by Susan Stoker
“Hey, man.” He went straight up to Trevor and half-hugged him. “We were just gettin’ ready to leave the house to come here for dinner when Jake called.”
Derek’s southern accent was thicker than normal, which told Trevor the guy was as pissed—and worried—as he was.
“Good thing you made reservations for later in the evening, or you’d be in there, too.” Eric commented to his brother.
“Trust me.” Derek pulled Charlie a little closer. “I’ve already thought of that.”
Like Trevor, there was nothing more important to Derek than keeping the woman he loved safe.
“The others coming?” Trevor asked despite already knowing the answer.
His team had his back. Always.
Derek nodded. “Jake and Liv were stayin’ at some swanky hotel in Houston, but they’re headed this way. So is Mike. He said he’d get ahold of Coop and Mac, and I left a message for Grant. Everyone should be here soon.”
“Thanks, D.” Trevor slapped the guy’s back. “Appreciate it.”
“What about Lexi?” A very worried Charlie looked to Trevor. “Have you talked to her? Is she okay?”
Trevor shook his head. “I’ve tried calling a bunch of times, but it keeps getting sent to voicemail.”
Charlie crossed her arms in front of her chest as if to hug herself. Trevor knew she was scared for Lexi. They all were.
His wife was close to the whole Alpha Team family, but Lexi and Charlie had a special bond. One that formed the moment Derek had introduced them. The two met, and they’d been best friends ever since.
“Like Riley said.” Eric spoke up again. “We’re doing everything we can to get Lex and the others out safely.”
Trevor’s angered gaze shifted to Derek’s. “And by everything, your brother means we’re out here while my wife is in there, being held at fucking gunpoint.”
“Have there been any demands?”
“None.” Trevor shook his head. “Cops tried calling the landline inside, but the assholes refused to pick up.”
His fists tightened at his sides, and anger stirred to the point he wanted to punch someone. Better yet, he wanted to shoot someone.
The longer they waited to take action, the longer Lexi was at risk of being hurt. Or worse.
Don’t go there, man. You’ve got to stay positive. For her.
“What’s the plan, Eric?” Derek turned to his brother, his voice low and controlled. Like Trevor, he was in total operator mode.
Eric looked at his watch. “We give them five more minutes to make contact, and then—”
Trevor started to erupt, but Eric raised a hand and stopped him.
“And then”—the detective continued—“we send SWAT in to smoke them out.”
“Smoke them out?” Charlie frowned. “What does that mean?”
Derek took his wife’s hand. “It means they’ll shoot cans of tear gas through the windows before breachin’ the structure.”
“Tear gas?” She blinked. “Will that hurt the baby?”
The men all shared a confused look.
“Baby?” Eric turned to her. “There’s a kid inside? I thought the place was full of couples celebrating Valentine’s Day.”
Charlie’s eyes widened slightly. Her face filled with an embarrassing blush as she began stumbling over her words. “No! I mean, uh…I-I don’t know. I just meant that if there was a baby…or…a pregnant woman inside…would tear gas be harmful to them?”
Trevor studied his wife’s friend closely. She was suddenly making eye contact with everyone but him, which was odd, but he was too focused on Lexi to worry about it.
“CS is the most commonly used component,” he quickly explained. “The gas causes watery eyes, a runny nose, coughing…that sort of thing. But unless someone is exposed to it for a prolonged period of time, the effects are usually harmless and clear up within half an hour or so.”
“Oh.” Charlie smiled. “Good.” Then the strange-acting woman pulled on her husband’s hand and said, “Can I talk to you for a second?”
As the two moved a few feet away for their intense-looking conversation, a twenty-something cop approached Eric and Riley.
“Sorry to interrupt, Detectives, but I have some information I thought you’d want to know.”
Riley nodded. “What it is, Officer Wilmes?”
“We just got word from a resident living nearby that a gunshot was fired at this location. It was reported a few minutes before we arrived on the scene.”
