There was a pause. Then the man asked, "What systems?"
"The weapons systems. Or didn't they tell you what they were after?" She rose slowly as she spoke. For the first time in her life, she told a real lie. "These keypads control all the military's weapons in the country. Whoever has them will be able to take control."
"You're lying," he replied, gaze on the vault. "They wouldn't give that to you."
"You think they call in a missile strike on any low-level fed?" she returned. She placed the laser gun against it. "I'll destroy it if you try to take it."
Brady was creeping forward. Blood had bloomed, staining the left side of his abdomen and down his hip. She tried hard not to look at him, terrified of giving him away.
"I'll give you a better deal. I'll let you live if you give it to me," the man in gray responded.
She made a show of arming the laser gun. He stepped closer. Brady drew close enough to one of the fed security members and drew his knife. He snatched the officer and snapped his neck silently. The sound of the body dropping drew the attention of the other two.
"Here, take it!" Lana cried and tossed the vault to Charlie.
He reached out to catch it. Laser fire sounded as his other guard whirled and fired on Brady. Brady smashed his elbow into the man's face and whipped him around, slashing his neck with the knife. Charlie turned to blast Brady's exposed back.
Lana raised the laser gun, closed her eyes and fired. Someone dropped. She opened her eyes slowly, surprised to see she'd hit the man square in the back of the head. He lay on the ground, still.
Brady was staring at her. He managed a faint smile before wobbling and sliding to his knees. Lana rushed to him, horrified by the amount of blood soaking his uniform. The second man he'd killed had planted a knife in his shoulder.
"Brady," she said, dropping beside him. "There's so much blood!"
"Call Tim," Brady grunted. He sank into her. Lana wrapped her arms around his muscular frame, breathing in his familiar scent. She kissed his forehead and cheeks, tears in her eyes. "Put pressure on my side." His voice was strained.
Lana obeyed, planting one hand on the laser wound in his side. He hissed in pain, his dark eyes growing distant.
"Nice shot," he managed.