"Fuck!"

Before I could even spring from my chair, Kendrick snapped his fingers. A second later, thunderous automatic gunfire erupted through the hollow concrete building, shattering the quiet instantly.

I threw myself under the massive wooden table, pulling my weapon from my coat holster in a single fluid motion. Through the haze of muzzle flashes and flying splinters, I caught sight of Kendrick retreating up the staircase under the  cover of his personal vanguard.

There was no doubt his local strike force outnumbered my advance team on the floor. I hope Jose is holding his own out there.

Staying low, I began firing from beneath the table, putting precise rounds...