“Gunshot?” Trevor’s heart flew into his throat. Without warning, the image of Lexi bleeding out flashed through his mind. Oh, Jesus. He looked at Eric. “We have to get inside.”
Eric thanked the officer, who took his cue and left. Running a hand through his already mussed hair, he said, “Look, Trev. I understand how you feel, but we still can’t—”
“No.” Trevor’s voice lowered. “You don’t.” With a deadly calm, he got right into the other man’s face. “Until it’s your woman in there…one you’d die for…one you can’t imagine living a single day without…” His voice cracked, and he had to clear his throat before continuing on. “Until that day comes, you can’t even begin to know what I’m fucking feeling.”
In an almost indiscernible move, Eric’s gaze slid toward Riley. For a split second, Trevor could’ve sworn he saw a familiar emotion there—the same one a man had when he looked at the woman he loved.
But then Eric blinked, and it was gone.
“I didn’t mean—” Eric started to explain, but Riley put a hand on his shoulder and gently pulled him back.
“Let’s all take a deep breath,” she suggested just as Trevor’s phone began to ring.
He pulled it from his pocket, the air in his lungs freezing when he saw the screen.
“It’s Lexi!” he practically shouted, holding it up for the others to see. “It’s her!”
“Wait!” Eric stopped him from tapping the screen. “Don’t answer it yet.” Moving at warp speed, he opened a recording app on his own phone. “Okay. Put it on speaker.”
“Lexi?” Trevor answered, not bothering to hide his concern. “Baby, are you okay?”
But the gravelly voice that came on the line wasn’t hers. “Ah, ain’t that sweet?”
Raw anger shot through him. “Let me talk to my wife.”
“You don’t give the orders here, pal,” the asshole responded. “That would be me.”
“And you would be?”
“Don’t worry about my fucking name, dipshit. You just do as you’re told, and we’ll all be on our merry way.”
Trevor ground his teeth together. He and his team had witnessed this game a hundred times. They’d go back and forth with demands and denials until either the hostage takers got tired and gave up, or the cops decided to go in.
In the meantime, he and the others had no choice but to play nicey-nice with a bunch of thugs. Because that’s how the game is played.
Trevor hated the fucking game.
“What do you want?” he asked with a calm he most definitely did not feel.
“I want you to show me some goddamn respect.”
And I want to kill you.
He’d dealt with assholes like him before. Guys who thought everyone was out to get them. Ones who believed the world owed them some huge debt they hadn’t even come close to earning.
As much as it burned his ass, Trevor knew he’d have to stroke the guy’s ego if he wanted this thing to end peacefully.
“You’ve got it,” Trevor went along with the bullshit while the others hovered quietly around the outstretched phone. “What else?”
“We have a list of demands. I know what you do for a living, Trevor, so don’t bother trying to bullshit me on this. I want everything on the list ready to go within the hour, or we start shooting the hostages. Starting with your pretty little wife.”
I’m going to kill you.
“I’ll pull whatever strings I have to in order to help you out,” Trevor assure
d him. “But I need something from you, first.”
It didn’t matter what these assholes wanted. If it meant having Lexi back in his arms, Trevor would make damn sure they got it. And then he was going to end them.
“Yeah?” The arrogant prick asked. “What’s that?”
“I need to talk to Lexi. Make sure she’s all right.”
The pause that followed nearly drove Trevor mad. But then…
“Trev?”
“Lex?” He blew out a breath, nearly falling to his knees with relief. “Oh, thank God. Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
“I-I’m fine, but Trev…Kenny was shot. Left shoulder. The bullet went straight through, and the bleeding seems to be slowing down some, but he needs help. Soon.”
Damn. Kenny was a nice guy and a hard worker. He sure as shit didn’t deserve to be caught up in this mess.
No one in there did.
With his eyes bouncing between Eric and Riley, Trevor nodded. “Okay, sweetheart. I’ll work on that.”
