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“Allyour weapons,” Keith spits, pressing his gun further into Dad’s head. A small cry escapes me.We’re not that close. My earlier words come back to haunt me, yeah, but I don’t want him fucking dead!
Brent looks at my father and calmly asks, “You good?”
“Yes,” he answers firmly. “Just get her out of here.”
Hayden moves forward to crouch in front of me, he strokes my hair off my face and seems to check over my body.
“Hey!” Keith shouts, “I’ll fucking kill him, just get back.”
Lance steps toward him again. “You won’t kill him; Sydney needs him too much. Isn’t that right, Dad?” He sounds bored andannoyed at the same time like this is the type of shit he deals with on a daily basis. Sydney just sneers but says nothing.
“You okay, baby?” Hayden asks me, his eyes tight with concern.
Tears fall unbidden, both relief and terror flooding my veins. “I’m fine, you have to help Gray,” I cry.
“We’ll get him help, baby, I promise.” He leans forward and plants a gentle kiss on my forehead before moving to my back and cutting the cuffs at my wrist. Suddenly I’m free and my fingers tingle as blood is free to reach them unobstructed. He moves to Gray and frees his hands too, but Gray doesn’t move.
“What’s the matter old timer,” Brent taunts Keith. “Afraid to face me without your human shield?”
“I’ll fucking gut you, boy,” Keith hisses, spittle flying from his mouth.
“Prove it.” My big guy stays unnaturally calm. “I’m weapon free. Fancy going up against me the old-fashioned way?”
Keith pushes Dad until he falls forward, landing hard on his knees. I yelp, instinctively moving forward to help him but Hayden grabs my wrist to keep me away. Keith’s gun points to Brent and my heart stops. When the gunshot goes off, I scream. My vision blurs as I stare at Brent but he’s unmoving. It takes a couple of seconds to register that the pained wailing is coming from Keith, not Brent.
Blinking back the tears, I see Jason, tattoo-face Jason, behind Sydney. He must have come from the other set of doors and his smoking gun is homed in on Keith who has a bloody wound at his shoulder.
Everything seems to happen all at once from there. Brent lunges at Keith, taking him to the ground and starts beating him with heavy fists. Sydney pulls his gun but Lance is there to knock it out of his hand and they start throwing punches. I’m distracted from the fighting as Jason approaches and easily lifts Gray from his seat, draping him over his shoulders like a shawl, and makes for the door. I look at Hayden, who smiles amused at my confusion.
“He’s with us, baby. Owed us a favour.”
I press my lips to Hayden’s. “Thank you for coming for me.”
“Always.”
I scrabble to my father, who gets up from the floor and, on seeing me, holds my face in his hands.
“Are you okay?” he cries, fat tears falling to his cheeks.
I place my hands over his and can’t answer over the lump in my throat, so I just nod and smile at him. He takes my hand and follows after Jason and Gray as Hayden walks backwards behind us keeping an eye, and gun, trained on the enemies we leave behind.
“What about them?” I ask, turning to Hayden.
“Lance and Brent will meet us downstairs, baby. We need to get you to safety.”
I want to argue but I am of no use here. Holding my dad’s hand tighter, we hurry to keep up. Once we get out into the corridor, we meet Peter and two other security guards from my dad’s estate rushing toward us. I gape at him.
“Youdidbring Peter?” I ask my father.
“I’m not stupid Eleanor,” my father admonishes. “Of course, I called Peter as soon as that man called me. I just didn’t realise he was already part of your rescue mission.”
“I’m confused,” I shake my head.
“I’m sure all will be explained, Miss Maxwell. But for now, we must get a move on.” Peter says the last part to Hayden. “We’ve taken out thirteen, there are still two more unaccounted for.”
Hayden nods sharply and we move in formation down the stairs and through the corridors. The guards and Hayden surround Dad and I so we’re protected on all sides. We reach the door and are out in the cold night air, one of Peter’s men falls away to collect a car, running out of sight. Peter speaks quietly holding his ear as he tells someone that we are out of the building.
Relief is palpable, I just hope Brent and Lance are okay. I’m looking at the window high above, where my men fight for their lives, when shots sound. Jason cries out, falling to the ground, Gray going down with him. Peter, his colleague, and Hayden are poised with their weapons looking for the shooter but they don’t see the man emerging from the shadows of the building before it’s too late. A red dot penetrates the night air, landing on my chest and I scream before the bang echoes through the empty lot.
