Page 3 of Witness Security Breach

He pushed back mentally, slowed down the external factors along with his breathing and the rush of blood through his ears. His soul quieted.

His mind brought everything into razor-sharp focus, discarding every distraction in seconds.

From the sound, the rifle being used was suppressed. Based on the I-want-to-blow-off-your-head-sized holes in the cupboards, it was also high-powered.

The impossibly rapid gunfire was controlled, calculated. Bullets whizzed way too close for Aiden’s comfort. The shooter’s accuracy indicated that he or she was well trained, stationary, and had a good, if not spot-on, idea of where they were despite the drawn blinds. Aiden had got Eugene behind cover—but apparently they weren’t concealed. Which left only one explanation.

Their sniper had a precision-guided smart scope that could track targets behind walls. “Shooter is using LIDAR or ultrasonic technology,” Aiden said to Charlie.

“Must be military grade.”

If they didn’t want to ingest lead, sitting there wasn’t an option.

“We’ve got to move,” Aiden said. “Now!” Not waiting for Eugene to react, he grabbed the older man by the collar and hauled him up to his knees.

Bullets peppered the spot where they’d been.

They shuffled forward. Aiden used his own body as cover. Glass crunched beneath them.

A maelstrom of rounds strafed the kitchen all around, riddling the drywall with holes. A hot slug sliced past their heads.

Too close. One centimeter closer and Aiden would’ve been toast.

Eugene fumbled, a panicked flush on his cheeks. The wine cork slipped from his grasp.

“I need it!” He had the reckless gall to resist moving and reached back for the cork. A piece of glass sliced open his palm, drawing blood.

Eugene yelped from the small cut like he’d been shot.

Aiden pushed him lower and grabbed the wine cork. Rather than handing it over, he held on to it and forced Eugene toward the refrigerator.

The fridge was one of those massive units, a sixty-four-inch side-by-side fridge-and-freezer set.

Aiden opened the fridge and tucked Eugene behind the door.

“Give it to me!” Eugene tried to wrest the cork from Aiden’s hand.

If he was more concerned with a piece of bark than taking a bullet, no way in hell was Aiden giving it to him.

Eugene snatched hold of one end of the wine cork and pulled on it, separating it in half, revealing a concealed flash drive.

“What is this?” Aiden asked, holding tight to the drive.

“I need it!” Eugene clawed at Aiden’s fingers like his life depended on getting it back.

Aiden shoved him against the interior of the fridge before he waved Charlie over to take the other side. There was only space for two behind the doors.

“Torres, Banks,” Charlie said over comms, her voice like steel as she made her way to the refrigerator, “we’re taking gunfire. What’s your status?”

“I left the vehicle. I’m headed inside to help get Potter out,” Torres responded.

Any assassin worth his weight in salt would have both exits covered. Taking Eugene outside would only increase his exposure. They’d never get him to the car alive.

Aiden tapped his earpiece. “Torres, don’t. Track where the gunfire is coming from and lay down suppressive fire to give me a chance to move. We’ve got to kill the sniper first.”

“On it.”

“Banks?” Aiden waited for the next reply that didn’t come. “Dale, come in.”