“They want me to read the list of demands to you.” She spoke quickly. “These are things that Bryan, Shawn, and the one other guy wanted you to… Ah!”
Lexi cried out. The sound of flesh hitting flesh filled the speaker, followed by a shuffle.
“Try that shit again, bitch,” the man who’d been speaking to Trevor warned Lexi. “See what happens.”
The man went on to recite the list of demands, himself, but Trevor barely heard a word that was said.
His blood had turned to acid, the molten rage building up inside him threatening to overtake him. The bastard had hit Lexi. He knew it, and from the pissed off expressions on the others’ faces, they knew it, too.
However, thanks to the brave move his wife had taken, they now also knew that there were three guys inside. Not two, as they’d originally thought.
Don’t risk yourself anymore, baby. Please.
“That’s it.” The guy’s voice broke through Trevor’s thoughts. “Those are the demands.”
With the phone held so tightly he thought it might shatter, Trevor warned the bastard, “Touch her again, and I’ll kill you.”
The cocky fuck seemed unfazed. “Clock’s a-tickin’, Trev. Better get to working on that list.”
And then, the line went dead.
The bastard clearly didn’t take the threat to his life seriously. A mistake that would cost him dearly.
“Okay, so we’ve got a list.” Riley held up the pad of paper she’d written the demands on as the HT had recited them.
Good thing someone was listening.
“It’s not much”—she looked up at him—"But it’s a start.”
“Fuck the list.” Trevor shot her a look. “And fuck procedure. I know the building. Hell, I helped design the damn thing. There’s a secured emergency exit hatch directly above Lex’s office. I can use that to—”
“You heard what the guy said, Trev.” Riley tried calming him. “We only have an hour to meet these demands, or he’s going to kill your wife.”
“Exactly!” He urged them to listen. God, he couldn’t breathe for how terrified he was. “You two start working on the demands, and in the meantime, I have”—he glanced at Derek— “we have an hour to get inside and end this thing.”
“He’s right, Eric.” Derek gave his brother a pleading look. “We need to get Lexi out of there. Now.”
“Jesus, you two don’t listen for shit.” Eric raked his fingers through his hair. “We have the list. That means we can start negotiating. Worst case, SWAT is still on standby waiting for my order to hit them with the tear gas if they don’t—”
“Wrong.” Trevor cut him off. “Worst case, my wife gets shot because we’re too busy playing by the fucking rules!”
“This isn’t a R.I.S.C. op, Trevor!” Eric blasted back. “I have to follow proced—”
“She’s pregnant!” Charlie blurted suddenly, causing everyone in the vicinity to stop talking and stare.
Riley’s dark brows turned inward. “What?”
“Who’s pregnant?” Trevor and Eric both asked in unison.
“Lexi. She wanted it to be a surprise.” Charlie’s delicate shoulders fell. Tears filled her eyes as they rose to meet his. “She was going to tell you tonight, after she left work. But then…” Her voice cracked, and she swiped at a tear. “Damn it, I swore I wouldn’t say anything. And I wouldn’t have, but if you’re really going to toss tear gas or whatever through the windows with her inside, I thought you needed to know.”
Trevor blinked. Had he heard right? “Lexi’s…pregnant?”
Holy shit. He could barely let himself even think the word for fear he’d misunderstood.
They’d been trying for nearly a year, with no success. Every month they hoped and waited, but it hadn’t happened for them. Not yet.
Trevor wanted nothing more than to give Lex the family he knew she’d always wanted. The family they both wanted. And now…
We’re having a baby?
“It’s early yet,” Charlie explained. “She’s only about five weeks give or take. I’m sorry I blurted it out like that. I just didn’t want the cops filling the place with a bunch of chemicals without you knowing.”
Still stunned by the news, Trevor shook his head in awe. “I’m going to be a father.”
Derek grabbed his shoulder and squeezed. “That’s what Lexi was tellin’ me when she pulled me away. I didn’t say anything before, because I didn’t want to worry you even more than you already are, but…congratulations, man.”
