us in and we fanned out. The next room was clear, but the room after that had three more men. I ducked against the wall, firing back at them, but we were pinned down as bullets tore into the walls.
They were insane. Fearless and insane, firing like they’d never run out of ammo.
I retreated. Rigley stayed there, returning fire and laughing like a psycho.
I had to find Becca. It was my only option. I didn’t have time to play commando with the rest of the gangsters. I had to keep going forward. I moved back toward the front hall and went down another corridor. Most of the other teams were taking care of the other room, and so I found myself alone.
Up ahead, there was a T-junction and another door. I poked my head around the corner and saw nothing. I grabbed the door handle, turned and pushed it open.
Stairs, leading down.
My heart skipped a beat as I descended into the basement. I shut the door behind me and crept down as quietly as possible.
“Becca?” I said, looking around.
I heard something clink over in the back corner. I held my gun up and crept forward.
There were boxes all over the place and old workout equipment strewn around. The air felt muggy and damp, and I kept feeling spiderwebs on my skin. I picked my way through the mess and headed toward the noise.
I rounded a mound of boxes and froze.
“I’m surprised it’s you,” Jay said.
Standing a few feet away, illuminated by a single window, was Jay. He held his gun up, pressed against Becca’s temple, the chain wrapped around her throat.
I stared into her eyes. She didn’t look afraid, but she looked exhausted. Her shirt was torn but her bra was still intact, and Jay was holding the chain in one hand and a gun in the other. She shook her head slightly.
“Let her go,” I said.
“You must really like her,” Jay said casually. “You’re risking a lot.”
“And you’re hiding behind a fucking girl.”
“She’s my hostage. This is what you do with hostages.” He pressed the gun against Becca’s temple.
“Let her go, Jay. It’s over.”
“How about I don’t do that. Instead, why don’t you leave, or I blow her brains out.”
“You’re just making it worse for yourself.”
“It was you, wasn’t it,” he said suddenly.
“What are you talking about?”
“You robbed me.”
“Yeah. I did rob you.”
“And this bitch helped you.”
“She had nothing to do with it.”
“Ah. I don’t believe you.” He grinned and cocked his head. “My slut tells me otherwise.”
“Lindsey? She’s too fucked up half the time to know what’s going on around her.”
“Maybe that’s true. I guess it doesn’t matter. But you should leave now, or I’ll kill this pretty girl.”
“I can leave. But Rigley won’t.”
“I’ll handle him.”
“Let her go first.”
“No, that isn’t happening. You see, I like this one.” He smiled a sick, cruel smile. The hand holding her chain released it and moved down her chest. “She’s pretty. I think I’ll make her mine when this is all over.” He moved the gun slightly, concentrating on the hand reaching toward her chest.
Rage and adrenaline steadied my hands.
Becca jerked back suddenly as Jay’s hand reached to cup her breast.
I squeezed the trigger.
My gun fired.
Jay stumbled back, dropping his weapon. He blinked, shocked, not believing what had just happened. I watched as the red hole in his skull dripped blood and he slowly sank down to the floor. He flopped over, half of his head missing. His eyes were lifeless pits.
I dropped my gun and ran to her. I ripped off the gag and she took a deep breath.
“Reid!” she said.
“I’m here. It’s okay.” I ripped the duct tape from her hands and unwound the chain from around her neck. “Did they hurt you?”
She didn’t answer, just pressed herself against my chest, sobbing. I wrapped my arms around her as she rocked, holding her tightly.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “It’s okay. It’s all over now. It’s all over.”
After a heartbreaking and agonizing and joyous moment, my brain filled with her smell and her body, so happy she was alive and safe but terrified of what happened to her, she pulled away.
“How did you find me?”
“Rigley. The deal with the Canadians worked.”
“I guess that’s why I heard all those guns.”
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. “They didn’t touch me.”
“You’re not hurt at all?”
“Tired. Scared. But they never touched me.”
I let out a long breath. I felt something inside me unclench and I pulled her against me, crushing my mouth against hers. She returned my