“Release Aleksei.” Her voice crackled with authority. Gone was the flirtatious woman from the bar.
The man standing over Aleksei cocked the gun. “You’re in no position to give orders.”
Silver kept her focus on the attacker in front of her. “Just let Aleksei go. I’m closest to Maxim. I’m the one you want,” she said in a pleading tone.
“So he can run inside and tell your thugs we’re here? We’re not that stupid. Come now and there won’t be any bloodshed.” The back passenger door of the SUV was still open for them. The driver had the window down watching them. Greg didn’t notice a weapon, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have one. Greg knew if they got in the vehicle, it would be a death sentence. He had to get to her first.
Greg pushed away from the door and slouched down looking like a drunk who was just stumbling around and mumbling to himself. He made his way over to the group slowly so they didn’t think him a threat, but quick enough he could get there before they were pushed into the waiting vehicle.
No one seemed to notice him, either because they were intent on each other or didn’t see him as a threat he wasn’t sure, but it worked in his favor.
Aleksei looked forlornly at Silver as his attacker motioned him to rise. “Silver…”
“It’s okay, Aleksei. Just do what they say.” She pushed from the wall and slowly made her way to the car. Her attacker walked alongside her, his gun pressed up against her side. “You know it’s not the smartest move coming after us. Maxim won’t appreciate it. Especially at his own club.”
“We don’t give a shit what he thinks. But he will pay a pretty penny to get you back.”
Greg was close enough now to attack. Silver’s gaze flickered to him; if she recognized him, she didn’t show it. Greg shoved himself into Silver, knocking her off balance and separating her from her attacker.
“Watch it, asshole,” the attacker snarled at him, already reaching for Silver again, not sensing Greg as a threat.
Greg didn’t give him the chance to get her. He grabbed the attacker’s arm and twisted it to the side, causing him to drop the gun. He screamed in pain which brought the attention of his partner.
The man holding Aleksei pointed his gun at Greg. “Big mistake, asshole.” Aleksei reached for the gun, and the two began wrestling with it.
The man who’d attacked Silver had recovered and had pulled out a knife, forcing Greg’s attention back on him. “I’m going to kill you.” Greg hopped back, narrowly avoiding a blade to his stomach. The blade twisted and came at him again. Greg kicked it away and drove a fist in the man’s face, knocking him out.
Greg turned to Aleksei to see him still struggling with his attacker over the gun. Silver had joined and was trying to help, but she was knocked down to the ground when both men stumbled back into her. Greg rushed over and tackled Aleksei’s attacker to the ground.
He knocked the gun from the man’s hand and straddled him while punching him in the face. Greg thought the guy was knocked unconscious when he stopped moving and turned to see where Silver was. The guy caught him unaware with a punch to his ribs then lifted his hips to toss him over his head before Greg could counter an attack.
Greg stood up as the two attackers stumbled for the back of the vehicle. Aleksei ran after them in hot pursuit. The driver pulled out a gun and aimed it right at Aleksei.
“No,” Silver bellowed and raced to get in front of Aleksei to protect him. Greg tossed a blade he always kept hidden behind his belt loop at the driver. His aim was true and hit the driver right where he’d intended. He hadn’t wanted to kill him and risk fighting the two guards again. Just enough to injure him. The driver grunted in pain, dropping the gun and cradling his arm to his chest as blood squirted from the wound.
The SUV peeled away from the curb and took off. Greg made a mental note of the license plate, though he was sure it was a waste of time. The car was probably stolen or would end up being dumped within the hour.
Greg stood up, wincing at the pain in his ribs. They didn’t feel broken, but they were defiantly bruised. He walked over to the woman who had captivated him and held out his hand. “Are you alright?” Aleksei had called her Silver, though he doubted that was her real name.
Silver looked up at him, those green eyes bright and vibrant. They widened when she recognized him. “You…” She took his proffered hand and stood. Her knees were scuffed and her hair in disarray, but otherwise she appeared unharmed.
“Me.”
“Did you get lost again, soldier?” She dusted herself off, though she looked pretty well put together having just come from a scuffle.
“No, I think I wound up in the right place.” He smiled at her teasing tone despite the danger she had just been in. This woman went from zero to sixty in a second.
“Good thing too.” She ran her fingers through her hair to straighten it back out.
“I take it those weren’t friends of yours?” Greg knew they weren’t, but he was hoping she might shed light on who they were and how they would know she would be outside.
“Definitely not. My boss has made many enemies; every once and a while, one thinks it’s a good idea to kidnap someone from his employ and ransom them back.”
He was sure there was more to it than that, but Greg didn’t press.
“You need to be more careful. Maybe learn some defense.”
“You’re not going to suggest I need a big strong man to keep me safe?” The way she said it made Greg think she had been told this more than once.
