Wolfe signaled subtly, and Raider exhaled to settle his body. This was going to hurt. He barely signaled back. Then he counted. Before he could hit three, Jonny P pivoted and smashed the box out of Wolfe’s hand. It flew toward Raider and slapped the floor, skidding several feet. Raider dove for it just as Wolfe lunged for the guy with the weapon.

The weapon discharged, and Jonny P landed on Raider, scrambling for the box. Another gun fired, this one even louder, and a bullet chipped the concrete near Raider’s head. He and Jonny froze, the box just out of reach. Turning, he looked over his shoulder to find Eddie had a gun pointed at him.

Wolfe and the bartender grunted and coughed, fighting fiercely for the gun, while Rex slid down beneath his computer table as if his body was boneless. His eyes were wide but focused, and he kept hold of his mouse as if just waiting to get back to work.

The bartender grunted and Wolfe growled, punching each other fiercely. They fought for the gun, and it triggered, spraying bullets toward the computers.

“No!” Raider bellowed just as a bullet hit Rex in the neck, spraying blood out the other side to cover the floor. The computer tech died instantly, pitching forward, his face planting on the hard concrete.

Wolfe hit the bartender in the gut, and the guy kicked Wolfe in the leg, sending him back.

Eddie partially turned and aimed, just as Wolfe secured the gun and fired, hitting Eddie. The mobster flew back and landed on a computer monitor, knocking it over the table to the floor, where it shattered.

Wolfe turned and hit the bartender over the head, knocking him out cold on the floor. “Get the box,” Wolfe ordered.

Jonny P pushed off Raider and partially lifted himself, his hands up.

Raider breathed out. Okay. He reached for the box just as Eddie came over the table and fired the gun. Red burst across Wolfe’s chest, his eyes widened, and he dropped.

“Wolfe!” Raider turned and jumped to his feet to reach his friend. The world halted, and panic overtook him. The room hazed.

“Stop,” Eddie ordered. “Jonny?”

Jonny shoved Raider to the side and leaned down to take the box. He flipped it over to read the bottom. “Made in China?”

“You’re fuckin’ kidding me,” Eddie muttered, blood flowing from a wound in his left shoulder.

Jonny slid open the compartment to reveal two AA batteries. “This is a remote control for some kind of toy.” He tried to hide it, but incredulity showed on the sharp angles of his face.