“ETA, nine minutes.”
“I know what’s going through your head, bro. You can do this. Take your time moving into the building. I’ll let you know if Ryan dials any numbers. In the meantime, we’ll try to lock onto the GPS of that cell phone and block it.” Jason paused. “The team has moved into place, and SWAT is working through the buildings that have a view of the chamber. Your only concern is Lexie. Focus on her.”
Mac shut off his phone and placed it inside his coat pocket. He stood, slouching his shoulders and spine. He leaned his weight on the cane and slogged his way toward the entrance.
The moment he stepped into the cool ground floor, he couldn’t help glancing up at the rotunda as he banked down the urge to sprint up the stairs into the Senate Chamber. He eased into the rear of a tour in progress and made his way up the stairs. Once on the second floor, he circled around the gallery, paying attention to the portraits of governors that hung on the wall. He peered over the banister and scanned the crowd.
He eased away from the group and turned his face into his sport coat as he studied a painting. “I don’t see any signs of Ryan or his men. If they are here, they have blended into the woodwork”
“You’re not exactly sporting the FBI look yourself. Give it another glance before you head toward the chamber. The visitors are light today, but we still have potential civilian casualties and hostages.”
The stakes were impossible. With the Senate Chamber roped off, that should help corral the visitors to the left side of the building.
“Give me a rundown of what’s behind the door.”
“You have a man at each entrance. Next to Lexie, there are two other men, one working the camera. Lexie and Ramirez were both tied to the chair, but one of Ryan’s goons just cut Ramirez loose. Ryan must not want the voters to see their senator tied up like a fucking turkey. Damn brave woman, your Lexie.”
That was the only thing keeping Mac going. Then Jason’s voice hitched.
“Mac, the interview just went live. Forget what I said. Get close. Ryan dialed the first digit.”
The camera light went dark and silence filled the room. The cameraman stepped away from the tripod. Lexie couldn’t prevent the chill that raced down her spine as the fourth digit of the cell phone number appeared on the screen.
Okay, Mac, anytime now would be great.
She wanted to blame Ramirez, cuss him out, break something over his big head, but she didn’t believe he was lying to Ryan.
“I answered your question,” Ramirez roared.
It never occurred to her what would happen if the senator told the truth and Ryan didn’t believe him. With each ticking second, she lost a piece of herself, and Gabriel seemed so lost to her.
“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear,” Ryan’s low, menacing voice came out loud and clear over the PA. “I expect completely truthful answers, not this crap you’re feeding me.”
“It’s not crap. Okay, I have lied before.” His stare bore into Lexie. “I kept my daughter’s identity a secret from my family, the voters―”
She let loose an angry groan from deep in her throat. I’m not your daughter. If he came up with an excuse why he deserted her, left her in the hands of her crazy-ass mother, she was going to puke all over herself. Again, she squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out the truth, and focused on Mac’s face in her mind’s eye.
Do something, Mac. Do it now.
“Even your daughter can’t stand listening to your lies.”
“I’m not lying. I gave up my daughter for this seat. Do you think I would dishonor her and my position by getting into bed with the cartel? I vowed to uphold the duties and responsibilities of this office, and I have never wavered from it. I don’t know the man in the photo, nor have I ever had dealings with his associates.” He paused and took in a deep breath. “Lexie, please look at me.”
No, hell, no!
“Had I known what your home life was really like, I would have taken you from her. She made it look like everything was well in your world. You were involved in activities, and your grades were great. I didn’t see any abuse…”
Lexie opened her eyes and gave the senator her meanest glare as she shook her head. How could anyone be so blind? And to think that her very life and Gabriel’s happiness depended on this spineless jerk. Nausea churned in her stomach and tears spilled over onto her cheeks.
“Don’t cry, please don’t cry.” Ramirez twisted his neck so he could address one of the men. “Whoever you are, I don’t care. I only care about getting my daughter out of here. Take that vest off her and I will give you anything―money, a confession… it doesn’t matter. Write out what you want me to say, and I’ll say it. Just please let Lexie go.”
“Senator Ramirez, I don’t think she believes this act any more than I do. We’re on a timetable here. The camera is back on in ten seconds. I suggest you learn quickly how to tell the truth. You have only five digits left.”
Mac pressed his back to the closed Senate Chamber doors. Time was up. “Any luck blocking that cell phone?”
“We’ve almost got it. Can you give us a couple of minutes?” Sarah asked through his earpiece.
“The drone?”
“Still working that, too. It’s five minutes out.”
His chest tightened until he couldn’t breathe. “We need to get everyone out…”
“I just gave a kid several bills to pull the fire alarm,” Jason interrupted. “If Ryan is keeping tabs, hopefully, he won’t be alarmed when a teenager does something stupid. Don’t worry about anything but Lexie.”
“I’m going in.” Mac wedged open the door, placed his cane into the threshold, gave a hard shoulder shove, and entered the room. He turned away from the men and quietly clicked it shut.
“Sir, you can’t be in here.”
