Freedom had cut them off.

It was too late to change direction. His momentum took him forward. And he barreled straight into them.

He flung Keiko from him. “Run,” he roared.

She landed on her feet, wobbled, cast him a terrified glance, and then ran for the stairwell door.

“Get her,” the mountain ordered, and the two smaller men started after her.

Mace grabbed one of the men as he passed and threw him back at the giant. The second man dodged to the side, slipping past Mace and following Keiko into the stairwell. The door closed behind them with a thud.

All Mace could think about was getting to Keiko. Protecting her from the man who was chasing her. With dizzying speed, he turned his back on the giant and ran for the stairs. But he only managed to take two steps before a huge, meaty hand settled on his shoulder and spun him back around to face his opponent—just in time to see a fist come straight at his face. He dodged. Not fast enough. The blow hit the side of his head, making him stagger back. There was ringing in his ears, and it took a second longer than he could afford to stop the dizziness that swamped him.

When he looked up, the giant was bearing down on him. There was no getting away from the man. All Mace could do was call to his bat and send him after Keiko.

Follow Keiko, he shouted at his other half. Find her. Stay with her. I’ll come for you both.

He felt a snapping sensation on his shoulder blade before the bat shot out from under his shirt and flew away. A second later, the moving mountain descended on Mace, raining blows he barely managed to dodge.

Door’s shut. There was panic in the bat’s words.

Mace risked taking his eyes off his opponent long enough to glance behind him. The door was a few steps away. He spun, kicking the Freedom fighter, sending him backward and buying precious seconds. He lunged at the door and threw it open—the few scant inches needed to let the bat slip through before it slammed shut.

Before he could turn back, a blow landed between his shoulders, taking him to his knees. With a roar of blind rage, Mace sprang to his feet and launched himself at his opponent. The bat would watch Keiko, which meant Mace had a way to track her—after he dealt with this guy.

Behind the giant, the dazed man Mace had thrown staggered to the elevator and disappeared. Guess there was no honor among terrorists, because mountain man’s backup had fled.

“You don’t want to do this,” Mace told his opponent. “You’ll regret it.”

The guy smirked. “I’m undefeated.”