He’d underestimated the wind, which was stronger than he’d thought. The cop realized and turned in his direction, bringing her pistol to bear on him.
Mercer was quicker. He fired and hit the target this time, dropping the officer.
Shouts of alarm broke through the wind as Mercer’s men engaged the remaining cops. Now that he’d out-flanked them, it was easy pickings. He sighted his next target and hit the officer in the neck and head. The man fell to the ground.
His partner, on the other side of their vehicle, fired at one of Mercer’s approaching men, hitting her target. The black-clad figure fell onto the snow with a grunt of pain.
Mercer moved in and fired point-blank, killing the officer immediately with a callous pop to the head. Another body hit the ground.
The remaining two cops huddled behind the last cruiser. An MP5 opened up, smashing the car’s windshield and ripping the tires to shreds. Mercer crouched low and used the chaos to maneuver around behind the cops and fired.
And then it was over. The gunfire stopped, leaving only the blizzard’s howling wind.
“Get Connor into the SUV,” Mercer shouted over the radio.
Soon, they were all crowded inside the vehicle, Connor draped over the back seat, no longer speaking but able to squeeze Mercer’s hand when he checked on him.
“What about Mark?” Brick asked as they drove past a man on the ground clutching his leg next to a dead cop.
“Got no more room,” Mercer replied coldly, revving the engine. “Find me another route to the hospital.” The SUV accelerated down the road.
Brick pulled up the map and showed him. Mercer found the buttons that turned the police lights and siren on—now no one could stop him from saving Connor.
ChapterNine
Friday,February 13th, 8:36 P.M.
After sufferinganother finger prick and Alyssa calling med control with Thomas’s labs and getting a treatment plan, they loaded Thomas onto the carry chair and began down the steps. Blake was glad Alyssa had decided to wait until they were in the ambulance before starting an IV. Thomas was a difficult stick, and he’d hate to have an IV jostled out by the steep steps.
“And how’s you, son?” Thomas asked Blake as they rounded the first landing. “Still out there trying to save the world, like always?”
Blake chuckled lightly. “Sometimes it feels like I’m putting one fire out just for four more to ignite.”
“Can’t fix everything on your own. You’re not a superhero.”
Blake raised his eyebrow and dipped his mouth with mock disappointment. “Whaddaya mean, I’m no superhero? C’mon, Blake-man would make a great comic book character.”
“You mean comedy character,” Alyssa corrected.
Thomas laughed, which morphed into a hacking cough. When he had finished, he rasped in a deep breath. “Er, jeez, sorry. Swallowed wrong.”
“Take it easy there.” Alyssa reached for his pulse as they took another pause at the next landing.
“My bad,” Blake said. They resumed climbing down the steps. “I should know better. Especially giving away my secret identity.”
Thomas looked toward Alyssa while pointing at Blake. “When are you getting this one put away? Hope it’s soon.”
“I’m on it,” she replied, smirking.
“Seriously, though,” Blake said, changing the topic away from his personal life. “It’s tough seeing people struggle and knowing I can’t do more for them.”
“True, true.” Thomas shifted slightly in the chair. It wasn’t the most comfortable mode of transportation no matter how careful Blake and Alyssa were. “But instead of chasing every problem, focus on the small victories. Like the time you saved that kid with the asthma attack. That was a big deal.”
“Yeah, it was. Just…” He exhaled slowly. “I still feel like I could’ve done more, you know?” Jeez, what was it about Thomas that had him sharing shit he didn’t even admit to himself?
Thomas’s tone was serious but gentle. “Take it from someone who’s been around the block a few times. You can drive yourself mad worrying about what you can’t control.”
It was true. And mirrored what every therapist and group Blake had ever been to said. He couldn’t help it. He needed everything in its right place, the right box. All memories boxed up, a routine to take care of today, worries about tomorrow safely locked away.
