Free Masked by Janelle Stalder Page B

floor where he was waiting. The elevators no longer worked, since the building was empty and deserted. The stairs were the only way up. And if Adam’s assumptions were correct, Weapon X would be the last person to come up. Roman wouldn’t put her in direct danger by making her take the lead. Praying this would work, Adam hid and waited, his gun at ready by his side.

    Bridgette’s hands shook as they entered the old, abandoned building. Roman had given her a gun, which she kept holstered at her side. What was she going to do with it? Bridgette had never fired a gun in her life, and wasn’t likely to do so now. Killing another human being was something she couldn’t fathom doing.
    Following the rest of the men in, she stayed back a few steps as per Roman’s instructions, waiting for them to search each of the rooms on the main floor until they called out ‘clear’. Tensions were high, and she could practically feel the anger rolling off Roman in front of her. Despite it being past three in the morning, she’d never felt more awake. Adrenalin pumped through her veins as she did her best to appear confident and capable.
    “First floor is empty, sir,” one of the men reported.
    Roman nodded. “Head upstairs, there’s no way he got away with all of us standing out there.”
    The men who had met them at the building had already checked the perimeter for any other exits. There had been one in the back, but it was being covered by two men. The shooter was very much a rat caught in a trap now. They climbed the main stairs, their footsteps the only sound in the building. Cobwebs hung in corners, windows were smashed in or almost completely blackened by layers of dust. It surprised Bridgette that there was a building like this in the Upper section. She had always been under the impression that all of the Upper section had been restored to its former glory.
    That definitely couldn’t be said for this building. Whatever it had been, it was nothing but a skeleton now. Bridgette looked up as they climbed the stairs, her eyes instantly landing on Roman ahead of her. His muscles were tight, a gun held firmly in his right hand. He looked ready to fight. There was something attractive about the strength and coolness in which he held himself. He just looked so – powerful. Bridgette didn’t know what other word to use to describe it. She had no doubt that this man in front of her could handle any situation with ease and assurance.
    Her foot had just landed on the top step when she caught a movement to her right out of the corner of her eye. The next thing she knew, an arm had banded around her waist in a strong hold that made it impossible for her to squirm away. The cool kiss of metal at her temple told her all she needed to know. Her squeak of surprise had the others turning around. She met Roman’s eyes and cringed at the rage there.
    Next came enough commotion to make her head spin. Voices yelled as everyone raised a gun, pointing them in her direction. Bridgette squeezed her eyes shut, not willing to watch bullets fly toward her. Was this it? She wondered. A loud click by her ear had her shaking, as her assailant readied the gun against her head.
    “Put your weapons down,” he ordered, “or I’ll take him with me to whatever waits on the other side.”
    Bridgette cracked her eyes open to see if the others would obey. One by one, the soldiers placed their guns on the floor. The last person to react was, of course, Roman, whose face gave nothing away, as if he were made of stone. But Bridgette wasn’t fooled. She could see the barely repressed fury in his eyes, his muscles even more tense than they had been before. Very slowly, he placed his gun on the floor, his eyes never leaving hers until he looked at the man pressed behind her, his words low and chilling. “I am going to make your death so unbelievably painful, you will be begging me for it.”
    “All of you step away from your weapons, and line up against the