“What have you done?”
Hailey startled at the fury behind Mr. Luque’s words. Sheglanced up. He still had his phone to his ear, but his gaze was fixed on her. Bone-chilling fear washed over her. “What’s wrong?”
He muttered something into his phone, then shoved it in his pocket. He held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”
“Sure.” She pulled it out and offered it to him.
“Unlock it.”
She did. What was he looking for? What had that phone call been about?
He gave it a quick scan before tossing it across the room. Before she had time to pull her thoughts together, he yanked her toward him and started searching her.
“What are you doing? Why are you upset?” She didn’t even try to keep the fear from her voice as she said the code word. She didn’t know how, but she’d been made.
He ignored her, searching her pockets, her hair. Then he zeroed in on her necklace. “What is that?”
Her hand flew to the pendant. “What?”
He ripped it from her hand. The chain snapped. He stared at the piece for only a second before crushing it under his heel. With a force that made her gasp, he grabbed her arms and shook her. “You will pay dearly for this,” he growled.
“Pay for what? What’s going on?” The only defense she could think of was to play dumb.
He didn’t answer, which made her even more afraid. Instead, he released one of her arms and drew a handgun. Still holding tightly to her other arm, he dragged her out the conference room door. His bodyguards saw him coming and straightened.
“She sold us out. Paul spotted feds prowling around.”
The men drew their guns and sprang into action. One rushed ahead of them into the hall, the other held the door until Mr. Luque and Hailey had passed through, then he brought up the rear. She thought she heard him relaying a message to the driver, but her blood was pulsing so loudly, she couldn’t make out the exact words.
They bypassed the elevator and headed for the nearest stairwell. Again, one of the guards held the door open while the other took the lead. The four of them flew down the stairs.
Hailey’s arm was going numb from the tight hold Mr. Luque had on her, and her panic climbed even higher as they neared the first floor. This stairwell opened up near the lobby doors. There were places to take cover and only a little distance between them and the waiting car. Peter could try to hold them off, but they outnumbered him three to one, and he wouldn’t have the advantage of them having to cross a wide-open space.
They broke into the lobby. She didn’t see Peter, but she could see Mr. Luque’s vehicle through the glass entrance. The car doors were open, ready to receive them and whisk them away to who knew where. She couldn’t let the men get her inside. Once they did, her fate would be sealed. Even being shot trying to escape would be preferable to what she knew would await her at their destination.
She dug in her heels and tried to extract herself from Mr. Luque’s grasp, but he only held her tighter and increased his pace. She twisted and pulled. Tried to stomp on his foot as he forced her forward. “Let me go!”
He cursed and swung his gun, catching her in the forehead.
Pain exploded through her head. She wasn’t sure if she cried out or not, but she definitely saw stars. She sagged in Mr. Luque’s grip.
He yanked her upright and continued to drag her along.
“Stop right there.”
She blinked. Peter. That was Peter. But where was he? And where were the FBI?
Mr. Luque spun, yanking her around and in front of him. She yelped as his muscular arm tightened across her chest. And then she saw Peter facing them with his own gun drawn. Somehow, he’d gotten behind them. But Mr. Luque was using her body as a shield.
“Let her go.”
The man behind her growled. “I don’t think so.” He backstepped toward the door, pulling her with him.
One of the guards fired. Peter dove behind the rock fountain and came up shooting. A cry of pain erupted from the guard. The second man raised his gun, and Peter ducked back behind the fountain.
While the second guard kept Peter pinned down, Mr. Luque turned and hustled her outside. Her chance to escape was quickly slipping away. The car engine was running, the driver waiting. But her captor was still holding her in front of him. He’d have to shift his grip to get her inside.
And she wasn’t going in without a fight. She gathered her strength, ready to fight or run or whatever she had to do, even if it got her killed.
