AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I head to the door and watch as Allie follows an entire team of people who seem to appear from doorways and hallways all over the place, and then they all disappear into one of the rooms at the end of the hall. The elevator door across from the nursing station dings. Jan’s physician walks out, but he doesn’t even glance my way as he makes haste in the direction of the code to be with the rest of his team and patient.
Jan is sleeping soundly. She seems peaceful enough but has been through so much lately. I glance at my watch and yawn. It’s still way too early to call my mom, and I really want to have more information about Jan’s condition from her doctor before I give Mom an update.
I have no idea how long the code will keep the physician from doing rounds for Jan, and she doesn’t look like she’s going to be awake any time soon to talk. I stifle another yawn. Damn, what I wouldn’t give for one of those amazing Italian espressos about now. Coffee is the next best thing. I grab my purse and head to the nearest large hallway, looking for some sort of directional on the walls that may lead me to the caffeine.
I take off straight down the hall, following the direction on the sign and glancing down at my watch. I should call Trent and Liam and let them know what’s going on, but if I do, it's likely to wake everyone at the same time. Mom has had enough drama and worry in the last few days and probably won’t sleep much once she learns of Jan’s condition. She’ll probably force them to bring her to the hospital, and she may even end up staying the night. I like the idea of staying here at the hospital with her and Allie better than being holed up in the condo. Perhaps Trent and Liam could just guard us from here. It’s perfectly safe with all the security running around, and as if to prove my point, a husky guard in a brown uniform turns a corner directly ahead, either making his rounds or on his way to the cafeteria to snag some coffee to stay awake at this ungodly hour.
My shoes click on the tile, and it’s so polished and shiny that I fear slipping at any moment. I’m halfway down the corridor when a hand snakes around my waist, and another covers my mouth, stifling my scream.
Chapter Nineteen
Sheldon
The minuteI realize Alexis isn’t in the bedroom, my cell beeps, and Trent starts yelling for Liam to wake up, having obviously just come to and having received the same text from the guards downstairs.
Security: Girls are on the move. Just getting into a cab.
I send them a quick message not to let either of those women out of their sight. Liam and Trent look slightly groggy but madder than hell. I’m about to give them the third degree, find out every detail about what happened, find out how Darwin got in, how the fuck things went so fucking south here, when the syringe lying on the counter catches my eye.
Liam tracks my gaze, and his eyes go wide. “Allie fucking knocked us out with the iced tea she gave us. Son of a bitch! This assignment has been a pain in my ass since day fucking one,” he growls.
There’s a knock at the door, and my hand tightens on the Glock while gesturing to both of them that it’s okay. “It’s our double,” I state, opening the door for the guards dressed as wait staff who roll a cart with a coffee carafe and silver-domed serving plate into the room.
“Gentlemen, meet Claire.” I part the cloth and assist her from its draped sides just as planned. “Claire, meet the team.” The stylists have done an exceptional job transforming Claire. They’ve even been able to match her hair color and the contacts Claire’s wearing to the almost exact color of Alexis’.
“That’s some trick,” Liam remarks.
“Yeah, we thought so, but our plan’s been thrown to shit. From a distance she’ll look just like Alexis, and if we can get in front of this disaster, we still may have a chance, but we’ll have to change the game plan. Darwin’s probably right on the ladies’ tails right now. Let’s hope we’re not too jammed up to make this work. Let’s go; we can talk in the car,” I command, dashing with the guards and Claire seconds behind me.
This elevator may be one of the fastest in the city, but it’s not moving fast enough at all for me. “The best we can hope to do is throw him off the scent with a decoy once we arrive. We need to get a backup in place for Dereck,” I direct because, by my watch, he should be here to pick us up in less than two minutes.
I don my headset so I can keep my hands free and talk to Murphy over at intel at the same time. “Can you get into those taxi records and find out where the girls are heading?” I ask, even though I’m fairly sure those two ladies are on their way to the very place they shouldn’t be. The exact same place this trafficker and psychotic killer may be waiting for Alexis.
Dereck screams to a halt right outside The Prestian Towers in a short black sedan, and I jump in with Claire, while Trent and Liam follow behind. “Floor it! Central Hospital,” I command even before we get confirmation that that’s where the ladies are going. Dereck hits the gas, and I connect with the security team following the cab to find out how far behind we are while I dig into our accessory bag. “Here, put this on, and take out your contacts,” I instruct Claire, handing her a dark-haired wig.
“We’re right on their ass, Sheldon,” Frankie says, giving me their crossroads.
“We’re about ten minutes behind you. Don’t let them out of your sight. This guy’s a fucking chameleon,” I state, watching the tracker of our other security team to see if we’re closing the distance, gratified that we’re starting to close the gap thanks to Dereck’s skill at the wheel.
“You have time to take a call from Nick? He won’t stop blowing up my cell,” Dereck remarks.
I glance down to see if I’ve missed a message, but there’s nothing, so I hit the connect button, but I don’t even get a chance to say hello. “How far behind are you guys?” Nick growls.
“Four minutes flat,” I state, glancing down at my watch.
“Four minutes too fucking long.”
“Our other team is on them, Nick. They alerted us the minute they walked out the door.”
“They’re not really our men. They’re Larussio men, and those two women shouldn’t have ever been able to walk out that goddamn door without security detail.”
I smirk. “Well, next time you talk to Allie, you might want to let her know not to knock our men out when she decides she doesn’t want security, my friend.”
“And you’re so sure it was Allie?” Nick counters.
“Oh, I’m fairly sure they were both in on it, but the syringe on the counter is medical grade. Funny thing is, I just happen to recall Alexis telling me that Allie always carries a medical travel bag just in case.”
“What the hell were they thinking?”
