Page 126 of Secret Squirrel

She was okay. This was her job, what she excelled at. She was more than capable of taking on any man, and I had to keep reminding myself of that as the car ate up the miles. I didn’t dare pull over to switch with Fox, though I desperately wanted to. If we were being followed, it would only ruin everything for Rae.

I couldn’t believe she kissed that fucker, or that she pressed her body to his when he was clearly turned on. She was playing a part, and I hated that she did it so well. If there was one thing I was going to have to get used to, it was that Rae was damn good at her job, and there would be no demanding that she do it differently. I would have to swallow my pride and let her do her thing, or set her free.

After taking the long way back to the hotel, I pulled into the underground garage and dropped her at the elevator, just in case we were followed. Scottie escorted her upstairs while Fox waited by the elevator. We’d done everything possible to ensure we weren’t followed, but a man like Xavier Roth had connections that far outreached our own.

I put the car in park and was about to get out when someone smashed in the driver’s side window and grabbed me by the collar. I was still buckled, so his attempts were futile. I grabbed my gun and didn’t even hesitate to shove it between us and pull the trigger. But I knew it wasn’t over. Xavier wouldn’t send a single person to attack. I quickly started the car and shifted in reverse, slamming on the gas. Fox had to hear the gunshot, and would no doubt be hauling ass toward me.

A bullet pierced the back window just before I heard a thump and the car rolled over the body that was behind me. My body jerked as a bullet came through the broken driver’s side window and pierced just below my collarbone. I grunted in response, but shifted into drive and hit the gas, running over the man standing in front of the car. I crashed into a parked car and the airbag exploded in my face.

Blood dripped from my nose as I shoved the airbag down. I had to get out of the car. Staying here was a death sentence. I unbuckled and shoved the car door open, staying low as I searched for a good position to run. Bullets pinged around the door and off the ground, coming way too damn close for comfort.

I could see Fox moving behind the cars, firing his gun multiple times. I couldn’t see how many of them there were, but we were clearly outnumbered. With my gun in hand, I shot out from behind my hiding spot and ran for cover. Another bullet struck me in the leg, making me stumble behind the car closest to me.

Hissing, I fell to my knees and rolled to my ass. Blood poured from my leg, and I could see the bone jutting out where the bullet had splintered it. I quickly took off my belt and wrapped it tight around my leg, yanking it tight. I screamed, keeping my mouth closed as the pain became nearly unbearable. Sweat poured from my brow as I took deep breaths to fight off the nausea. After a minute, I finally got back to my knee and looked around for more shooters. It was like a gang war in here as bullets flew from every direction.

I pushed the pain to the back of my mind and fired off several shots. I had no idea if Rae was down here or if she even knew what was happening. I ejected the magazine after firing the last of my ammunition, then snapped a second magazine in place. I could tell Fox was trying to make a move, but was trapped in his position. I laid down cover fire, allowing him enough time to move.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Rae and Scottie running into the fight. Rae was still in her dress, barefoot with crazed eyes. I turned my attention from her and focused on the men pouring into the parking garage from the street. For every man we shot down, ten more appeared. There was no way out of this until we were all dead.

The sound of a scuffle behind me had me turning, but not fast enough. A gun slammed into the side of my head, dropping me to the ground. I fought to stay conscious as my body was dragged away from the car. My leg throbbed in pain as the wound pulled taut. I saw the trunk open and knew what was going to happen. With what little conscious thought I had left, I pulled my gun and fired two shots into the man dragging me. He dropped to the ground in a bloody heap. Rolling over, I crawled away from the vehicle and got to my feet. But what I saw stopped me in my tracks.

Rae was fighting a man off with her fists, kicking his ass, but others were closing in. They wanted a hostage, and I had just kept them from taking me. Until they got someone, the fighting would continue, possibly until we were all dead. I had to end this to keep Rae safe. I was the weakest link right now.

I came out from my cover position, stepping out into the open. Fox looked at me funny, turning to fire at someone behind me. I could feel them approaching and slowly shook my head at him. His eyes narrowed, but then his eyes scanned the building and he knew the same thing I did. I needed to be taken for this to end.

Live to fight another day.

I was tackled from behind, but I put up a good fight. I didn’t want it to appear that I was giving in. I turned and swung, connecting with the man’s jaw, but another man came at me from the side, slamming his foot into my injured leg. A scream tore from my throat as I collapsed onto one knee. Blood oozed from my leg and I was on the verge of passing out. I fell to the ground, turning my body to fire my gun at the men. I hit two of them before another came at me, slamming his gun into my head for the second time.

My body thumped to the ground as the world spun around me. I rolled to my side and vomited. My whole body ached, but the end goal was achieved. My arms were wrenched behind my back and cuffs were quickly slapped onto them. The man yanked me to my feet and I barely caught a glimpse of Rae fighting her way toward me. Scottie stepped in and hauled her back, fighting her every step of the way. I silently thanked him for interfering right before a bag was thrust over my head and everything went dark.

30

RAE

“No! I shouted as Scottie grabbed me and hauled me bodily toward the stair door. They had beaten Duke and were dragging him toward a car. I slammed my elbow back into Scottie’s stomach and fought my way out of his hold. There was no way I was allowing them to take Duke.

I had been upstairs a matter of seconds before Fox called and informed me they were under attack. I hauled ass downstairs, but it was already too late. Swarms of men overran us at the garage. We didn’t stand a chance, but I wasn’t going down without fighting.

I ran toward Duke, but was stopped almost instantly when men started firing at me. Fox came out from behind a car and took out the men closest to me, giving me the chance to make a run for it. But it was too far. I was halfway across the parking garage, and even if I took out everyone that stood between me and Duke, they would be long gone.

A man stepped out in front of me and I got low, ramming my shoulder into his stomach, then flipped him over my back. I spun and fired a shot into his head, then spun and ran for Duke again. But every time I took five steps, another man was coming at me. Why wasn’t Fox going after Duke?

I watched in horror as Duke was picked up and tossed into a trunk. Then the car took off, going in the opposite direction to the other exit. I cut across the garage, running flat out to cut them off, but the car was driving too fast. I dropped to one knee and fired off shot after shot. They pinged off the car as it swerved out of the garage and turned onto the street. I ran for the exit, knowing I would never catch them on foot, but I might be able to see where they were going.

“Move!” Fox shouted, running out into the street with a rifle. He fired a shot and turned to me with a grin.

“Why are you smiling? They just took off with Duke!”

“I shot the car with a tracking beacon,” he said, taking his phone out of his pocket and pulling up a screen. It showed a signal moving through the streets. I sighed in relief. At least now we could make a plan and go in for him. I nodded and pulled out my phone as I headed back inside. We would have to move fast on this.

“Cash,” I barked into the phone as soon as he picked up. “They’ve taken Duke.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Fox shot a tracker on the car. We know where they’re going.”

“As long as they don’t switch vehicles.”