Both rise, nose to nose, steam practically pouring from their ears. As I prepare to throw myself between them, the front door creaks open.
Click.
A rifle levels straight at Briana’s chest.
Jesus, no.
“Grrr.” My canine snarls, lips curled, incisors bared.
“Down, Bec.” My hand drops to her head, steadying her.
“Well, well, well.” Greasy hair pulled back in a ponytail, face streaked with green paint, Diego Carmine swaggers into the room. “Looks like I found a party.”
As my blood turns to ice, the warrior within snaps to life.
Front egress: blocked.
Back door: clear.
Assets: one service dog; one combat-ready pilot.
Risks: one hysterical civilian.
“Pistol on the floor or your lady gets it. Tie up your mutt.” His tone’s so casual, he might as well be ordering a vanilla latte—light roast.
Eyes glued to his, Bree doesn’t move. Andrea, however, lets out a strangled squeak and shrinks into the corner.
“I said,do it.” The steel edge in his voice cuts the room in half.
Watching. Calculating. I lower my Glock to the floor, nice and slow. Then I guide Becca into the closet, shutting the door behind her.
“You’re making a huge mistake.”
Diego’s chin bobs. “Copy that. This is the cleanup act.”
His narrow lips pull into a grim half-smile. “So, here’s the deal. Icouldkill you all now… but I prefer the hunt. You choose.”
Finger on the trigger, his barrel swings toward Briana. “Not you. Only her.”
The ex-Navy pilot lifts her head—cool, fearless. Every inch a warrior.
“Sure.” She narrows her gaze. “On one condition.”
Dipping his chin to his shoulder, he wipes away his drool. “Yeah? What is it?”
“I get a head start.” Her grin sends a shudder down my spine.
What the fuck is she doing?
“No.” His tone wavers. It doesn’t ring true.
Sensing the crack, she shifts her weight—her steady feet planted.
“If you don’t, it won’t be right,” she sing-songs, “Not right at all. It’ll ruin everything.”
Her coaxing lowers to a whisper. “It has to be fair, or it’s pointless. You want this to mean something, don’t you?”
Intensity burns in her bright eyes. “We have to hurry, though. Soon enough, his deputies will be back. Then the FBI will end it here, with you dead.”
