by Rebecca Deel
“Don’t call me that.” No one had the right to call her that but Alex.
Evans just laughed. “Don’t go anywhere, sweet Ivy. The best is yet to come.” He left the room.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“Has Fortress locked on her cell?” The tires squawked as Alex swung into the parking lot of the hotel.
“Not yet. They’re still triangulating,” Josh said.
Alex and his teammates grabbed the bags, bailed from the SUV and sprinted for the stairs. The desk clerk gave them a startled look, but said nothing as they ran past her.
On the fourth floor, Josh shoved his key card into the slot and threw open the suite door. Del threw herself into his arms, sobbing. “It’s okay, baby. We’ll get her back.” He hugged her tight against his body.
Alex dropped his bag on the floor. “What happened, Stella?”
“I was in the other room with Del. We were only gone for a couple minutes. When we came back, Ivy was missing. Del went to the balcony to see if Ivy stepped out a minute for fresh air. That’s when she saw Porter with Ivy.” The marshal shoved her hand through her hair. “He had a gun shoved into her side, Alex, but she was alive and moving on her own. There’s no sign of forced entry, no sign of a struggle. I think he must have told her something to get Ivy to open the door. I’ve already contacted your friend, Clay. He issued an APB on Porter’s car. So far, no sighting.” She sighed. “I’m sorry, Alex. This is my fault.”
“No, this is on me. I promised to protect her and I let her down.”
“Your brother carries the blame,” Josh said softly. “If you let your emotions run rampant, you’ll be no good to Ivy. Get your head in the game, Lieutenant.”
Alex refused to believe his brother would hurt her. He might be a stranger, but he’d never been one to condone hurting women. Porter couldn’t have changed that much.
He shoved open the sliding doors, stepped onto the balcony. He hadn’t even told Ivy he loved her. When he got her back in his arms, Alex intended to rectify that. She didn’t have to say it back. He’d wear her down with more gifts, kisses, tenderness, flowers, anything it took to convince Ivy Monroe to marry him.
He couldn’t let himself believe anything but that he would get her back and have another chance with her. Life didn’t bear thinking about otherwise.
A pounding on the door broke into his thoughts. Clay? His heart sped up. Maybe the cops had spotted the car.
Josh looked through the peep-hole, tossed a warning glance over his shoulder. He yanked open the door and jerked Porter into the room.
In three strides, Alex had his miserable excuse for a brother slammed back against the closed door. “Where is she?”
“At a warehouse outside of town.”
“Did you hurt her?”
“What? No, of course not.”
But Porter wouldn’t look him in the eye. “What did you do?” He thumped his brother’s head against the door, hard. “What did you do?”
“I…I’m sorry. He told me he was going to let her go after he killed you. He said it was me or her.”
“Who has her, Porter?” He wanted a name, confirmation of what he already knew to be true. He wanted to hear of his brother’s treachery from his own lips.
“Neil Evans.”
“And you left her with him?” He balled his fist, slugged Porter in the jaw.
Josh and Quinn pulled him off. Alex fought to get free.
His best friend tightened his hold. “Ice it down, Lieutenant. You can beat him to a pulp after Ivy’s free. We need him to tell us exactly where the warehouse is and the layout inside.”
Breathing rough, glaring at his brother, he shook free. Made himself step back because he wanted to flatten Porter.
Josh shoved Porter toward the living room, scrounged for some paper. He thrust the paper and a pen in the man’s hands. “Draw the layout. If you miss any detail, I’ll help Alex tear you apart.”
Hand shaking, Porter wrote down the address and sketched the building. Two entrances. One office. Windows high on the wall.
“What’s inside?”
“A few boxes.”
“Trees, shrubbery?”
His brother added those around the building.
When they surrounded the warehouse, one of them could open a window, give a shooter a clear shot. Last resort, though. Ivy might move at the wrong time. He could do it, but this time Alex wouldn’t be behind the scope. No doubt in his mind, Evans intended a face-to-face confrontation with him, a confrontation he would gladly oblige him with.
