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Footsteps and voices filtered through the cave. Bryce had to admit that Alex’s plan made sense. Kira needed him, and this might be his best bet for getting the statue back. He lay on the ground with his arm over his eyes, attempting to look like he was unconscious.

Heavy boots stomped into the area, kicking up dirt and pebbles from the stone floor of the entryway to the cave. A boot connected with his ribs and rocked him, and Bryce bit his cheek to keep from wincing.

“Has this guy been out the whole time?” a gravelly voice asked.

It was Peter.

“Yes,” Alex replied. “I bandaged his wound. No sense in letting the guy bleed to death. But he never regained consciousness.”

Bryce dared to open his eyes into slits. Thick, black work boots clunked to the center of the room and joined a newcomer. The person was covered head to toe in a black cloak, a creepy druid look from ancient times. Fitting for their current situation that resembled an Indiana Jones movie. Only Bryce was no Indy and he needed a plan.

Alex gasped but said nothing. He clearly recognized the new person.

“So what are we waiting for?” the feminine voice asked.

This had to be the woman in charge.

Bryce wasn’t daring any movement to try and peek at her face. But the voice stilled him. Why did she sound so familiar?

More shuffling of feet echoed through the chamber. Bryce dared to tilt his head up.

Boris and Rolan flanked the entrance to the cave with rifles slung over their shoulders. The two new gunmen had disappeared, presumably stationed outside. Looked like the Society had plenty of reinforcements on the inside and outside.

He prayed for a miracle.

Nick paced at the wall that contained the secret passageway. “We need the key, Peter.”

Peter’s thick boots clomped to the control panel, and Bryce watched him pull the missing statue from the deep pocket of his tactical pants.

Bryce’s mind spun out different plans of attack. He had to stop them from entering the corridor, because it meant Kira would have more adversaries to contend with. Currently, he and Alex were trapped with four gunmen—the original three and Peter. They also had to contend with Victor and this druid woman. He’d worry about the number of gunmen outside when he made his way to freedom—which seemed like a dream at this point.

Peter inserted the missing rabbit key and turned the base. Bryce used this distraction to his advantage and looked at Alex, who nodded and mouthed, Go time.

Bryce heard a pop, and the door rumbled open. He had to get to the opening.

Alex whacked Boris in the face with his forearm, sending the man reeling in pain. Blood poured from the most likely broken nose. But Rolan kicked Alex in the stomach, and he fell to his knees.

Bryce swung his legs and connected with Nick’s knees. The man hit the ground and Bryce flipped over, caught the guy in a choke hold until he passed out. He grabbed the pistol, stood, and found himself staring down the barrel of Peter’s gun.

“Not so fast.” Peter sneered. Bryce froze and watched the woman in black robes duck through the moving rock wall as it was closing. Hydraulics hissed as it sealed into place. Peter had given the woman just enough time to disappear through the entrance.

And now Bryce stared at the closed rock wall.

Kira. He had to save her. But first he and Alex had to contend with Peter and Rolan.

“Drop your weapon.” Peter glared at Bryce, who matched his stare.

Bryce wasn’t giving up so easily. But when Alex flinched from the gun pressed into his neck, Bryce tossed the gun to the side and held up his hands.

Peter may have won the round, but he’d not win the prize.

A gunshot echoed in the distance. Was that the good guys coming to the rescue or just more of Victor’s reinforcements? It was all the distraction Bryce needed. He threw himself to the side and rammed into Rolan, knocking him away from Alex.

Peter ran to the rock wall and grabbed two of the statues from the keyhole, then raced for the mouth of the cave. Was the man crazy enough to make a run for it with the statues?

Rolan was scrappy, fit, and younger than Bryce. The guy managed to stay on his feet and retaliated with a kick to Bryce’s already sore side. Stars danced in front of his eyes, but he gritted his teeth and dove for the gun with his uninjured arm. Before he could grab it, Rolan gave him another hard kick in the side. Those boots must be made of metal, and Bryce’s body screamed in protest. He looked up and saw Rolan swinging his leg for another kick to Bryce’s gut, but the man stopped.

Alex had jumped on Rolan’s back and wrapped his arms around the guard’s thick neck. Rolan stumbled backward, smashing Alex into the rocks, but he didn’t let go until Rolan had dropped to his knees, gasping for breath.