“We’ve confirmed the location,” Logan said as he strode toward them.
Drew’s hand tightened.
“We’ll make sure there are no civilians nearby,” Gunner assured them. “We’ll clear the area, damn quietly.”
Because if the building exploded, they didn’t want civilians getting hurt.
“Time to roll,” Logan said.
Tina nodded.
Logan added, “Dylan Foxx is going to meet us on scene. We’ll surround the building and make sure we’re ready to advance on your command, Drew.”
Drew stepped back. He wasn’t looking at Logan. His focus seemed to be just for Tina. “You’re getting out of this alive, Doc.”
Tina grabbed his hands. “So are you.”
But he didn’t answer her, and a chill encased Tina’s heart.
* * *
THE TWO-STORY BRICK building waited at the end of the street. A tall, chain-link fence, topped with barbed wire, circled the property.
Four cars were parked outside the building. Two SUVs. Two vans.
One man stood at the main door. Even from a distance, Drew had no trouble seeing the bulge of his weapon.
“Got a man at the back door,” Gunner said into Drew’s earpiece. “And one canvassing the east side.”
“And the west,” came Logan’s voice. They were all linked, but the transmitter in Drew’s ear was so small the enemy shouldn’t be able see it, not until it was too late.
Drew climbed from the rental car. He walked around the vehicle and opened Tina’s door. When she stepped out, the sunlight glinted off her glasses. Her dark hair brushed over her cheek. She was pale, but her eyes were determined.
She was risking everything for his family.
“Doc, you are the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.”
She blinked and looked a little lost as a furrow appeared between her eyes.
He leaned in close. Put his mouth to her ear. “And I will damn well die before I let them hurt you.”
They needed to be clear on that.
His life, not hers.
Never her.
Their hands locked. Together, they approached the building.
The man at the door tensed. He lifted his weapon and aimed it right at Drew.
“I’m Agent Lancaster, and I think you were waiting on me.” He paused. “On us. For a trade.”
Gunner would have his sites locked on that guy right then. If the fellow moved to fire, all bets were off. Gunner would take him out, and the agents lying in wait around the property would swarm.
But the man didn’t fire. Instead, he approached the gate. He fumbled and undid the padlock and let Drew and Tina inside. Then they headed for the door. The wood groaned as it opened. The building was dark and quiet inside.
And Drew could smell blood.
Paige.
He didn’t rush forward, though. Because his gaze had slid to the left. He saw the bomb that was planted there, just a few feet from the entrance.
“Well, well, well...” a familiar voice called out. “If it isn’t...Stone...coming back into the family once more.”
Hell. Drew focused to the right. The man walking from the shadows had bright blond hair. Angry brown eyes. And a knife in his hand.
Carl Monroe.
He’d been hiding just behind one of the bigger parade floats that filled the large warehouse.
“Figured I’d be seeing you again,” Carl said. His gaze slid eagerly toward Tina. “I was sure hopin’ that I’d be seeing you both again.”
* * *
“THEY’RE IN THE building,” Mercer said as he glared at Anton. He shoved his phone across the table. He’d uncuffed Anton’s right wrist. “Now make the call. Get your men on the line. Tell them to release Agent Lancaster’s sisters. If those women aren’t out in the next sixty seconds...”
Anton laughed and reached for the phone. “I don’t care about his sisters. I never did. They were just the means to an end.” His eyes narrowed on Mercer. “Your end.”
Mercer held his gaze. “Make. The. Call.”
Anton punched in numbers. He smirked. The phone was answered on the second ring. “Carl?” Anton said. “Are Lancaster and the girl standing right in front of you?”
Mercer leaned toward Anton.
“Good. Good. Now listen carefully. Let the agent’s sisters go....”
* * *
TWO MEN HAD come up behind Drew and Tina and taken their weapons. Most of them. Drew figured he still had about three blades left on him. They should have done a better job of searching them.
Carl’s phone rang. The man answered it, then called out, “Bring the women.”
Drew stopped breathing. From the back of the building, he heard the sound of footsteps. Shuffling. Slow. He craned to see, but the floats were in his way. One was a massive green dragon with flames coming from its mouth. Another was a mermaid, her tail crashing into faded blue waves.
But then...then they appeared.
He saw Paige first. Blood trickled down her cheek. So did tears. Helpless to stop himself, he took a step toward her.
And Drew found his own gun shoved at his temple. “That’s not the way this works,” Carl snapped. One of Carl’s hands still held the phone. The other held the gun.
“Tell your sisters that you love them, Stone, and then they can walk away.”
Kim and Heather were behind Paige. They looked scared, but unharmed.
“Drew?” Paige whispered as more tears slid down her cheeks. “What’s happening?” Pretty little Paige. She looked just like their mother. That long, blond hair. The big, blue eyes.
Drew looked like their father. A constant reminder of the man who’d left them. Who’d let them all down.
“You’re going to be safe.” His voice was cold and flat. The rage was buried as deep inside as it could go. “Just walk out through the front door, go past that fence and you’ll be fine.”
But Paige shook her head. “You’re coming, too?”
No. He wasn’t leaving. Not yet.
“The agent doesn’t go, honey,” Carl cut in. “Not yet.”
“I’m not leaving you—” Paige began.
“Then you can die.” Carl motioned toward one of his men. The man lifted his gun.
“No!” Tina screamed. “That wasn’t the deal. You can’t kill them!” She’d rushed toward Drew’s sisters. And she put herself right in front of the gun. “Let them go. Let them walk out of here.”
Her chest was heaving. Her voice trembling. Fear brightened her eyes and flushed her cheeks.