“You watch Pixel. I’ll take Beau.”
“I take it back. You should go after her and make sure she doesn’t...” He stopped, grimacing, biting his knuckles. “Never mind. She handled it.”
Briefly, I glanced over and saw Pixel kick a guy in the nuts and then flip him over her shoulder. Damn. Okay, maybe she was more than meets the eye. Going back to Beau’s screen, I searched all the cameras to see if I’d missed them. Just as I was looking, I saw the door crack open. When three people emerged, I sagged in relief.
“Shit,” Nicco cursed, and I looked over, not understanding. “I’ll drive. You shoot.”
I struggled to know what he meant, but then saw it as Pixel sprinted back to the van, the car that had driven up moments ago now in flames. I opened the door, and she jumped into the back, out of breath, and I stared at her, unsure who she was anymore.
“Go!” she yelled, and the van lurched forward as a bullet pinged off the outside.
“Fuck.” I grabbed my gun and flicked off the safety as I jumped into the front, rolling the window down. “Where’re our people, Pixel?”
“Um, coming in hot. Get to the back door of the building, and I’ll lead them there.” She threw on some headphones, her fingers flying again. I was more comfortable with her in that setting and not the man-kicking, fire-exploding one. A car bumped the back of our van, and we swerved.
“Can you lose him?” I asked, aiming for the tire.
“I’m trying,” Nicco gritted out, turning the steering wheel every which way. I focused back on the car and aimed. The shot went wide as Nicco dodged out of the way of a light post, the tires squealing as he sped up. Leaning out of the window, I braced myself against the door, praying it wouldn’t fly open. Taking a breath, I let it out as I pulled the trigger, this time hitting my target. A shot rang out around us, but I let another fly, shattering the window, hitting the driver's side this time. The car rammed into the light pole we’d swerved, flipping up on its end as the momentum caught up with it.
Exhaling, I relaxed back into the seat, glad at least one of our problems was dealt with. “How are they looking?” I asked Pixel as I reloaded.
“Um, not so good. Is that blood?” she asked, looking up, shaking her head as she looked back at the screen. “It’s going to be close. Any chance either of you is a trick driver and can spin it so the doors open as they exit?”
I looked over at Nicco, my eyes wide. “Trick driver?” I mouthed, and he snorted, shaking his head.
Pixel huffed, blowing out a breath. “Figures. You guys should really up your training program. Fine. Be ready to speed off when I say to then. You won’t have the benefit of not stopping.”
Nicco pulled around to the back and turned off the lights. “How soon?” he asked. I moved back through the van, opening the back doors, ready for them.
“About that. Seems they’ve been held up, and I don’t think my tits will get us out of this one.” Pixel cringed, and I cursed, a million different plans running through my head.
When I knew what I had to do, I glanced at Nicco. “Take care of Loren.” Before he could respond, I jumped out of the van and ran through the door, my gun at the ready. Nicco had been right. I was the protector, and that meant sacrifices. It had never meant more than it did now. Loren needed Jude, and I could give that to her. Even at the cost of myself.