“How many men are in there, Porter?” Quinn asked.
“I don’t know. I only saw Evans, but I heard others moving around in there.”
“Why didn’t you see them?” Alex asked. “You said there weren’t many boxes around.”
“It was pitch black in there.”
Josh grabbed Alex’s arms when he lunged for Porter. “No!” his friend snapped.
“You know what happened to her,” Alex said to Porter. “She’s terrified of the dark. And you just went off and left her.”
“I didn’t want to die!”
“If Evans kills her, you won’t live to see the sun come up. I promise you that.” Alex held up his hands, palms out in a signal to Josh to let go. When his friend complied, he glanced at his team. “Gear up.”
Within ten minutes, Durango was in full gear, weapons loaded and ready. After checking their comm systems, they grabbed their bags and headed for the door. Josh kissed Del, looked at Stella.
“I’ll take care of her,” the marshal said.
He turned back to his wife. “You don’t leave this room or open the door for anyone but us, baby.”
“I promise. Just bring Ivy back to me.”
“That’s the plan.”
“I want to go with you,” Porter said.
“Forget it,” Alex said flatly. “You’ve already done enough damage.”
“I want to help.”
“These guys are homegrown terrorists,” Nate said. “They’re stone cold killers. You can’t do anything but get in our way. You want to help Ivy? Go home.”
Anger flickered in Porter’s eyes.
Out of time and patience, Alex shoved his brother into the hall. The team waited until they heard the locks engage on the suite door, then headed toward the back stairwell. Just before the door shut behind them, he glanced over his shoulder. Porter stood alone in the hallway, fists clenched.
He’d deal with him before the night was over.
Throughout the drive over rain-slick roads, the team discussed various strategies, eliminated those that were too risky for Ivy. The bottom line was Alex would be in Evans’ crosshairs. “Your priority is Ivy’s safety.”
“We’ll cover her, Lieutenant, but we’ve got your back as well,” Rio said.
“He wants me dead.”
“That’s right,” Josh said. “If he takes you down, Ivy will be the next victim. We’re not letting him kill either of you.”
Alex cut the lights six blocks before the turnoff to the warehouse. He pulled off the road, parked where their vehicle wouldn’t be noticed by a passerby. Durango bailed from the SUV with their packs loaded and ready.
Grateful the lightning had stopped, Alex signaled for his teammates to use their NVGs. They spread out, coming at the warehouse from different directions as planned. The place was dark except for a dim light near the back of the building.
His heart settled a little. At least Ivy had some light. “Sit rep,” he whispered in the comm system.
“One tango on the east corner, heading toward the front,” Rio replied.
“Another on the west side, holding position,” Nate added.
“Quinn?”
“Nothing on the back.”
That left probably three inside the building with Ivy. “Disable the two outside.”
“Copy that.”
Josh crouched beside Alex. He nodded toward the tree near the building. “That’s our best vantage
point for recon.”
“Agreed. Quinn, when the two out here are down, get on that roof.”
“Copy.”
Though Alex was itching to move in and rescue Ivy, he held himself back. The more information they had, the better chance of retrieving her without injury to her or the team.
When Rio and Nate both reported their quarries were secured, Alex whispered. “Nate, set up. Quinn, go.”
A minute later, his spotter made his way silently across the nearly flat roof. After what seemed an interminable wait, Quinn whispered, “Clear.”
Alex signaled Josh. His friend sprinted to the tree, shimmied up, settled into a notch, eased the rifle off his back and started scanning the interior of the building with the scope.
Over the ear piece, Josh hissed.
“Report.”
“Give me control of the mission right now,” came the response.
Alex’s blood ran cold. “Tell me.”
“Lieutenant.”
“It’s yours, Major.”
“Ivy’s alive, but Evans roughed her up.”
His eyes closed. Oh, man. “How bad?”
“Face is bruised. Lieutenant, you hold position until I give you permission to move. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” he said between clenched teeth. “What else did he do to her?”
Josh sighed. “Alex, her shirt’s been ripped in half.”
