A rapid burst of automatic fire accompanied Conor as he darted to the other side of the door.
Numb with fear for him, she remained rigid as he’d asked until Conor’s thumbs-up confirmed he’d found a good position.That was her chance to cover him.They were outnumbered by her father and his forces, but she and Conor remained clearheaded, while her father and his thugs had been taken off guard and were still shooting wildly.
A sudden lull made her tense.A door slammed, and then there was silence.
“Conor?”
No reply.The elegant landing was deserted.She was alone.There was another way out of her father’s office.The ambassador and his thugs as well as Conor must have taken it.
The sound of a helicopter brought her springing to her feet.
No!It could not happen again!Not a second time!
Checking her gun, she took the shortcut to the roof.Yanking the window open, she bounded up the fire escape in time to see the helicopter about to lift off with her father in the pilot’s seat.The passenger door was open with Conor hanging off the side.Dangling over the edge of the building as the aircraft lurched upward and then dropped again, he had risked his life to bring the ambassador to justice.The level of her father’s fury at the aborted take-off could only be imagined.but Conor’s resolve meant that he refused to let go.
She was grabbed from behind.
With a scream, she lashed out.
Seeing her predicament, Conor reacted instantly.Releasing his grip on the helicopter, he dropped, rolled, and launched himself toward her.
A single gunshot rang out.
Struggling and shouting, desperate to hear Conor’s voice, she couldn’t fight the strength of the man dragging her through a door that opened onto the internal staircase.There was just time for a moment of eye contact with Conor.He’d know where she was being taken.To the cellar where prisoners had always been held.
Kicking the door shut behind them, her captor bolted it before pushing her down the stairs.Lurching from side to side, she somehow managed to stop herself falling.Saving Conor was the only thought in her mind.It ramped up her survival instinct to a completely new level.Was he alive—wounded?She refused to think it could be anything worse.Her life would be meaningless without him.
As the guard shoved her into one of the cells, she realized she wasn’t alone.There were more captives huddled together for support.Slamming the door shut, the guard bolted it.
Trapped.As soon as Karolina’s eyes had adjusted to the light, she recognized her terrified companions.They were female members of staff from the embassy.Before he disappeared, her father had committed one last wicked act.The staff who’d worked so faithfully for him would be put up for sale, and would be long gone before anyone knew they were missing.The depths of depravity he could sink to seemed to have no end.
That thought made her fear for Conor grow.Pushing those fears aside, she calmed her voice and spoke to the captives.“I’m going to get you out of here,” she promised.
There was barely time to comfort the women or work out how she would do this before a powerful engine screeching to a halt on the road outside made them all step back with fear.
“Karolina?”A familiar voice sounded at the window.“Are you in there?Are you okay?”
“Conor!”For a moment, he was all she could think about, but she recovered quickly.“We’re all safe.There are six women in here with me.”
“The team’s on its way with transport, and the authorities have been alerted.Stand back.I’m going to attach a chain to the bars so I can pull out the window.”
An engine screamed in protest.The stench of burning rubber threatened to choke them.And then, with one final cracking sound, the bars and window flew into the street with the clatter of metal on tarmac.
“Get them all out of here first,” she begged Conor as she shepherded the terrified women into a line.“Take them to safety, then come back for me.”
“I’m not leaving you!”
“Do it!”she insisted, already helping the first of the women through the small opening.She didn’t wait for a reply before scrambling to help the next.“Go!Go now!”she urged, hearing footsteps approaching.
It seemed to take an eternity before all the women were outside and being ushered as quickly as possible into a vehicle driven by one of Conor’s team.
Pressed back against the wall, eyes closed, breathing hectic, Karolina flinched as the cell door flew open.The ambassador stood framed in acid light.Taking in the scene at a glance, he sneered, “Your husband must think he’s very clever to steal my prisoners.Some husband he turned out to be.You’re better off without him.What kind of man leaves his wife to her fate while he runs away like a coward?”
“The type of man who has respect for women and who knows I can look after myself.”
“Or maybe he’s had enough of you, and has left you to me to dispose of.Don’t look so confused,” he added in a mock-concerned tone.“You should be looking forward to the ride of your life.Your seat in my helicopter will be the same one your mother sat in for her final journey.Come along now,” he coaxed.“Don’t keep me waiting.My colleagues will be only too happy to escort you to the roof.”
“Why not throw me from the roof and save yourself some fuel?”
