no getting out.”
“I can help you get out. I have connections. Dex. Eric Wilde. I can—”
The gun jabbed into her. “You don’t understand! I don’t want to leave him!”
“You’re hurting me. Why don’t you put down the g-gun…” Okay, the cold was starting to get to her. “So we can talk?”
“I like you.” Elizabeth nodded. “I do. You’re my friend.”
Friends don’t put guns to the chests of other friends. It should be understood. A given.
“But I love Jonathan. He told me that he needs for you to be a lesson.”
She had to make her move. Lacey glanced over Elizabeth’s shoulder. Focused in the spot to the right. “Is that what I am, Jonathan?” Lacey called out. “A lesson? Some sort of warning to Dex? Or maybe even to my brother Roman?”
“Jonathan?” Elizabeth turned her head and looked to the right. “You’re going to have to kill her because I—” She moved the gun, just a bit, as she realized that Jonathan wasn’t actually there.
That small movement was all that Lacey needed. She grabbed Elizabeth’s wrist and shoved hard to the left, forcing the gun away from her body in one fast move.
The gun blasted.
But the bullet missed her.
Elizabeth screamed and tried to bring the gun back around. Not happening. I am way stronger and better trained. Lacey twisted Elizabeth’s wrist, and the gun fell from Elizabeth’s hand. Then Lacey head-butted the other woman, sending Elizabeth stumbling back. Elizabeth slipped in the snow and crashed down onto her ass.
Lacey dove for the gun. Grabbed it and came up with it pointed at Elizabeth. “What was in the syringe that you gave Cornell?”
Elizabeth shoved hair out of her face. Her gaze locked on Lacey, and she did not look away as she said, “A sedative. I don’t know what exactly. Jonathan gave it to me.”
“Let me guess…were you supposed to use the sedative on me? Were you going to knock me out when I came up to your suite with you? Only I didn’t come alone. I brought Cornell with me, so you had to—”
“Yes,” a deep voice rang out from behind Lacey.
Dammit. Her shoulders stiffened.
“My beautiful bride was supposed to use the syringe on you, but it looks like we had a change of plans.”
Lacey stared down at Elizabeth. “Nice job keeping your eyes focused on me. Bet it was hard not to glance his way when you saw him closing in.”
Elizabeth scrambled to her feet. “He has a gun pointed at you.”
“And I have a gun pointed at you.” Lacey licked her lips. “So that puts us in a stand-off, doesn’t it, Jonathan?” Lacey shouted to Jonathan. “But of course, I have an advantage here.”
She could hear the crunch of his footsteps on the snow. “What advantage might that be?”
“My fiancé is coming for me. He’ll be bursting onto this roof any moment. Then he’ll kick your ass.” Yes, she said the last part a little smugly, but she had faith in Dex.
I have faith in Dex. Wow. The full implications of that hit her just as—
Jonathan laughed. “There’s no way he can burst onto the roof. Sorry. I took the liberty of securing the door. Putting a little trap in place while you and Elizabeth were having your chat. He tries, and he’ll get his ass blown to hell. A small device, but necessary.”
Lacey whirled toward him. Her gun pointed at him. His pointed at her. “If you put a bomb on the door,” Lacey said, “you won’t be able to get off this roof, either.”
“Sure, I will.” He smiled at her. “I have another means of transport coming.”
Of course. The roof. A helicopter had to be on the way.
“The snow fall isn’t hard enough to stop my pilot,” he assured her. “Hell, with the money I’m paying him, nothing will stop my guy.”
Her breath sawed in and out. She didn’t even feel the cold any longer. Dex would be coming after her. She knew it. Dex would be rushing up those stairs. Frantic, her gaze flew to the left. I have to stop him. Lacey sprang for the door.
And she heard the sound of an explosion.
“Dex!” In that instant, he was the only thing she could think about. She hurtled toward him as—
“Got you!” Elizabeth cried out. She grabbed Lacey and drove something sharp into the side of her neck.
Another needle? That…bitch…
Lacey tried to bring up her gun so she could hit Elizabeth in the face but instead of rising, the gun fell from her fingers.
Elizabeth let her