Alex braced himself against a tree. No. Oh, please, no. He fought back the nausea boiling in his stomach. Ivy had already been through so much.
“Alex, listen to me. The sexual assault is staged.”
His breath stilled in his lungs. “Staged?”
“The rest of her clothes are intact. No other bruising but the one on her face. Your woman is fierce, Alex. If Evans had assaulted her, she would have fought him like the tiger you named her. He did not rape her. Are you hearing me?”
Alex dragged in a rough breath. “You sure?”
“Positive. Evans is trying to screw with your head. If you fall for it, you’re dead and so is Ivy. You need that sniper ice you’re so famous for.”
“Yes, sir.” Alex fought for control, compartmentalized as he’d been taught. His breathing slowed, his mind cleared. Muscle by muscle, he relaxed. “Ready,” he murmured.
“Nate,” Josh whispered. “Go.”
Seconds later, both doors blew wide open as Durango’s demolition expert worked his magic. Josh’s rifle barked. The light in the warehouse winked out, plunging the interior into darkness. Without letting himself think about Ivy in the dark, Alex ran, dived into the warehouse just as gunfire from Evans and his cronies whizzed over his head. He rolled behind a shipping crate, waited for the signal from his leader.
A scuffle in the dark. Then from Josh, “Two tangos down. Evans has Ivy in the center of the room, gun pressed to her head.”
“I know you’re in here, Morgan,” Evans called out. “I have a gun aimed at your girlfriend. You walk to me right now with your hands up, or I’ll blow a hole in her pretty head.”
“He’s mine,” Alex whispered.
“I’ll wait for your signal,” Josh replied. “Just don’t be stupid or I’ll have to bust your rank, Lieutenant.”
His lips curved. “Copy that.” To Evans, he said, “Don’t hurt her.”
“You better start walking. My gun has a hair trigger.”
Alex stood, moved toward the center of the room.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Alex raised his hands, walked slowly to within a few feet of Evans and Ivy.
“That’s far enough, Morgan.” Evans clamped his free hand around Ivy’s neck. Squeezed enough to make her gag. “Do what I told you, angel.”
Ivy coughed, wheezed, twisted the tube in her hands and tossed it on the floor.
A glow stick. Nice. Made it easier for all of them. Showed exactly where Evans and Ivy were yet kept Rio and Quinn concealed in the shadows. Though his gaze remained fixed on Evans, he spoke to Ivy. “Breathe, baby. You’re not a victim. Trust me.”
His girl didn’t say anything, couldn’t as she battled with a full-blown panic attack.
“Remember the tiger, sweetheart.”
Ivy’s hand fisted.
Good. She was still with him, still fighting. “You wanted me here, Evans. You’ve got me. Let Ivy go.”
“I don’t think so, Morgan. I have plans for pretty Ivy after you’re dead.”
In his ear, Josh murmured, “Do not react. He’s playing on your emotions. No way he’s getting out of that warehouse alive.”
“So how are we doing this?”
“Drop your gun on the ground and kick it to me.” He jammed his weapon harder against Ivy’s head.
He wouldn’t let himself react to her flinch. Ice in his veins, he reminded himself. Alex slowly pulled his weapon from the holster strapped to his thigh, placed it on the ground, kicked it over to Evans’ right side. He’d have to remove the gun from Ivy’s head if he wanted to pick it up.
“Now your backup piece.”
Another slow move to his ankle holster netted another gun. This one he slid to the left of Evans.
“Get on your knees, Morgan.”
Ivy dragged in another tortured breath. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Breathe, angel,” Alex murmured.
“Play him,” Josh whispered.
He knelt, hands behind his back. With careful movements, his right hand unsheathed the Ka-Bar secured at the back of his vest. “Guess you’re just as much of a coward as your father.”
“Shut up. He was a good man.”
Alex snorted. “Old Roger was a traitor. He was selling military secrets to terrorists.”
“He was making a living and you murdered him.”
“Yeah? Why did Uncle Sam give me a medal for taking him out?”
