Elle’s heart thumped loudly. “Two?”
“Don’t worry, sugar. She’s tucked safely away. Like a bug in a rug. Although, she’d probably prefer I get back to her sooner, rather than later.”
She couldn’t tell if he was being serious. “You’re holding another woman hostage?”
“Well when you say it like that, it sounds much worse than it actually is. Like I said, your friend’s just fine, for now. Although, I gotta tell ya. That tiny little thing’s a giant ball of fire when she gets mad. Must be the red hair.”
“My friend?” Ellena’s blood turned cold. Her eyes flew to Gabe’s. “Jenna?”
Gabe started for his pistol, but once again, Ryker intervened.
“Goddamnit, Adrian.” The man glared back at Walker. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? And put the fucking gun away, Dawson. The Shaw woman is fine.”
The Shaw woman.Theyweretalking about Jenna.
“Where is she?” Ellena demanded to know. “Why did you even involve her in any of this?”
“Same reason I aimed for the computer instead of your pretty little head,” Walker answered casually. “To buy you some much-needed time.”
It took a second for his words to resonate. “You were the one who shot me?”
“No. I shot yourcomputer.” Walker held up his bloody hand to stave off Gabe’s impending attack. “Relax. It was a small round, and I knew the laptop would act as a vest.”
“You knew?” Gabe growled. “How the hell could you possibly know that?”
“It’s called the internet, Dawson. You should try it sometime. Can learn about all kinds of shit on there, these days.”
“Jesus Christ.” Gabe ran a hand over his face. “If that bullet had hit even a centimeter higher…”
“I hit what I aim for, Gabriel.” Walker smirked. “And I don’t miss. Just ask your teammates. What are their names? Oh, yeah. Carter and King.”
Gabedidpull his gun, then. “Get the fuck out of my way, Ryker.” He shoved the other man to the side. “I’m done playing games with this asshole.”
“Gabe, no!” Ellena’s heart leapt into her throat as she tried grabbing for his arm.
At the same time, Agent Ryker fisted the front of the red apron, using both hands to push Gabe back.
“Stand down, Dawson!” Ryker yelled. “You shoot him, you’ll be charged with murdering a United States Federal law enforcement official.”
Ellena could actually see Gabe’s muscles go into lockdown as awhat-the-fuckexpression quickly spread across his face.
The cabin fell eerily silent. It stayed that way for several seconds.
“You’d better start talking, Jason.” He pinned the Homeland agent down with his stare. “Right the fuck now.”
Chapter 15
“Where’s Jenna?”
Gabe looked down at his shaken wife, hating the trembling in her voice. Standing behind where she was sitting on the couch, he placed his hands on her shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze.
Directly across the room from him stood Ryker. The man Gabe and his team—the manbothR.I.S.C. teams—had trusted with their lives. On more than one occasion.
Jason Ryker was someone Gabe had begun to think of as more than their Homeland handler. He’d considered him a friend. But now...
I don’t even know who the fuck he is anymore.
“She’s fine,” Ryker assured her. “Scared but fine.”
