Devil With a Shotgun

Chapter 25

                  

Chapter 25

<Ainsley Griffin>

"Ainsley, we're here." Slick whispers as the car pulls up in front of Talon's crack-house headquarters.

I grab my gun and make sure a bullet is already locked into place. The gun clicks and I step out of the car, my face a stony, emotionless mask.

I furrow my brows and watch as my comrades gather around me. A deep breath escapes my lips and then I begin to speak but the determined, authoritative voice coming from my mouth is foreign to my fear-riddled being.

"This is the beginning of the end for Talon. We're going into a serious situation and I'm not going to lie to you; it'll be hard but pay attention and you have a chance to make it out alive. Pick a partner, someone you can count on to get you out of this alive. Stay close to that person and stay close to me. Also, you can only shoot when absolutely necessary; we want to keep the causalities to a minimum." I mutter and wipe off my sweaty hands on my jeans.

My group splits up into pairs and then looks at me expectantly. I grab onto Slick's arm, my fingers shaking slightly. He pats my hand lightly and smiles at me.

"Stop shaking, you won't be able to shoot straight. Should I tell Gavin operation destruction is about to go?" Slick raises his eyebrows and waits for my command.

I nod, the memory of Gavin's gentle kiss still lingering on my forehead. It wasn't a romantic kiss in the slightest but it was comforting and made me realize how much I'd miss him if either of us died tonight. He's like a brother to me...Good lord I hope we both get out of this alive.

I shake all other thoughts from my head and tune back into reality just in time to hear Gavin affirm that he heard the message. His part of the plan isn't supposed to start until an hour after ours, because we need to make sure he has his bargaining chip in place before he goes marching into Talon's house.

"It's time. Stay silent and stay low." I hiss at my team and then beckon for them to follow me to the front doors of Talon's headquarters.

I type in the security code I remember from when I worked there and then I hear the heavy locks click, signaling me that the doors are now accessible. I kick them open and walk down the dim hallway, gun pointed out in front of me. I reach the open space of the first floor before the rest of my group and find only two guards which surprises me considerably.

"Keep your weapons out in front of you." I bark and walk towards the guards. "Hey you."

The pair of them turn to face me, their eyes widening.

"Operative Griffin, what are you doing?" The larger guard, whose name is Ed, glares at me.

"Exactly what I told you I was going to do that day I left. I'm going to destroy Talon Tenebris." My neck stiffens and I'm suddenly aware once-again of the shaking in my hands.

"Sure, funny joke." Ed snorts but there's an element of fear in his eyes.

"Up against the wall, both of you." I snap and point my gun directly at Ed's head.

They comply and spread their legs as if I'm some police woman.

"Slick, take away all their weapons and cuff 'em, with their own cuffs." A smile crosses my lips as I watch them be stripped of their weapons.

The beginning of justice.

Once they're cuffed, Slick pockets their keycards and looks at me for orders about what to do next.