Evans scowled. “Tell your pretty woman goodbye, Morgan,” he snapped.
“Sweetheart?” Alex turned his gaze on the woman who held his heart, prayed she wasn’t so lost in panic she couldn’t react. “Show me what you’ve got.”
Ivy lifted her feet and dropped to the floor.
At the same time, Alex threw the Ka-Bar at Evans. The blade sunk deep into the man’s chest.
Rio dived for Ivy, rolled her away from Evans and covered her while Quinn snatched the thug’s gun from his nerveless hand.
Alex grabbed one of his weapons from the ground, gun aimed at Evans.
Quinn stripped off his glove, leaned down, pressed two fingers to the militia man’s neck. He glanced up, shook his head.
Some of the tension leached from his muscles. He retrieved his other weapon, holstered both. Alex regretted the loss of his Ka-Bar, but it would now be evidence when the police arrived. Clay would pitch a fit. His jaw clenched. Too bad. Evans wouldn’t have negotiated with law enforcement for Ivy’s release. He did what was necessary to save his girlfriend’s life, actions he would never regret, no matter the consequences to him. “Josh, contact Shannon.”
“Roger that.”
Alex knelt beside Ivy. “Rio,” he said softly, “You and Quinn take the other two outside. Stash them with their buddies.”
The medic patted Ivy’s shoulder and signaled the spotter. A moment later, the men were out of the building.
He needed to get his angel out of this warehouse, away from Evans. She was still wheezing, but he was afraid to touch her. What if Josh was wrong about the staged assault? “Sweetheart, look at me.” When she didn’t move, his heart clenched. “Baby, please, I need to see your beautiful eyes.”
She blinked, turned her head, locked her gaze on his. Rage threatened to spill over at the sight of her bruised face. He battled it back, couldn’t touch her without regaining control. The last thing he ever wanted to do was frighten her.
“I want to carry you out of here, Ivy. Will you let me?”
A slow nod.
Heart in his throat, Alex leaned over, gently lifted her in his arms. He angled his body so she wouldn’t see Evan
s. Outside, he headed for a tree some distance from the building. The thick leaves had kept the ground underneath fairly dry from the rain.
Placing her on the ground against the trunk, he sat beside her, gathered her in his arms. “Breathe, angel. We’re outside. You’re safe.” Alex stroked her arm, her hair, rubbed her back with gentle motions, all the while repeating that she was safe and in his arms.
Slowly, the wheezes eased until she went limp against his chest. “Evans?” she whispered.
“Dead.”
Ivy’s hands clenched the back of his shirt. “He hurt me.”
“I know, baby. I’m sorry.”
“It was deliberate. He wanted you to think…” She shuddered. “I was so afraid I’d lose you.”
“I have too much to live for.” Alex released her, stripped off his vest, and tugged his outer shirt over his head. He helped her to put on the shirt, then leaned down and kissed her, his touch soft.
Bushes rustled to his right. “You’re alive.” The tone was flat.
Alex stood, keeping his body between Ivy and his brother. “What are you doing here, Porter? We told you to go home.”
“Where’s Evans?”
“Dead.”
Hatred gleamed from the other man’s eyes. “Why couldn’t you just die? You’ve ruined everything.”
Alex shifted by degrees until his right side was out of Porter’s line of sight. “What’s that mean, Port?”
“Evans promised to kill you if I helped him. He was supposed to return the money after you were dead.”
“You sold me out to Evans, didn’t you?”
“I’ll never get that money back.” He pulled his hand from his pocket, gun clenched in his fist. Porter aimed the weapon at Alex. “I’ve lost everything because of you.”
“Put the gun down, Port.” Alex eased his weapon from the holster. “This won’t solve anything. My teammates have weapons pointed at you right now.” He raised his arm. “And so do I. I’m a sniper, bro. There’s no way I’ll miss you at this range.”
“If you’re dead, the trust fund and everything else will be under my control. I’ll find a way to stay solvent. Can’t fix this if you control the purse strings.”