The man tried to hide his weapon behind his leg. Mac tipped his fedora down over his eyes and lowered his voice. “Just ignore me, young man. I won’t be a minute.” He turned and stared at the dais as if it were the sculpture of David. “Isn’t this something?” he said, taking a couple of steps into the chamber. “I’ve wanted to visit the Senate Chamber for years. My son’s family gave me this trip.” He planted a sheepish look on his face and glanced at the senator. Three men surrounded Lexie, hiding her from his view.
“Is that Senator Ramirez? I don’t mean to break up his interview, but I would love to meet him.” Mac raised his voice so it carried across the room. The only person who didn’t turn toward him was Lexie.
The man reached for his elbow. “Sorry, you have to leave. This is a closed interview.”
His next move Mac had seen his grandfather do more times than he could count. He shrugged the man’s hand off his arm and stepped around him as if he had every right to be there. He approached the banister. “Senator Ramirez, I sure would like to shake your hand.”
Lexie’s shoulders loosened, and she tilted her head slightly. There wasn’t anything Mac could do, but just being close eased his fear.
Senator Ramirez called out to him, somehow keeping the terror from his voice. “Sir, this isn’t a good time. If you make an appointment with my office, I would be happy to see you sometime tomorrow.”
“I understand. Just in for the day. It’s mighty nice to see you in person, especially after that nasty business at your home. Glad to see you up and about.”
Mac straightened away from the banister and slowly made his way to the rear of the chamber. He relaxed his movements as he glanced at the balcony and then at the number of paintings on the walls. The tension in the room made his heart pound like a bass drum, but from outward appearances, he was just an old man taking a last look around.
Ryan’s man, shadowing his every step, charged around him and held the door open wide. Mac gave him a grin and repositioned his hat. He turned to the senator and waved. “Have a good day, Senator. It’s been a pleasure.”
“Mac, the cameras outside the chamber doors are down and the team is in place,” Jason’s voice pi
ped into his ear.
Mac covered his mouth with his hand and coughed out, “Pull the fucking alarm.”
Twenty-Six
He came! Of course, he came for her.
Lexie didn’t dare glance toward his direction but allowed his deep baritone voice to soothe her heart momentarily until her mind screamed, Get out, God, please get out!
He was in the wrong place. Even if Mac somehow fought his way through the men surrounding her and Ramirez, nothing could stop Ryan from entering the last five digits.
She had never allowed herself to lose hope in all those years living with her mother, nor during the mourning period after Rico died. Her life would get better because she would make it better.
This day was a new low for her. Hope of getting out alive hung by a thin thread. But that thread strengthened the instant Mac’s voice sounded in the room. She focused on his essence and prayed. There were so many things left unsaid. She should have told him what he meant to her this morning, or last night, last month, last year. Why was she so afraid of falling in love again?
The pain in her life had never been because of too much love. Her mother never loved anyone in her life but herself. The man in front of her had a great capacity to love. Daniel Ramirez just chose not to love her. Rico loved her in his own way, but she wasn’t first in his life, and never would have been.
But the moment Lexie held Gabriel in her arms, she finally understood the meaning of unconditional love. That tiny infant changed how she viewed the world―and Mac was a threat to that world. He had the capacity to hurt her so deeply, she would never recover. So, she closed her heart to protect her son.
She was a fool and almost allowed the love of her life to walk away from her and Gabriel. Why did it take this moment to realize that, instead of worrying about Mac breaking her heart, she should have pulled him in close and held on for dear life?
She raised her head and stared at Ramirez. Fear lived in every feature as he looked past her. It didn’t matter at that point how horrible a father he was to her; she believed him. Ramirez wasn’t responsible for smuggling terrorists into the United States. But whether he was being set up, or just in the wrong place at the wrong time when that photo was taken, Ryan would never believe him.
The further Mac moved into the chamber, the tighter the men closed in around her. The slightest provocation would set them off. Mac was too good of an agent to attempt a rescue like this without backup. And knowing a little of his team, they knew exactly what was at stake.
She calculated the weight of the explosives and the impact that much C-4 would make on the building if Ryan set it in motion. The circuit connecting the cell phone to the detonator wasn’t child’s play either. She needed a miracle.
Glancing down at the small screen on the cell phone, her lungs relaxed. Thank God! Still only five numbers.
Time to get out, Mac. Go!
Ramirez shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. “Lexie…”
She shook her head. There wasn’t a damn thing he could say to her that would make any of this better.
His eyes also filled with unshed tears. It wasn’t hard to decipher the heartache from what might never be said. He may have not wanted her, but he sure the hell didn’t want this to happen to her. Ramirez would never ask for it, but he needed her forgiveness.
The intense anger that filled Lexie just moments before drained. Forgiveness. Her life may be too short to hold back something so easily granted. She tilted her head and nodded. You didn’t want this for me.
Their gazes held, and a temporary, unspoken truce formed between them.
A blaring alarm sounded and Lexie’s heart skipped a beat. Ryan’s voice was silent. Mac’s team must have pulled the fire alarm. Good, that would at least get the tourists and staff out of the building.
Three soldiers circled her, placing their backs to her. The weapons they’d hid behind them when Mac entered the chamber were drawn, ready to fire.