The others around him took a moment to wish him the same, but Trevor was suddenly too busy planning to hear them.
With renewed determination rolling through him like a powerful storm, he knew exactly what he had to do.
Locking eyes with Eric, he said, “I respect you and our friendship. I also respect the position you’re in, so I won’t insult you by going behind your back.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Eric scowled.
“It means, I’m done waiting.” He slid Derek a sideways glance. “You got your tablet with you?”
“You have to ask?” The man thumbed toward the parking lot behind him. “It’s in the car.”
“Good. I need you to access the building’s security system. Be my eyes and ears while I go inside.” Trevor paused. “That is, if you’re with me on this.”
Derek looked genuinely insulted. “Hell yeah, I’m with you.”
Tipping his chin in thanks, Trevor pointed to Eric’s vest. “Mind if I borrow that?”
A moment passed between the two men, and for a second he thought the other man was going to continue standing in his way. But then Eric muttered a curse and began pulling the vest’s Velcro straps free.
“Fine, dickhead.” He removed the protective barrier. “But if there are holes in this when I get it back, I’m gonna be pissed.”
Despite the situation, Trevor felt his mouth curl into a smirk. “Ah, you do care.”
“Fuck off.” Eric smacked the vest against his chest. “And for Christ’s sake, don’t do anything stupid like get yourself killed.”
Trevor slid the weighted vest over his head and secured it in place. In the back of his mind, he thought about what he’d just learned. Part of him—a huge freaking part—wanted to jump up and cheer at the news that he and Lex were having a baby. But now wasn’t the time.
As with any op, he needed to keep his head on straight and focus on the mission. Except this wasn’t just any op. And God forbid he was wrong about this, his decision could end up costing him everything.
4
Lexi kept pressure on Kenny’s wound. After ending the call with Trevor, she’d finally talked Bryan into letting her come over to help by reminding him that if Kenny died during the commission of a robbery—one Bryan had admitted to planning—then all three men would be charged with murder.
He’d also ordered Shawn to join the third man in the dining area to help keep an eye on the people out front. Since that time, she an
d the others in the kitchen had just been sitting. Waiting.
Praying.
“Ah!” Kenny winced when Lexi pressed a little too hard.
“Sorry,” she apologized softly. Ignoring the blood covering her hands and the pounding in her head, she stared back at her employee and friend. “This is all my fault.”
His expression turned incredulous. “These guys are assholes, Boss. That has nothing to do with you.”
Lexi appreciated the thought, but she knew better. “You heard what he said, Kenny. The only reason they came here tonight was because he heard me on the phone with Charlie.”
He was shaking his head before she’d even finished talking. “And if they hadn’t chosen this place, it would’ve been some other business.”
Selfishly, she wished they had chosen another place to rob. Which probably made her a horrible, awful person.
At least my baby would be safe.
Regret flooded her veins as she thought of the tiny human growing inside her. The longer they were forced to sit here, the more time she’d had to think. About a million thoughts had crossed through her mind, but the one that stood out the most was that she should’ve told Trevor she was pregnant.
Despite her good intentions, Lexi was convinced that keeping the news a secret from Trevor had been a mistake.
They both understood—more than most—that life could change with a single heartbeat. Tomorrows were never a guarantee, and everyone should grasp each day and hold on tight…as if it were their last.
Normally, that’s the way she and Trev approached each day, but with news like this…damn, it, with this, she’d wanted the night to be one they’d never forget.
Careful what you wish for.
Lexi released a heavy sigh. She’d really screwed the pooch on this one, and the list of mistakes seemed endless.
Not telling her sweet husband she was expecting. Letting some random piece of garbage hear her talking about what a killing this place would make tonight. Not protecting her staff the way she should have.
“Would you stop?”
Her eyes flew up to find Kenny staring back at her. “Stop what?”
