Was Ivy blushing?
“Dr. Stillman.” She acknowledged his remark with a nod. What she did not do was agree to a date. She turned to the other men. “Gentlemen.”
From his spot, he couldn’t tell who was in the bigger hurry to get out of there, but Tessa and Ivy weren’t letting the grass grow as they quick-marched through the lobby.
Luke would reach the door before they did. Zane was on an intercept from their right side, Faith from the left, with Gil bringing up the rear. By the time they reached the outside, Ivy would be back in the bubble until they had her in the car. To the casual observer, it would appear they were doing the dance any group did when they exited a building. But unlike the frequently awkward interactions when three strangers paused to wait for the others to leave, this dance was choreographed to go off without a hitch.
The automatic doors opened on Luke’s approach, and he stopped just outside and scanned the area. He gave a small signalthat they were clear and moved completely out of the door area. Faith and Zane reached Ivy and Tessa, and Gil was five feet behind them. They were ten feet from the door when the air was pierced by the unmistakable sound of a burst of machine gunfire, followed by the screams of the hotel patrons.
23
FAR TO THE RIGHT OF THE LOBBY, a tall figure tackled the shooter. Gil didn’t have time to think. All he could do was react. He put a hand on Ivy’s back and shoved. Zane was at her right side. Tessa at her left.
Luke was visible through the glass doors. He stood by the open door of a taxi, and they went straight to him. Luke jumped in and then reached across the seat toward the door. Tessa released Ivy and took up a defensive position at the back of the cab. Faith was already at the front of the cab in a similar posture.
Gil shoved Ivy toward Luke, then turned his back to them, his weapon drawn, shielding her from whatever was happening in the lobby. Zane followed her into the cab, the door slammed, and the taxi peeled out of the circular drive.
Once it was gone, Faith, Gil, and Tessa huddled behind a brick post, well away from the glass doors.
“Where did he come from?” Faith hissed in frustration.
“No idea. Once we started our exit procedure, we couldn’t watch the entrances anymore. Not enough manpower.” Tessa’s usually gentle voice had a sharp edge now.
“I hate being outside instead of inside.” Faith voiced Gil’s own thoughts.
They’d made the right call. Getting Ivy out of the building was the priority, and not just because he cared about her. It was likely that Ivy had been the intended target, and getting her out of the building not only saved her but also ultimately saved the people now lying with their faces to the floor inside the hotel.
But that left him, Faith, and Tessa outside while the people inside were terrified and waiting to see what would happen.
“Do we have any idea who tackled the shooter?” Tessa asked. “I was focused on Ivy, but I saw him go down.”
“It was Morris.” Gil closed his eyes and could picture it. “Not sure that was the right move, but I haven’t heard any more shots. Hopefully he has him contained.”
The circular drive soon filled with police, ambulance, and fire vehicles. Morris emerged from the hotel and barked, “Dixon. Reed. Malone. Get over here.”
Gil moved. Tess and Faith flanked him. “Guess Morris has earned our cooperation.” Tessa sighed heavily. “Forever.”
Faith groaned. “Tackling an armed shooter? We’re in eternal debt.”
They weren’t wrong, but in this moment, Gil couldn’t drum up any frustration about owing Morris. Ivy was alive. Safe. He’d deal with whatever Morris dished out.
Tessa dropped back and accepted a call. When she caught up, she bumped his shoulder. “They went to my apartment.”
Good call. Tessa lived in a secure high-rise. Ritzier than anything most single Secret Service agents could swing. But Tessa wasn’t most Secret Service agents.
“How are they getting in?” Faith asked a valid question. Maybe if they flashed their badges, the security guard would let themup. Or maybe Tessa had already talked to the guard and given her permission.
Tessa whispered something Gil didn’t catch. Faith did though. “Zane has a key?” Faith managed to pack shock, excitement, humor, and something else into a few words.
All Tessa said was, “Yes,” but her expression and tone in that one word left no invitation for further comment.
Faith widened her eyes at Gil. “Okay, then.”
They reached Morris and he barked, “Tell me you’ve got her locked down.”
“We do.” Gil didn’t know for sure when it had happened, but at some point during his questioning of her, Ivy had caught Morris in her web.
“How locked down?” Morris pushed for more.