The man with Mac ordered him out the door. There had to be something she could do. Again, she yanked at her bindings as nerve-wracking energy pumped through her veins.
After several moments, the ear-piercing alarm shut off and loud grunts filled the room. Mac!
She twisted her head, but Ryan’s men blocked her view. Hell, if this was it, she sure would not sit like a wimp and wait to die. Lexie couldn’t stand, but she could rock back and forth, and hopefully knock one goon off balance.
Kicking off with the tips of her toes, she rocked to one side. Using her body, she swayed to the other side, knocking into a hard hipbone. The man lost his balance and stumbled into his partner as all hell broke loose around her.
A gun fired from behind her. The man working the camera dropped to the floor, blood seeping through a wound in his chest. The door in the chamber's front slammed open against the wall. Jason and several agents stormed into the room. Ramirez leaped from his chair and raced toward her, sending them both to the floor. Lexie tucked her head to her chest as a muffled scream burned her throat. He then shielded her body with his.
Was the guy crazy? Lexie screamed in her head for Ramirez to get out of there.
And where the hell did Ryan disappear to? With her head still tucked to her chest, the green glow of the cell phone screen peered at her like a serpent. Five numbers. Why didn’t he ignite the explosives?
Ramirez grabbed at the knot at her front. He was working so frantically, he was getting nowhere fast. She tried to speak, but again only mumbled sounds came through.
Lexie had been so focused on Ramirez, she sucked in a breath when Mac’s head came into view.
“This is getting old,” he said, and righted the chair. “If you keep this up, I’m going to be an old man before we even have our first child.”
She shook her head back and forth. What was wrong with these people? Didn’t they get that there was a damn bomb on her chest?
“Yeah, that’s not happening. I’m not leaving you, sweetheart.” He took his thumb and forefinger and eased the corner of the duct tape gently off her skin. When he pulled, it still hurt like hell, but she didn’t care.
“Ryan can dial the number on the vest…”
Mac lowered his mouth to hers, giving her a scorching kiss. “No, he can’t. We jammed the signal, but he is probably searching for another network. We need to get this off you.”
“Of course. I’m the worst engineer alive. Being a super FBI agent-in-charge, it’s perfectly legal for you to disrupt cellular signals. I should have thought of that.”
He cupped her face and brought his lips down on hers, again. “Lexie Trevena, you are one gutsy lady.”
“McNeil, remove that damn vest and then kiss me silly.”
Several men with thick, padded gear approached her. “Agent McNeil, get the senator out of here.”
“No. I’m staying.” Ramirez said. “That’s my daughter.”
“Sir…”
“Don’t waste time arguing with me. Get her out of the vest before that madman finds a way around your jammer.”
“I’m not leaving her either.” Mac pulled off the fake facial hair and wig.
“You’re both idiots,” Lexie said.
“Mrs. Trevena, if you can sit really still, I need to look at the wires,” a man in a blast suit said.
“The vest is like a straitjacket. It’s just tied on. As for the circuit, it’s pretty complicated.”
“Then let’s get the vest off you.”
He cut through the tape holding her to the chair. With the same precision, he cut through the knots, easing the vest away from her. As soon as it was free, he gently placed it in a containment vessel and headed toward the door.
Mac lifted her into his arms, holding her so tight, she couldn’t catch a breath. Placing his arm under her legs, he cradled her against his chest. “Tell me you’re okay.”
She let out a pent-up breath. “Much better now. And you?” she said, wiping a hint of a tear from the side of his face.
Mac�
�s lips again took hers, and this kiss was him claiming her, placing his mark on her soul. She belonged to him.
Lexie cupped her hands around his neck, and accepting the condition he set, kissed him back, sending him her own claim. She loved this man. Fate had given her another chance, and this time, she would not let Mac go, ever.
Mac broke the kiss and with one hard, crushing hug, headed toward the door just as Jason entered.
“The drone?” Mac’s voice was harsh, demanding.
“Ours. Sarah did it. All that is left is Ryan.” He approached Ramirez. “Sir, if you will come with me.”
Her father blocked Mac’s exit. “I would like to have a minute with my daughter.”
Mac moved around him. “Senator, you have had twenty-four years. You’re going to have to wait your turn.” He nudged his brother, who gave him a wide smile and strolled out of the room. Once downstairs in the rotunda, he glanced at Lexie.
“Was I wrong?”
Lexie cupped his neck and pulled his mouth onto hers for a quick kiss. “I don’t believe he’s responsible for what Ryan accused him of, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready for a loving family reunion. I may never be ready, Mac.”
Her voice cracked, but for the first time, she didn’t care. She wanted Mac to be part of her life, the good and the bad. This day was definitely going on the books as a bad day.
“When you’re ready, I’ll be right by your side. If that day never comes, I’ll support that, too.”
Lexie couldn’t help cradling deeper in his arms. “I need to say things… you need to know…”
Mac stopped in the center of the rotunda and cut her off with another kiss. When he finally broke free, his eyes filled with tears. “I can feel you, Lexie. I want the words.” He scanned the surrounding area. “But I’ve been waiting too long to hear them here.”
In the Shadow of Pride Book 4 Page 17
