Chapter Eight—Overlord’s Palace

There were no guards in sight, at least up here where the exit vent was. Kyle waited while John cut the thing off with a mobile laser. He crawled out after the larger man, feeling the warm night air blow against his face.

He glanced about, searching for the guards. They were probably on the outer edges of the roof protection likely breach points. If there were any, that’s where they’d be.

Ironic thought, Kyle mused.

On the center of the roof was a landing pad stamped and surrounding that was a veritable forest of potted palm trees and plants with walking stones, fountains—all the luxuries of a top brass penthouse rooftop. Kyle was sure there was even a swimming pool up here somewhere.

The landing pad was situated on the far side of the building, leaving the rooftop mostly free as an area to carouse and host parties, it seemed. There were lanterns in the trees and walking paths.

Kyle leaned out from the edge of the structure where the stairs came up at. On the other end was a raised area with a broad panorama of windows that overlooked the grounds and the landing pad.

“That’s where the guards will be,” Kyle said, nodding.

“They’ll be making rounds up the stairs and onto the roof and back down, too,” John said in answer. “Let’s be careful.”

The two men took out their silenced pistols.

Kyle preferred a ballistic weapon to an energy one. Energy weapons were good against the average criminal, but against high-tier bodyguards, or on-site Special Forces, they were often bad for business, since personal body shields could deflect the energy.

“Stairs,” John said.

Kyle nodded, realizing there were actually crickets chirping up here. Did they get up here on accident, or Yates’ designers actually make a conscious effort to bring damn bugs up here?

Shaking his head, he followed Staxx/John, who opened the door to the stairwell, pointing his pistol down the corridor in case there was a guard on the stairs.

There wasn’t.

Kyle shut the door behind them and they went down a flight of stairs and stopped at a door and landing of hardwood.

Kyle moved forward. It didn’t make sense to have a lumbering giant at the front. He cracked the door, revealing a hallway with soft yellow lighting, a stand in an alcove in the wall with expensive pottery, probably worth a ton of money.

Max nodded toward John for the “all clear” and went in. The door he entered through was also inside of an alcove. He put his back to the wall on his left to get a look down the hall on his right, peering over his pistol sights.

Nothing.

He turned, put his back to the other wall, seeing a guard on his way toward them. Kyle stepped out and pulled the trigger and a silenced round zipped through his head and blood shot out the back as his muscles went limp and he fell.

John came in, his pistol at the ready.

Kyle motioned for John to take the opposite path whereupon they would then regroup. John nodded and Kyle went down the hall, stepping over the body and avoided the pooling blood.