Page 88 of High-Priority Asset

The L was illuminated. It was in the lobby and she was on the sixth floor. She hit it again and again, knowing it wouldn’t make the elevator arrive any faster, but what choice did she have?

Number two lit up. Then three.

At the far end of the hall, the door opened to the stairwell.

Even though she already knew it was him, she pivoted to see Chad.

Isabel slapped the button repeatedly. The car was at the fourth floor.

Growling like a wild animal, Chad bulldozed down the hall with the hunting knife raised in his hand, his face taut with blind rage. The fury pumping through him was terrifying.

If he reached her, got his hands on her, he’d kill her.

Dear God, help me! He was almost to her.

Panic exploded in her chest. She hit the button again, cursing and screaming.

A chime sounded, and the elevator doors opened. Isabel stumbled inside and landed against a wall of solid muscle.

“Isabel!” Dutch’s face was ashen and bruised as he held her closer. He glanced up, drew his weapon and put her behind him. “Stop! Or I’ll shoot,” he warned.

But Chad kept charging, yelling obscenities, shouting hateful, violent things.

A shot rang out. The force of the bullet stopped Chad and made him stumble. Blood poured down his body from the chest wound.

Was it over? Would he just die already and let this nightmare end?

Chad lumbered forward a few quick steps, raising the knife again.

As if reading her mind, Dutch stepped out of the elevator, and fired once more. The second bullet to the head flung Chad backward to the floor.

He lay in the hall, still, his eyes open and unmoving.

The demon was dead.

Dutch turned, wrapping her in his arms.

She fell against him, collapsing in the safety of his heat and strength. It was all she could do not to break down. Relief cascaded through her as she clung to him. “Oh, Dutch.”

A few guests opened their doors and peeked out. Others left their rooms, gathering in the hallway.

“Are you okay?” His arms tightened around her.

“I will be.” Now that he was there.

“God, I’m sorry it took me so long.”

She buried her face in his chest, took in his scent, relieved, comforted. Safe. “You were right on time.”

Epilogue

Magical. Sitting beside Dutch in front of their campfire, Isabel stared up at the majestic aurora borealis. Green ribbons of light tinged pink danced high in the sky. Pure, vibrant waves of energy. It was wondrous.

The US Marshals Service had flown them on a military plane to Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska. Arrangements had been made for them to embark on the last camping tour of the season to Chena Hot Springs to catch the northern lights.

Conditions had to be optimal for them to see it. The night as dark as possible, little to no cloud cover and there had to be enough solar activity. Those elements had converged perfectly, gifting them with this.

Sort of like her relationship with Dutch. It boggled her mind to think of all the factors that had to sync up at the right time, in the right way, to bring them together.