Riley chuckled darkly and released him. “Just remember, I can shoot faster than you can run. Let’s go.”

We entered the floor. Past the elevators was an open floor of cubicles and desks, all empty and dark except for the flicker of computer screens. Dante led us across the room, our shoes clicking against the tile, and down another corridor with individual offices lining the hall. These, too, sat vacant and still, large glass windows showing off the night sky and the blinking cityscape below.

“I don’t like this,” I whispered to Garret. “It’s too empty. I thought Talon would have more security, or alarms, or something. This is too easy.”

“Agreed,” was the low reply. “Stay on your guard.”

“My office is through here,” Dante explained as we reached a door in the middle of the hall. “The reports are logged into my computer. One moment while I unlock the door.” He slid his card into a key slot, then pushed the door back to reveal an empty, darkened room.

Riley gestured at him with his gun. “After you.”

As we stepped through the door together, Dante turned, as if to throw the light switch. Suddenly his arm shot out, something small cupped in his palm, striking Riley in the ribs. There was an electric flash of white, the buzz of static, and Riley snarled, jerking as if he’d been stung.

The lights came on, revealing half a dozen armed, armored humans in the room, pointing their guns right at us.

Chapter 15: RILEY

RILEY

Well, shit. We’d walked nose-first into a trap.

Still reeling from being tased, I didn’t move fast enough, and Dante slipped out of reach. He was smiling as he backed toward the desk and the trio of guards standing there with their guns aimed at my middle. St. George already had his weapon out, pointed back at them, but it was too late.

Dammit! This was bad. I’d known the devious little bastard had been up to something, but it was worse than I’d thought. This was more than bad luck or bad timing, and it wasn’t coincidence that everything—Miranda, the evidence, and Dante—had pointed us here. I knew a setup when I saw one. We’d been played.