“We’re going to walk to the elevators.” Pennington’s heavy breathing came through Hawk’s earpiece.
Charlotte spun toward Hawk, and her gaze connected with his. She took a few steps, and Pennington appeared in the doorway. He was close behind her, holding a small revolver pointed directly at her.
She started to lower her hands, and Pennington jammed the end of the barrel against her lower back. “Put them back up!”
Hawk stayed out of sight as best he could and still be able to see her.
“Where are you taking me?” She was doing a great job keeping her voice nice and steady.
“Shut up and move!” He slammed his palm between her shoulders and shoved her forward.
Charlotte lost her footing, started falling, and the sound of her head hitting the edge of the desk sent chills throughout Hawk’s entire body.
Son of a bitch!
“Get up.” Pennington bent over and grabbed her elbow to drag her up.
Charlotte remained motionless.
Hawk pulled his Glock from his holster, tapped the badge to the reader, and burst into the space.
“Drop your weapon!” He raised his weapon and sighted-in Pennington’s head.
The guy stood and shakily lifted his gun toward Hawk.
“NO!” Charlotte planted a hand on the side of the cabinet and stood. Blood had begun to ooze from a gash at her hairline. She swayed a bit, started to fall forward, and swung her hand down against Pennington’s wrist. The pistol dropped out of the asshole’s hand, landed on the floor, and slid beneath the desk.
Charlotte collapsed to her hands and knees.
“You bitch.” Pennington made a move toward where she lay on the floor.
“You even twitch another inch in her direction, and I will happily blow you away.” Hawk had closed the space between them and held the gun to Pennington’s head.
He looked down at Charlotte. “Are you okay, Sweets?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She crawled away from Pennington and leaned back against Helene’s desk. “You seriously messed up,Ambrose.”
Down on the ground and lock your fingers together behind your head.” Hawk glanced over at Charlotte. “You’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine.” She reached up but stopped short of touching it.
“Sit tight while I deal with this asshole, then I’ll take a look at that.” Hawk unclipped a cord from the bottom of a phone and yanked the other end from the wall. He squatted down and pressed his knee into Pennington’s back.
“Owww! Get off of me this instant.” Pennington still thought he was in charge.
“Shut the fuck up.” Hawk exerted a bit more pressure with his knee. “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you for pointing a gun at her and making her bleed.” He leaned down, close to his ear. “But there’s still time.”
He wrapped the cord around each of Pennington’s wrists, then down around his ankles, and knotted it. He grabbed the box of tissues off the desk, moved over to Charlotte, and squatted down next to her.
She started to reach for her head again, and he stopped her.
“Here, let me.” Hawk popped a bunch of tissues from the box.
Blood had begun to track down her temple and forehead, and he gently wiped it away before it ran into her eyes.
Her face contorted with pain, and she sucked a breath in between her clenched teeth.
“I’m sorry.” He lifted the tissues to look at the cut. “Looks like you might end up needing stitches.”
