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Decker
“Nice shot.”
I ignore Hunt’s compliment as I continue to stare at Keira through the broken window at the far end of the warehouse.
My heart hasn’t stopped racing since Luca parked the Jeep at the far end of the road. I’d jumped out of the car before the engine stopped and ran from warehouse to warehouse searching for the Porsche.
I’d been the first to see the dead guy in the parking lot. The first to reach the side of the building and determine I had seconds to save Cole’s life.
I hadn’t thought, hadn’t pla
I aimed the barrel of my gun through the broken window, pulled the trigger, and watched Keira as the man fell to the floor with half his skull missing.
Her eyes remain clamped shut, her screams muffled through the gag.
“Why doesn’t he talk to her?” I grate. “Why doesn’t he open his fucking mouth and tell her he’s still alive?”
She doesn’t realize her brother stands before her while one of her captors lies dead at her feet.
“I don’t know.” Hunter keeps his gun trained on our enemy, the men taking cover behind the ringleader, who grabs Cole around the neck and uses him as a shield. “It’s probably because he thinks the next bullet has his name on it.”
“It will if we don’t come up with a plan,” Luca mutters. “I’m not sure about you guys, but I don’t have a lot of experience with hostage negotiations. How the fuck do we get all three of them out alive?”
Pop, pop, pops slash around us, the return fire pinging against the side of the warehouse.
I drop to the ground, the dirt and pebbles scratching my cheek as I face Hunt. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking this son of a bitch isn’t smart. He’s in an empty warehouse, without any cover, with nobody keeping watch. He’s got no idea what he’s doing, or who he’s up against, but he obviously thinks he’s invincible.”
“That’s a dangerous combination.”
He winces. “My thoughts exactly. He’ll kill them without considering the consequences.”
“I need to make a call.” I keep my voice low, out of Luca’s range. “We won’t get them out on our own.”
He frowns at me, his brows tightening as understanding dawns. “No. You’re not making any fucking calls. We do this on our own.”
“We’ve got no other—”
“No. You’re not letting that cat out of the bag, do you hear me? Keep your fucking mouth shut.”
It isn’t a warning about being a snitch. It’s a caution not to blow my cover. Despite his woman being in there, this grumpy fucker is trying to protect me.
“Hunt, they’re dead if I don’t.”
He glares. “And you’re dead if you do. Don’t be a pussy and give up yet. We’ve still got choices.”
Like hell we do. I can’t see one fucking option that’s going to get Keira out of there alive. Hunt’s gotta know his reputation isn’t going to have Drake waving a white flag. This shit is serious. One rogue bullet and Keira is dead.
“Wipe the judgmental look off your face.” He shoves to his feet as the last of the bullets sound. “I’ve got more invested in this than your twenty-four-hour fling.”
I follow, wanting to knuckle dust him for the harsh comment.
It’s been more than twenty-four hours with Keira.
I’ve spent months consumed with thoughts of her. I’ve waited a lifetime to have her close. Deceit or not, I’d do anything to keep her safe.
“Don’t criticize our relationship.” I fall in beside his position against the wall. “You don’t know shit about us.”
He shoots me a look of incredulity. “Focus, asshole.”
I clench my jaw and peer inside. Keira has raised her head to face the scene before her, her eyes wide as her gaze searches her surroundings for answers.
Pride fills my lungs. Through all this, she’s still got hope, which is more than I can muster at this point.
“I’m here, precious. I’m not going anywhere.”
Hunt scowls at me. “Are you for real right now?”
“Stop worrying about me and get a fucking grip. You’re the one who excels at this tactical shit. So be fucking tactical.”
“Would you two shut up?” Luca hisses as he stalks toward the side of the building. “If you haven’t noticed, we’re about to have company. You might want to prepare.”
He’s right. A man is ru
I crouch and aim my gun along the wall toward the door, where Luca is acting like wallpaper. “He needs to get out of the way.”
“No, don’t shoot,” Hunt whispers. “Let him take care of it. The less Drake knows about us out here, the better.”
“Are you sure?” I creep closer, only to have Hunt place a warning hand on my shoulder.
“Just watch.”
I do as he requests, sticking to my haunches as the door opens an inch.
The barrel of a gun peeks out, and a warning shot lashes into the distance.
Luca doesn’t move. He remains in the shadows, propped against the warehouse until the guy creeps forward into the darkness.
The gunman’s vision must take too long to adjust from the fluorescents. He stands there, doe-eyed, batting his lashes into the night. The second the door closes behind him he’s grabbed by the wrist and flipped onto his back.
Luca follows him down in a knee slide that stops near the guy’s shoulders, the move seeming like a practiced dance routine. The subsequent glide of hands over the enemy’s face and the break of his neck is done with such smooth efficiency it almost looks artistic.
“Holy shit.” I stare in shock. “He’s got skills.”
“Aren’t you glad you didn’t try to kick his ass earlier?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “Really fucking glad.” I shove to my feet and stalk the warehouse interior again. “What now?”
“Now we wing it.” He aims his gun inside. “The warehouse is surrounded,” he yells. “Put your weapons down and you’ll live to see another day.”
I watch Keira, watch her so damn intently as her face brightens.
The guy in front laughs, his arm wrapping tighter around Torian’s neck while the two men behind him crouch for cover.
“That’s gotta be Drake.” I jerk my head in the guy’s direction. “I’d bet my life he’s the one blackmailing Keira.”
“This has gone beyond blackmail. It’s an assassination. He’s making a power play.”
“Is that you Hunter?” Drake calls. “You’re late.”
“And you’re sloppy,” he shouts back. “There’s no way you’re getting out of this alive.”
“Even when I’ve got your girl?” Drake backtracks, dragging Torian toward Sarah lying lifeless on the floor. “From my perspective, I’m the only one walking out of here a happy man.”
“Who is this fucker?” Hunter rubs his knuckles over his mouth. “And why does he know more about me than I do about him?”
“Probably because you’ve got a fucking huge reputation.” My pulse pounds at my temples. Having that psychotic asshole in close proximity to both Sarah and Keira doesn’t sit well with me. I can barely breathe through the panic. “What are we doing? We can’t just stand here. He’s going to do something.”
“I want you inside, Hunt. Now.”
Drake shoves his boot into Sarah’s ribs, but her limp body doesn’t jolt from the impact. It stiffens. Spins. She launches from the cement, lashing out with a kick that has him stumbling to right himself with Torian’s weight.
She swings out, jabbing at his throat, punching at his fist, only to be knocked out with a hard whack to the back of her head from the coward who had been hiding behind Keira.
Her legs buckle beneath her, her delicate frame crumpling to the floor.