Some hours later, I woke from my nap, glancing towards the clock to see that it was nearing 11 p.m. I lurched out of the hotel bed, brushing a hand through my disheveled hair and making my way towards the bathroom.

Looking into the mirror, I grimaced at how exhausted I looked. Well, it wasn’t as if I was trying to charm the pants off the girl. There was no reason for me to get prettied up for the sole purpose of stealing her away. Although I had somewhat given up on the idea of her coming willingly (why on earth would she?), I would still exhibit what kindness I was capable of, considering the scenario.

I tried to ignore the distinct reality that I was risking life and limb to steal Emily away from her father. I was all too aware of how protective fathers could be of their daughters, having encountered my share of angry fathers in Hawaii. I chuckled, shaking my head at the memory.

Still, the slight uncertainty I felt creeping up my spine was undeniable. Confidence without cockiness was the name of my game, but that confidence wavered just slightly that night. It wasn’t as if I was going to ask her out or something equally ridiculous, and I was somewhat annoyed with myself for being so nervous.

“How will she be able to resist?” I muttered to myself as I got dressed, putting on a set of dark clothes.

The longer I could avoid being spotted, the better. I had no idea how many bodyguards may have been in Emily’s presence at any given moment, let alone the guards patrolling the apartment complex. I had a plan that I considered rather foolproof, and I gathered what few items I had brought into the motel room with me, stashing them in the trunk of my SUV before slipping back inside to swiftly check out.

The beautiful woman from before looked me up and down with a pout when I informed her that I would be checking out. She rummaged around under her desk for a moment, jotting something down on a scrap of paper before handing it to me.

“Call me sometime, handsome,” she all but purred.

I smiled at her, tucking the number into my pocket to dispose of a bit more conspicuously.

“Of course,” I lied, winking before rushing out of the hotel.

I made my way to the SUV, hopping into the driver’s seat and jabbing the key in the ignition. It was my last moment of solitude before I put the mission into action, and though I was excited, the hesitation remained as well. I adjusted my mirrors, killing time for several long minutes before sighing and turning the key.

“It’s now or never, Owen,” I said firmly, trying to pump myself up.

It worked to a certain degree. I shifted into gear, driving in the direction of the apartment complex I knew Emily Madden would currently be sleeping peacefully inside of. I came to a stop a block away, pulling my vehicle into a back alleyway where it would go unnoticed. At least, that was my hope. As I got out, I swore it felt like my heart would pound out of my chest.

Striking out in the direction of the complex, I moved carefully yet swiftly. I could hear the distant sound of music, musing that someone must be having a party. Tonight wasn’t a night for festivities. I had to focus.

Stopping short, I stared at a large and burly figure guarding the outer exit of the apartment complex. It might have been a setback, but fortunately, I’d not planned to enter through the front door. I circled around the building, keeping an eye out for other guards that might be roaming the premises. There were a few, but most seemed to be gathered towards the front of the building, enjoying a smoke break.

They were making the job far too easy for me.

I reflected on my notes, tracing through my mental layout of the apartment complex. I grinned as I reached the proper side of the building, stepping up to the wall and pressing close to it. I could hear the laughter of the burly men towards the front of the building, and idly wondered how Emily managed to get any sleep with those morons roaming night and day.

A thought for another day, perhaps when I could properly question her. For the moment, I needed to figure out the best way to scale the side of the building. There seemed to be the occasional crack in the brick exterior, places that would make for suitable enough footholds if I could actually reach them. I stepped back, glancing around the corner and sighing with relief upon seeing I’d gone unnoticed.

Rushing towards the building, I leaped up and grabbed my first perch, the sill of a window which was just in reach of the next crevice. I made short work of scaling the building, pausing as one of the guards circled turned and glanced around curiously.

“What’s up, Tito?” one of his companions called out, and the guard lingered for a moment longer.

He looked all around, but fortunately did not look up, allowing me to remain unseen, at least for the moment.

“Thought I heard something,” he called out, scratching his head before circling back around the building.

I braced myself against the building, waiting until I was sure he was out of earshot before continuing. It was a close one—far too close for comfort. I needed to get a move on if I planned to get Emily out of there with little fuss, though I was pretty sure the chubby guards would be unable to stop me if it came down to a fight.

If Randy Madden caught wind of the FBI trying to take his daughter, there was no telling what the man would do. It wasn’t as if he had an average moral compass. I was vaguely aware that he likely had his share of blood on his hands, and was completely sure that he wouldn’t hesitate to add me to his hit list.

No matter—it was just all the more reason to avoid getting caught.

I grabbed the final windowsill, pulling myself up on the edge and glancing down to the asphalt below. If I’d been afraid of heights, my stomach likely would have churned at how far above the safety of solid ground I was. As it stood, I got a certain thrill out of the sight.

Taking a breath, I balanced near the window as I pushed it up, thankful that it had been left unlocked. Seemed like Emily was confident enough that no one would make an attempt on her life.

Slipping through the window, I touched my feet down on the soft carpet of what I could only assume was the living area. The lights were off, and if I listened closely, I could hear the soft sounds of snoring from the end of the hall. I tried to ignore how adorable her snoring was, instead focusing on scoping out the area nearby. No guards, no cameras, nothing. It was almost as if they wanted me to take her.

Well, I was all too willing to oblige.

Carefully walking through the apartment, the only sounds that could be heard were our breathing and the steady thump of my footsteps. I walked lightly, but to me it still sounded as if a war drum was being pounded with every step I took. I frowned as I drew nearer and nearer to the bedroom. The snoring had not ceased, but I still felt as if I was walking into a trap.

The thought faded as I entered the bedroom, staring at Emily’s small form in the bed. Her chest rose and fell steadily, and I watched her with a sudden surge of protectiveness. If they would fail in keeping her safe, I was certain I would turn the tables.

I just had to get her out of there first.