Fear shot icy-hot through Maddie’s veins when she heard more gunshots over the comm. She instinctively felt for the small Templar-cross pendant she normally wore around her neck, which was now tucked into the pocket of her shorts. Finding it still safely where she’d hidden it while changing into the uniform, she felt her fear subside ever so slightly.
But then another burst of gunfire erupted. Then silence. Complete silence.
Her fear for Jack’s safety rushing to the surface once more, she grabbed her Glock from beneath the stack of towels where it was hidden on the housekeeping cart and quickened her pace toward Ralston’s hotel room. “Jack? Do you copy?”
Nothing.
“Anybody have eyes on Jack?” she called out.
“Negative,” Ian replied. “He’s not in the alley. Stand by.” Maddie squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and blew out a harsh sigh, struggling to tamp down her dread and keep her attention focused on apprehending Ralston.
She tried to tell herself that she’d be just as worried about any of the other guys in the Alliance if they weren’t responding, but she knew it was a lie. Jack was far more than just a colleague and friend—at least, he’d been far more to her for a time.
She gave herself a quick mental shake and forced her thoughts to focus on her redefined objective—apprehending Tad Ralston and bringing him in for questioning. After all, hadn’t she just jumped Jack’s case about him being overprotective of her? He’d been doing this one hell of a lot longer than she had. He would be okay. He had to be.
Maddie left her supply cart parked a few doors down and crept toward Ralston’s room, her weapon held down at her side near her thigh, keeping it hidden from sight as much as possible in case anyone was to suddenly step into the hallway.
Another wave of dread washed over her when she reached Ralston’s door, which stood slightly ajar. She darted past the opening to the other side of the doorway and peered into the room, taking in what she could in a glance. Not seeing anyone, she pressed her palm against the wood and slowly swung the door open, her gun raised as she swept inside, quickly clearing the room of any threats.
The place had been tossed, Ralston’s clothes scattered on the bed and floor. The drawers to the dresser and nightstand stood open, their contents emptied in a hurry. She made her way through the debris toward the bathroom, careful not to step on anything and disturb the scene—habit from her days in the FBI.
When she entered the small bathroom she encountered more of the same—toiletry items scattered and broken, the overwhelming odor of spilled aftershave burning her nose. But there was no sign of Ralston or whoever it was who’d torn his room apart.
She cursed under her breath and wiped the perspiration from her forehead with the heel of her palm. The heat in the tiny bathroom was stifling, and the stench of Ralston’s aftershave was making her stomach roll.
“Ralston’s not here,” she whispered as she came back into the bedroom. “I’m just going to—”
Her words died on a gasp as a figure in rumpled khakis and a sweat-soaked button-down suddenly appeared in the open doorway. She brought her gun up and the man’s eyes went wide with fear behind his round spectacles before he bolted.
“Stop!” she barked, racing after him. “Ralston!”
He threw open the door to the stairs and dashed into the stairwell. Maddie was right on his heels, sprinting down the steps and closing the distance between them. “Ralston!”
He sent a panicked glance at her, then slammed open the door that exited to the outside.
“No!” she cried. “Don’t—”
The loud crack of a gun cut across her words and Ralston fell back into the stairwell, blood spreading across his shoulder.
Maddie fired off a round as Ralston’s assailant pulled open the door and stepped inside to finish him off. The assailant flinched as her bullet nailed him in the side. He spun around to return fire but Maddie was quicker, nailing him twice in the chest. He hit the wall and slid down to the ground next to Ralston, who was alternately whimpering and groaning in fear and pain.
She bent and grabbed Ralston’s good arm, helping him to his feet. “C’mon,” she ordered, draping his arm across her shoulders. “We’ve got to get you outta here.”
“They won’t let me live,” he blubbered. “It’s over.”
“What’s over?” she huffed. The guy was a hell of a lot heavier than he looked. “Who wants to kill you—cartel or Illuminati?”
Ralston sent a startled glance her way. “How’d you . . . ?” Then his expression went slack as he realized the truth. “You’re Alliance. But . . . you’re awoman.”
“Yep,” she said, pushing open the door and helping Ralston into the alley. She tapped her comm. “I have Ralston, but he’s hit. I need an evac from the alley on the west side of the hotelnow.”
“Uh, that’s a negative on the evac,” Ian replied, the sound of gunfire in the background. “I’ve got cartel on my ass—had to draw them away from Jack where he was pinned down with that Illuminati asshole. I’ll meet up with you guys at the rendezvous point.”
Luke joined in. “I’m on my way, Maddie.” His voice was uneven, as if he had already abandoned his position and was on the move, the rhythmic pounding in the background telling her he was even now racing down the stairs of the building across the street. “Be there in two minutes.”
“Better make it one, Luke.” She then cursed under her breath and sent a sidelong glance toward Ralston, who was growing increasingly pale. “What the hell did youdo? I thought you were supposed to be setting up a deal with the cartel.”
He shook his head a little. “I was. But it went to hell. We were in the meeting . . . and someone opened fire. Killed Escobar and his men. They must think it was me.”
