“Benjamin James.”
Hallease gasped. “Isn’t he—”
“Yep, that’s me. I heard you were looking for me. Especially that boyfriend of yours.” He glowered as he moved closer. “Well, you found me. Or rather, I found you.”
“What do you want?” Hallease asked.
“I want you to be fucking quiet,” he yelled and aimed his gun in her direction.
I jumped in front of him before he could get to her. “Leave her alone. She’s not a part of whatever sick game you’re playing.”
“Game? You think this is a fucking game?” He waved the gun in the air. “No, this isn’t a game or a joke. That’s what’s wrong with your boyfriend and everyone down at that station house. They think everything’s funny. They risk people’s lives because they don’t take it seriously!”
Spit flew from his mouth as he spoke. His eyes were wild, and I saw there was no reasoning with this man. I glanced over my shoulder, eyed Hallease, and nodded at her.
“What’s that?” Benjamin demanded, grabbing me by the collar of my shirt. “What the fuck are you telling her?”
I saw an opportunity and tried to take advantage. I hit Benjamin’s arm with the gun in it toward the ceiling, and aimed for his jugular with my other hand but missed. Instead, what was supposed to be a throat punch landed against his chin. It was enough to stun him but not knock him out.
He grunted, and I heard Hallease yell from behind me.
“Hallease, no,” I yelled, trying to stop her from lunging toward him.
Benjamin recovered too quickly. He pushed me aside and used the butt of his gun to strike Hallease.
As I turned around, Hallease’s limp body fell to the ground.
“No,” I screamed and jumped in front of him again when he aimed the gun at her head.
“You’re making too much noise,” he growled. He tightly grabbed my arm, yanked me forward, and placed the barrel of the gun against my temple. “If you make one more sound, I will put a bullet into both of your heads. Understood?”
I nodded wordlessly.
“Let’s go.” He pulled me toward the door but then stopped to point the gun in my face. “If you even think of trying to alert anyone, I will shoot you first and whoever’s in that damn hallway second. Don’t think I’m bluffing.”
I scowled at him, wanting to scream and rip his entire face off, but I did my best to remain calm.
He tucked the hand holding the gun inside his jacket, the other hand still firmly wrapped around my arm.
“We’re going this way.” He tugged me down the hall and out the door toward the parking lot.
Unfortunately, there was no one else around to see us. My heart sank.
He yanked me in the direction of an older model minivan and opened the back door. “Get in.”
“Fuck you,” I spat, feeling angrier than I’d ever remembered being. Benjamin James was the son of a bitch who’d almost killed my brother and who’d threatened Don and the rest of the men of Rescue Four.
“Bitch,” he snarled, striking me with his gun.
It felt like an explosion occurred behind my eyes. Luckily, I didn’t pass entirely out, but I came damn close.
Benjamin shoved me into the backseat of his SUV and tied my hands behind my back. I was too dazed by the blow to the head to fight back.
The last thing I remembered was calling Don’s name as we pulled out of the parking lot.
Don
“Thanks for letting me leave early, Captain,” I said as I tapped on his open door.
