Thank fuck.
“Any idea where Roman is?” I asked her, walking toward the crowd, searching for Roman’s ugly mug.
“Ben had eyes on him dodging cars in the parking lot,” Olivia returned. “Just get the fuck out of there.” Then my comm quieted.
I inhaled the energy around me, feeding off the human scent, their fear, their excitement, preparing myself to unleash my elemental powers at a moment’s notice.
Footsteps clamored behind me, and I spun around, prepared to take on my attacker, only to find Dr. Martin with a panicked expression.
“What’s going on?” he asked, taking in the crowd.
Layla was pushing her way into the melee. “Excuse me. He’s my brother.”
I grinned at her white lie as I marched toward her. “One of my men is down,” I said to Dr. Martin. “We need to clear out the hospital.”
Dr. Martin took off to break up the group as my mind worked to figure out a plan to save human lives. But Layla and the babies were in more jeopardy than the nosy humans who were snapping pictures of Hawk.
The plural form of baby had my mind ready to explode, but this wasn’t the time for a meltdown.
As I approached the crowd, I spied the fire alarm. One way to clear out a building. Without missing a step, I yanked on the handle, then kept walking as the alarm blared with a high shriek. Humans scattered like cockroaches, running past me.
Layla was slapping Hawk on the face. “Hawk?”
“Baby doll, I suggest you back away from him. He might be hungry when he wakes up.” And angry as a bear. He would definitely go for someone’s throat.
Dr. Martin said, “Nice thinking, but the fire department won’t be far behind.”
Just as I was about to pick up Hawk and toss him over my shoulder, he woke up snarling.
Dr. Martin jumped away.
Layla didn’t bat an eye. “You were supposed to protect my sister,” she snapped like a viper with an overload of venom.
Hawk jumped to his feet and trained his green eyes on me. “I’m sorry, sir.”
Considering many of the SEALs were on missions, given the list of enemies we were surveilling, we had limited choices of men. So Webb and Tripp had given Hawk a chance to guard Jordyn.
I held up a hand. “Save it for later. We’ll have bigger problems if we don’t blow this joint now.” I grabbed Layla by the arm. “Baby doll, Roman is here.”
She searched the hallways. “Where?” She sounded way too excited for my liking. Then she whipped out her daggers. “I’m ready.”
I chuckled. “That you are. Please be careful.” I was confident in her fighting abilities. What I wasn’t so positive about was her condition. I didn’t want anything to happen to her or our babies.Fuuuuck! Babies. Shut up, brain. I’m in the middle of a dangerous situation.
She pursed her plump lips, her big blue eyes filling with rage. “You think Roman is helping my grandmother?”
I hadn’t told her Roman’s men were guarding the microchip plant outside Cleveland. “Oh, he’s part of Intech’s team, so I would imagine he is,” I said.
Her daggers were secured in her hands. “Well, I’m tired of this shit. I’m ready to kill all of them.”
“Dr. Martin, make sure the ER is cleared out,” I said. “Lane, what’s your location?” I asked into my comm.
“I’m outside the ER in the Jeep. Move, Sam,” Lane returned. “Or else we won’t be able to leave. Too many people spilling out of the building.”
I informed Lane that Roman was on site and to keep his senses open.
“Hawk, head in front of us. Layla, behind Hawk,” I ordered.
Hawk drew his gun from his holster.
