Alien Romance: Star Light Pilot (Sci-Fi Alien Invasion Abduction Fantasy Warrior Hero Space Opera Romance) (Science Fiction Mystery Dragon Shifter Paranormal Urban Short Stories) by Emma Taylor Page B

the opposite side of the building from our suites when Carolyn raised her wrist to her mouth and pressed the other to her earpiece.
    “You’re fucking kidding me! How in the...never mind I want cover and back up! We are out in the open here! Now!” By the time she finished speaking we were surrounded and moving down the hallway.
    “Where are we going?” Donna asked.
    Carolyn shook her head. “There is a fire on the other side of this floor near base. It was purposely set.” She turned thinking and then nodded. “A conference room, this way. There are no windows, and we can barricade ourselves in if we have to.” Donna and I were right back into the terror of the day before with no warning.
    “How is this possible?” Donna asked.
    “Doesn't matter right now. Now the goal is survival,” Terry answered. He had a point and I took it to heart trying to remain calm. I realized that if I had still been as wound up as the day before I might have panicked. Sure I was terrified, but I could still function. Donna too. We were rushed down the hall until stairway doors opened ahead of us and two guys with guns came out. We were shoved to the ground and two of our guards lay across us. We heard gunfire and shouting. An instant later we were pulled to our feet.
    “GO!” shouted Carolyn, and we all ran down the hallway. We ran by two bloody bodies on the floor. Carolyn was in the lead when we approached the conference room. She did not even bother with unlocking it, she shot the lock and ushered us all in. Just as I crossed the threshold I heard a shouted curse from behind us. I turned and was shoved to the ground again as I saw fire flare up in the hall. Carolyn and Terry stayed inside holding the door as gunfire erupted outside. Was it backup?
    “Flip that table and get down!” Terry shouted to Donna and me. We did as ordered and got behind it. We looked at each other with a trembling terror and peeked over the top of the heavy table. Our two bodyguards were against the walls on either side of the door. Carolyn was listening intently and then silence fell. The seconds ticked by and she looked at Terry shaking her head. She held up a fist and started counting with her fingers. The door burst open and Donna and I screamed as gunfire erupted again. We huddled on the ground, hearing shouts of pain. Then there were two huge explosive bangs that left my ears ringing.
    “Vicky! Vicky! Donna!” We jumped up and through the smoke could see Max and Axel holding huge weapons of some sort with smoke wafting across the room between us. Carolyn and Terry were both standing, but hunched over appearing injured. I saw Axel bring his wrist up to his mouth.
    “All clear?” 
    There was a pause and everyone looked at him. He smiled.
    “Good, let’s end this shit.”
    ***
    “ Monday morning, it sure looks fine ,” I sang a Fleetwood Mac song to myself softly. I was sitting at the end of my coffee counter watching the customers. There were nine of them and business was going well. Life was weird.
    It all had ended when Axel asked it to and somehow that seemed fitting. He had been speaking to Detective Hanlon. He had been the one that found out the meaning of the whole thing.
    The young “twerp” mob boss had decided to pay international mercenaries for his muscle in case he really wanted to make a point. We ended up being that point, right after the “Vest” as Axel still calls the guy (more commonly referred to as Julian “The Hammer” Latelli) came into my shop. The police precinct had already had people planted in it and the hotel got a few infiltrators right after we went there. I am assuming Axel had a few choice words with the security of the hotel. The dirty cops had been busted and the hotel was mightily embarrassed. According to Max, since it would be embarrassing for either place to admit to the incident, the story that was out was only what happened at my shop. Harassment, basic harassment I thought sarcastically. I