Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
“I’m going to step out the back door and get into my car. I think I’ll keep my nice shield for now,” de Vries replied.
Brody took off running, his hand on his comm. “Keep him talking, Li. I’m going around.”
Li wouldn’t be able to reply over the line, but Brody was sure he’d heard.
“I’m on my way,” Taggart said over the line. “Someone get outside in case he takes the doc out of the building.”
Brody couldn’t think of anything but getting to her. He ran down the way he’d come, sprinting past Alfi and Tucker. He hit the open floor, barely registering the fact that there were bodies on there. He caught a glimpse of Fedor and his men, all of them having given up their guns, while Case and Theo were ensuring the living Belgians were all zip tied and behaving.
Brody followed the blue line. They’d been in hiding for hours, going still and silent while the Ukrainians were occupied and staying in place. Perfectly silent and hidden for three hours before de Vries had shown up. While he’d waited, he’d found a map and studied that sucker. The blue line led to the loading dock at the back of the building. That was where de Vries would take her.
Brody rounded the last row. He could hear the sound of feet pounding behind him, but he doubted de Vries would hear it over the rock and roll. Another of Big Tag’s little touches. That was the big boss. The things he did seemed arrogant, but they almost always served a purpose in the end.
Of course, he also had been trying to cover the sound of gunfire so the Agency didn’t have to deal with the local cops.
It didn’t matter why he’d thought of it. All that mattered was getting to Steph and saving her.
Again. For the last time.
“He’s almost to the door.” Li’s voice came over the comm.
“Brody, you need to flank him,” Taggart said.
And then he came into view. De Vries was dragging Steph along, her petite body held against his beefy one. Brody could see how his arm snaked around her waist right under her breasts, holding her so tight he couldn’t see how she was breathing. Her feet were dangling and he could see the way she struggled against de Vries.
“Stop.” Brody roared the command over the music that had covered his footsteps.
“Alex, cut the music,” Taggart was saying behind him. “We’re going to need to negotiate. And get Ezra on the goddamn line. He’s late.”
De Vries stopped as the music died and the whole building suddenly went quiet.
“Let the girl go.” Brody tried to get a decent shot, but de Vries was holding her over his chest, protecting his neck with her head. He might be able to get a head shot, but if he was off even a few centimeters, he could kill the mother of his child.
“Somehow, I don’t think this is going to happen, my friend. If you think for a second that I believe you’re turning me over to the Agency, you’re insane. Or if you are and they’ve got that psycho on the payroll, well, I’d rather die than be at Dr. Razor’s tender mercies.”
“He’s not who you think he is,” Brody said tightly. If de Vries would move a centimeter back…
“I know that man. I’ve seen what he can do,” de Vries promised. “And I won’t allow you to turn me over to him. Or his lover.”
“Hope McDonald is dead,” Taggart explained in a steady tone. “And the man you know as Razor isn’t the same man you met before. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I give you my word. I’m turning you over to the Agency. I won’t say Mr. White won’t hurt you a little, but he’s not a psychopath. You’ll be able to cut a deal with him. Let the doctor go and we’ll sit down and talk.”
“No one sits down and talks with that psycho.” De Vries’s eyes flicked between Brody and O’Donnell. “Now move away or I’ll kill her. I swear I will do it. I’ll take her down with me.”
“Brody, please.” Steph turned her face toward him, her eyes desperate.
Please what? Please let her go? Please save her? How could he ever know with her?
It didn’t matter. He had to save her.
“Take the shot if you have it,” Li growled.
De Vries turned and there it was. One shot. One second of opportunity before he lost it again.
Brody breathed out, seeing the place he wanted to hit—a small patch of skin above the mercenary’s ear. The bullet would go to his brain, shutting down everything before de Vries could make another move.
He pulled the trigger.
Please. Please. Please.
De Vries’s head jerked to the side and Steph was suddenly free.
She was alive. De Vries was dead, but Steph was alive.