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I stop at the next corner and look around the side of the building, then jog to where the door is. Taking my key kit out, I pull out the pieces I’ll need and squat down so I’m eye to eye with the handle.
Hearing footsteps, my head shoots up and I see Nico come around the corner with his gun in hand.
“You got a gun?” he asks low, once he’s close.
I stand. “What do you think?” The lock clicks open, and I meet his gaze. After a single look, he takes the handle, turns it, then peeks inside. When he jerks his head to the side, I move to the opposite side of the door, then slip inside and he follows. There are no lights on back here, so the two of us move slowly through the dark toward a strip of light coming from under a door. Listening close, I try to hear something, but I can’t make out a single sound. When Nico taps my shoulder, I step to the side, and he slowly turns the handle then pulls the door in toward us.
“It’s clear.” He meets my gaze. “I’m going out first, and stopping at the first door on the left, follow me after ten.”
I lift my chin then watch him open the door and disappear out it. At the count of ten, I leave my position and swing into the kitchen opposite of where he is now squatting. Then, the two of us work our way up the hall. When the lobby comes into view, Nico places his back to the wall, and I clear the doorway and duck into an open office. Just as I’m about to move again I notice a stocking covered foot peeking out from the edge of the desk in the middle of the room. I get down and with my heart pounding I move around the back of the desk swallowing bile when I find Willow covered in blood. My hands shake and my throat gets tight as I reach out my hand and search for her pulse. Feeling the steady beat of her heart under my fingers, relief swamps me. Then she gasps and her eyes fly open. Covering her mouth with my hand when she starts to scream, I press my mouth to her ear.
“It’s just me, baby. We’re going to get you out of here,” I whisper, pulling her behind the desk when footsteps start heading our way, then I force her under it. “Stay,” I order quietly. Her fear-filled eyes meet mine as she nods. After pushing the rolling chair in front of her, I move to the door and I steal a glance around the corner, finding Nico with his gun raised and pointed at Troy who is standing with his hands above his head.
“Look. I didn’t do anything, this was all a mistake,” Troy says.
If I knew I wouldn’t be arrested and have to spend time away from Willow, I’d put a bullet between his eyes. Stepping out into the hall with my gun out in front of me I point it at the guy.
“How is she?” Nico asks as he quickly glances my way.
“Alive.” I tell him and he nods then orders Troy to his knees.
“Please,” Troy begs, looking between Nico and me. “Let me explain things.”
“You can explain to the judge.” Nico tosses me a pair of cuffs and I catch them midair.
Going to Troy, I shove him between the shoulders forcing him to fall face first into the tile floor, then I put a knee in his back and slip the cuffs on him.
“I think he killed Carly.” I hear Willow whisper and my head jerks back. Seeing her up gives me relief, but I’m still terrified by the amount of blood on her face, in her hair and down the front of the dress she has on.
“I—” She wraps her arms around her middle and shakes her head. “I found some notes that someone left Carly, that she had put in her chest.” Her eyes go to him, and she shivers. “I think he killed her.”
“She doesn’t know shit,” Troy yells.
Willow flinches.
I push his face into the cold ground.
“We’ll get that sorted out, Mouse. Please just go wait for me to come to you.” I whisper, my throat tight. I can’t stand having her this close to him after he put his hands on her.
“You take her out,” Nico says, and I look at him. “Get her to the ambulance, I’ll deal with him.”
With a jerk of my chin, I push away from Troy, then hand Nico my gun, watching him place it in the back of his jeans before I prowl toward Willow and scoop her up into my arms. I hold her against my chest and walk with her to the door, then use my shoulder to push it open. As I step out into the cold air, chaos erupts. Then Miles and Tucker jog toward me yelling orders for everyone to stand down.
