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Where the hell were Connor and the police? He knew there was no way he could hear the sirens from here, but he kept waiting and praying for those elevator doors to open and the office to be filled with New York’s finest, screaming for everyone to get to the
floor.
Dax couldn’t be dead. He was just shot and pretending. That must be it. They would take him to the hospital and tonight would eventually all become a rousing story they would tell later.
Damn it. None of this was supposed to happen. They were supposed to be friends all their lives. All their long lives. They weren’t supposed to lose each other in their prime.
Everly squeezed him tight, as though she could feel his pain and tried to take some of it. “It’s going to be all right.”
“You take Bond. I’ll take the girl,” Scott said. “If she tries anything, kill him.”
“I love you,” she whispered as they were pulled apart.
He watched as Scott placed the gun to her head. So precious. She was precious to him and that fucker was treating her like she was an expendable pawn.
“Now we’re going to get that hard drive. Then we’re all going to take a little trip,” Scott said.
“Who is Sergei?” Even as he felt the gun pressed to his temple, he remembered that Mad had mentioned he needed to find a man named Sergei. Was he the Russian boss? Was this Sergei the one pulling the strings?
Scott stopped, fear lighting his features. “How do you know that name? Who the fuck told you that name?”
“I don’t know, but I think it’s time we found out, don’t you?” a familiar voice asked.
Connor was here. Gabe sighed with relief.
The big Russian walked into the hallway, his body stiff. Connor forced Scott’s uncle into the room, pointing a gun at the back of his head and using his big body as a shield.
“All right, little boy, I’ve taken out your muscle and now I’m going to kill this fucker if you don’t let my friends go,” Connor growled.
“I don’t think so,” Scott said. “I don’t believe you killed them.”
“Believe it,” the Russian managed between pursed lips. “I saw the bodies. He killed them all with his bare hands. He is animal.”
Scott paled, but didn’t relinquish his grip. “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”
“This is Yuri Golchenko,” Connor said, moving them farther into the room. “He’s a lieutenant with a Moscow syndicate, headed by a man named Ivan Krylov. You’re looking for the diary of Natalia Kuilikov, who took care of the president of the United States from the time he was born until he was seven years old. You think there’s something in the diary you can use against him. I’m going to give you one chance to save yourselves. Drop your weapons and walk out, and I’ll give you a head start. You might have a day or two before I find you again.”
Scott shook his head. “I’m going to kill her if you don’t let my uncle go.”
“Do it,” Connor said. “Now that I know where the diary is, she’s meaningless. You kill her. I kill your uncle. Hell, kill Bond, too. I can still take the two of you out and leave here with the prize.”
“Connor?” Gabe stared at his old friend in perfect horror. He couldn’t have meant that.
“Gabe, it’s a job, and you know damn well that my job is more important than anything. I told you before, I don’t feel much. But I will have that information and I will find Sergei.” Connor’s stony face stared back at him. “It’s like when we played lacrosse, buddy. I got the job done. You were only there to make sure I got to score. Life isn’t any different than that game against Whittington.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. Gabe had mostly sat on the bench while Connor and Roman had been the stars of the team, but during their senior year, they’d played a game against Whittington Prep. All Gabe had to do was distract the defender long enough for Connor to score.
Connor needed a distraction. When he got out of this, Gabe swore he would never think his cushy job was boring again.
“You’re a son of a bitch. You were always a selfish player.” He nodded at Connor, then went for it. He dropped straight to the floor. His body hit with a hard thud, pain flaring through his system. He heard Everly’s shout, then the ping of a silencer going off.
And he felt the man who had been holding him fall to the floor. Connor wouldn’t have missed. He wouldn’t have simply injured the man. The dude was dead the moment after Connor’s bullet had left the chamber.
“Get his gun, Gabe,” Connor ordered.
“Don’t you fucking move off that floor or I will kill her.” For the first time, Scott sounded a little panicked. Not a good thing. He could freak out and pull that trigger. Then nothing would matter.
“He won’t kill her because he still thinks he can win and he’s right.” Connor’s voice was as smooth as any conman’s. “You’ve made a study of Maddox Crawford, Scott. That means you know his friends. You knew I was lying about killing Gabe, but you also know I don’t give a shit about some bimbo he’s been banging. I want to cut a deal.”
Gabe got to his knees, picking up the gun that had fallen. He had to pray Everly didn’t believe a word coming out of Connor’s mouth. Connor wouldn’t hurt her. Gabe trusted him with his life and he had to trust him with hers.
Just for insurance, he gripped the gun and trained it on Scott.
“Take the girl. I’ll take your dear uncle here, and when you have the information you need, we’ll make a trade. I’ll give you your uncle and the diary in exchange for the man who’s been feeding the girl information. We both walk away,” Connor explained.
“You give him nothing, nephew. You know what is at stake. You know what they will do,” Yuri Golchenko said in his thick accent. “I am no fool. This man is CIA. If he discovers—”
A loud bang cracked through the air and a dot of red appeared on the front of Golchenko’s white shirt. Blood bloomed as Scott’s shot hit him, and Connor couldn’t hold the Russian up. He let the man fall.
“Put the fucking gun down,” Connor yelled as Scott shoved Everly away.
Gabe caught her before she fell to the floor, and he covered her with his body.
“You want to know who Sergei is?” Scott asked with a fervent light in his eyes. “He’s closer than you think.”
“Put the gun down now.” Connor stepped toward him.
“No, and you can’t make me talk.” Scott took all the choices out of their hands as he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.
Everly shrieked. Connor cursed, and Gabe finally got a really good look at his friend. His previously pristine clothes were covered in blood and he wore the most ferocious look on his face as he pulled out his cell phone. It looked like Connor had taken out more than the Russians. He’d taken out the cell jammer as well.
“This is Sparks. I need a cleaning crew at the Crawford building in Manhattan. Nine bags. Yeah, I’ve got five who will need cover stories. No. I’m alone.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket and raised his gaze. “I just lied to the CIA. I need you to get Everly and Dax and that damn SD card out of here.”
“Dax is alive?” Hope sprung inside him.
Connor nodded. “He’s got a bullet in his side, but he’s alive. Get him to the hospital and tell them it was an attempted carjacking. You were not here. Go. Quickly.”
“We need to call an ambulance.” Gabe got to his feet and helped Everly up, pulling her into the circle of his arms. She was here and she was alive. He held her for a moment.
“I can’t have anyone find you here,” Connor insisted.
“Gabe, we have to go.” Everly pulled away. “Baby, we have to get Dax to the hospital. Connor, I can erase the cameras for the whole building from my system. It won’t take me long. I used my keycard to get in.”
“The Russians stole your card,” Connor replied. “And I stole Gabe’s.”
Everly dashed to her office.
“What the hell is going on, man?” Gabe stared at Connor, not certain he recognized his old friend. “Dax needs medical attention and he needs it now. You have to call an ambulance and the cops.”
Before Connor had a chance to say anything, Dax stumbled into the hallway, a small towel over his left side. “I swear, if he ever says he’s an analyst ag
ain, I’m going to beat the shit out of him. After I get some surgery. A little help, buddy? Damn, that’s a lot of bodies. I was freaking safer in the Middle East.”
Gabe got there just as Dax started to fall. He caught his friend. “I can’t thank you enough.”
Dax grinned as he leaned heavily on Gabe. “Sure you can. You give me some of that Scotch and get me to a hospital. No cops. We can’t, Gabe.”
They damn straight could, but it looked like even Everly was
