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“Stand down, Agent Reynolds,” Griffin called to the man holding the rifle.
The idiot didn’t listen.
“No one’s going to get hurt here,” Agent Reynolds said. “Let her go, Salenko. We’ll go someplace and talk. You’ve got a lot of information that’s very valuable to the United States. I’m willing to make you a sweet deal.”
“He wants his daughter,” Marin shouted. “Elena. She’s The Artist.”
The tip of the needle grazed her skin. Marin’s body quaked in fear.
“Shut up,” her captor said.
Griffin stepped in front of Agent Reynolds’s rifle. “Is that what this is all about?” he asked, amazing Marin at how calm he was. “Your daughter? I’m sure we can work something out, Salenko. Just put down the syringe and let’s talk about it.”
Marin’s trembling eased in the face of Griffin’s quiet, cool demeanor. The darkness and his helmet made it difficult for her to read his expression, but Marin could sense his determined gaze.
“Agent Reynolds is going to lower his weapon,” Griffin said. “Why don’t you do the same and we can work this out without anyone else getting hurt.”
There was rapid exchange of words between Agent Reynolds and Griffin, too quiet for Marin to hear, but the other agent reluctantly dropped his rifle to his hip.
“Talk to me, Salenko,” Griffin said. “What can we do to make this right?”
“You can’t make this right!” her captor shouted. “Only I can get Elena back.” He jerked Marin against his body as he took a step backward toward the fence. “And I will use your lover to barter with. You think I don’t know what she means to you, Agent Keller? But she means more to her wealthy grandfather. He is a very powerful man. The conglomerate fears him. He will pay for Elena’s release. Or the chef here will pay with her life.”
A wave of terror rolled through her stomach. Griffin stood still as Marin was propelled backward several steps. Her lips began to quiver. Why wasn’t he moving with them? Surely, he would rescue her.
“Talk to him,” Marin urged, her words laced with panic. “He’s a good man. He’ll understand about Elena. He’ll help you.”
“She is a little magpie, your lover,” Yerik shouted at Griffin. “She says I should trust you.”
“She’s right,” Griffin said, his feet still frozen to the ground. “I want to help you get your daughter back.”
They were still moving in reverse. Marin couldn’t seem to stop her body from trembling.
“You think you are so powerful. These men in the conglomerate have been laughing in your face for months now,” her captor bragged. “They enjoyed it every time I brought them a painting stolen from right in front of the Secret Service’s nose. It was a game to them.Youare a game to them.”
He’d taken them another fifty feet from Griffin and Agent Reynolds. The Potomac River lapped against the metal storm wall to their right. Branches from another grove of trees formed a canopy over their heads. And the syringe was still millimeters from Marin’s throat. This was it. She was going to die.
* * *
It took everything Griffin had in him to keep still while Salenko retreated with Marin in his grasp. One look at her battered face and he wanted to pummel the Ukrainian to death. His heart raced and his fingers twitched just thinking about the bastard laying a finger on her.
But Griffin let his training take control of his reflexes. He needed to keep Marin’s tormentor occupied so Adam and Leslie could get into position. As far as Griffin could tell, the only weapon Salenko was using to hold Marin captive was the syringe. They’d have to overpower the Ukrainian. A sniper shot was too risky. It could trigger Salenko’s reflexes to plunge the syringe into Marin’s neck. Griffin’s stomach rolled knowing what was likely in the barrel behind the needle. He willed himself not to think about that; to keep Salenko talking instead.
“This isn’t a game to me,” he said, trying to keep his voice even and calm. “It’s very real. And I’m sure it’s very real for Elena, too. You leave now and I won’t be able to help you. Stay and let’s fix this. You have my word I will see that Elena is released safely.”
Salenko backed into the fence. His face grew taut when he heard the sound of multiple footsteps on the pavement behind the railing. This was where things got dicey. They had the son of a bitch cornered. But Salenko was a wild card and it would only take him a second to inject Marin, condemning her to an agonizing death. Sweat broke on the back of Griffin’s neck. All he had to do was to keep the Ukrainian engaged for another minute. He didn’t dare redirect his gaze off of Salenko to check on Adam or Leslie’s progress. The other man was too perceptive.
Marin must have sensed the futility of Salenko’s situation because tears were now flowing freely from her bright blue eyes.
“Griffin,” she croaked out.
Her plea nearly wrecked him. Her face had gone pale and Griffin ached to kiss away the panic she was surely battling. But he couldn’t move. Not yet.
“He’s going to kill me.”
“No,” Griffin said firmly. “He’s going to trade you for Elena.”
But Salenko was suddenly very still as if contemplating his limited options.
