Page 74 of Red Dragon’s Heart

She put her hand over his. He knew she didn’t believe in the spirit world—not really—but a few weeks ago she hadn’t believed in magic, either. If the time ever came, she would open her mind the way she’d opened her heart.

But her answer was all Maddie—the woman he loved. “Let’s not do that,” she said. “Let’s save everybody.”

He kissed the top of her head again. “I’m in.”

To Maddie it seemed like forever, and also no time at all, until they were driving up the long graveled driveway to the gates of Eric’s estate.

It was late afternoon, the sun sinking down into the west with a beautiful golden light. She and Zak were in a security SUV, heavily armored, with Mikah driving. He’d muttered something about always being the one driving when they were heading into a trap, but she knew he’d insisted on being the one who did it.

Two other armored SUVs traveled behind them. Maddie knew there were also cloaked dragons in the sky. They should have made her feel safe, but she knew that Eric would know they’d be there, and have defenses in place. He’d said so.

She prayed fervently that no one would get killed because of her.

She was still a bit stunned by the outpouring of support from the Al-Maddeiri clan and their allies. They’d geared up and called out the troops like it was one of their own who’d been captured. She knew that Zak was one of their own, but she definitely wasn’t. There was no reason for them to risk their lives for her and Troy.

She was ashamed that she’d ever thought of them as soulless, inhuman creatures. They were selfless and loyal in a way she’d never seen before.

They finally reached the estate gatehouse. It was stone, built into the high wall that surrounded the estate, topped by lights, cameras, and barbed wire.

The gates were heavy steel. They opened slowly inward. No one came out of the gatehouse.

Mikah knew what to do. He drove slowly in between the gates. Maddie leaned forward, looking for Troy.

The house wasn’t visible from here—the driveway curved and continued almost another quarter-mile. But parked down the driveway just before the curve was a black van, with one of Eric’s security guards standing next to it.

She caught her breath. Had Eric really brought Troy to the rendezvous? Was he going to keep his word?

They were supposed to drive through the gates and into the small parking area the gate guards used, but Mikah, following the plan, stopped with the back half of the SUV still between the gates, so they couldn’t be closed.

Zak turned to Maddie and squeezed her hand. “You ready?”

She took a deep breath. “No. But we have to go, so…”

He nodded, and they opened the doors and stepped out, Maddie carrying a case with the Belvedere hard drives in it.

They were supposed to do it just like in the movies. They’d get out of the SUV, and Troy would get out of Eric’s vehicle.

They’d walk toward each other, passing in the middle. Maddie and Zak would go to Eric, and Troy would go to Mikah.

When Eric had Maddie and Zak secure and had verified the data, Troy would supposedly be allowed to leave with the Al-Maddeiri dragons.

Once Troy was safely away, the dragons would come back for her and Zak. Assuming Eric kept his word and let Troy go, which he almost certainly wouldn’t.

And even if he did, there were still a thousand things that could go wrong.

It started out fine.

As Zak and Maddie walked away from the SUV, the back of the van opened, and two security guards pulled Troy out. He was standing on his own, and he didn’t look hurt. Maddie breathed a sigh of relief.

Eric emerged from the passenger side of the van. He was impeccable as usual, dressed in an expensive business suit, with every hair in place.

Maddie wanted to claw his eyes out.

Eric called out, “I kept my side of the bargain. I brought your brother. Did you keep yours?”

“I have the data,” Maddie called. “But you haven’t kept your side of the bargain until Troy is free.”

“Walk forward,” Eric said.