Steph stumbled out into the hallway, trying to keep up with her captor. It was the same man who had spoken to her the night before. The cousin. She didn’t know his name, only knew that he spoke for Fedor.

How many were there? Three had come for them the night before, and those three walked them down the hallway. Up ahead she could see a fourth man, smoking a cigarette as he leaned against the wall. He shouted out something in either Ukrainian or Russian.

Fedor nodded and replied.

She hated this, hated the fact that she was vulnerable. She couldn’t even understand what they were saying around her.

They turned a corner and she realized Alfi had been right. They were in a large warehouse. There were big boxes stacked all throughout, a veritable labyrinth of cardboard. Thick yellow and green and red lines on the floor seemed to point the direction to various parts of the warehouse floor, if one knew the code. Which, of course, she didn’t.

There were two more men in this large space, both smoking and looking vaguely bored with life.

“What is this place?” She couldn’t help but ask the question. She knew the answer. It was her Waterloo, but it would be nice to know a more literal name for where she was taking her last stand.

“It’s a shipping station for one of my many businesses. This one is completely legitimate,” Fedor explained. “I hate using it like this. I try to keep the legitimate and the not-so-legitimate in their own pretty boxes. I had to shut down operations this weekend. I’m sure there are some employees out there who are happy to have the time off.”

Well, at least something good had come of her eventual murder.

“I thought you were a full-time mobster,” she said under her breath.

“You thought wrong.” Fedor glanced down at his watch. “Where I come from, the syndicate is one of the only ways out of poverty. My father was strong man. He lifts us up, allows Anya to go to school. Allows me to learn how to be a legitimate businessman. In a few years, I’ll switch everything over and we’ll make our money in the proper ways. I’ll leave the syndicate to my cousin Petor.”

The man with the reptilian smile nodded her way. This was the man who’d told her how her world would shatter. “I have no desire to be legitimate.”

Yes, he would make a spectacular mob head.

“You planning on shipping us to de Vries?” If Alfi was bothered at all by the gun to his back, it didn’t show in the bland expression he wore. Alfi had an air about him, like this happened regularly, just another event in the life of a handsome rogue.

“They’ll be here in a few minutes. After that, you’re his problem. I’m certainly not helping him smuggle you out of the country.” Fedor moved to the center of the warehouse floor. The building had to be as large as an airplane hanger, the walls swooping up to what looked to be four floors. They were in the center of the building, the ceiling high above their heads. “Both of you on your knees.”

Steph started to drop, but Fedor held her up.

“I meant the men. I know you won’t run.” Fedor glanced around as though doing one final assessment. “You will not believe this, but I actually wish I didn’t have to give you away. I know how much Anya cares for you. She speaks of you often.”

“Anya will be a problem,” Petor said with a shake of his head. “You should let me put her out. I have plenty of drugs that would work. I fear what she’ll do when the time comes. It might be better to deal with her when we get back home.”

Anya could be vocal about her opinions. She was strong willed, but Steph knew that even the strongest of wills could be broken. God only knew what had happened to the lively blonde while she’d been in de Vries tender care. She hated the thought that Anya’s spirit might have been dimmed by these days spent in captivity.

“She’ll do what I tell her to do,” Fedor replied with the supreme confidence of a man who was used to getting his way. “This will have taught her that I was right all along. My father was overly indulgent with her. She will come home and marry a proper man and I won’t have to worry about her anymore. I’m done with this experiment. She should be settled down with children by now.”

“Good luck with that,” Tucker said. “Women don’t like it when you tell them what to do. That’s one of the first things I was taught after I woke up. Well, after I went to The Garden. Kayla gave us a list. Rule number one. Don’t be a douchebag.”

“Can you shut him up?” Fedor asked.

Maybe it was time she found a bit of Anya’s stubbornness. They’d left her on her feet. She needed to use all the advantages she had. She moved in front of Tucker’s kneeling form. If they wanted to hit someone, they could hit her. He’d taken enough. “He’s in pain. Let him be. If you need to torture someone, do it to me.”

Fedor chuckled, a humorless sound. He moved in, looming over her. “Do you think I cannot break you, girl?”

“I think I don’t care,” she replied. “You’ve already ensured that I won’t ever see my son again. I don’t care what you do to me now.”

Fedor frowned. “You make me sound like a monster. I am doing this for my family. You would do same. Your man would likely do the same if he was smart enough to catch me.”

She shook her head. “I wouldn’t. I would find another way.” Avery’s words floated back through her head, their meaning so much more precious in this moment. “Sometimes the universe deals us shitty cards and how we handle it is how we’ll be judged. I think this is exactly who you are, Mr. Shadrova. I think you enjoy killing. I don’t know why or how or what turned you, but since you and Anya came from the same place, I have to wonder who was the strong one. Actually, I don’t have to wonder at all. Whatever broke you, whatever transformed you into a man who could turn over three innocent people to someone who will torture and kill them, it didn’t break her. She would never do this. She wouldn’t stand for it.”

Fedor looked her over. “So the mouse has a backbone? Funny thing you should show it now.”

She was sick of that attitude. “You think because I don’t shoot people that I don’t have a backbone? That shows me how small-minded you are. The strongest woman I’ve ever known has never lifted a gun in her life. I’ve survived more than you can ever imagine.”

It struck her as the words rolled out of her mouth. She had. She’d survived. She might have made a lot of mistakes along the way, but she’d survived and come through the other side.

She’d become a woman who thought of others first, who put kindness above self-interest. Who sacrificed herself.

Who needed to let a man love her so all those good things she did didn’t mean she gave up a life of happiness.

“Perhaps you will survive this, too.” Fedor moved away, his hand on his cell phone. “They’re almost here. We will move quickly. And you’re wrong about one thing. You say I’m giving up three innocent people, but these two are guilty. You are guilty. You ran. Deep in our hearts, we’re all dark. You left my sister there.”

“You ever tried talking your sister out of something?” Alfi asked. “Who do you think came up with the bloody plan in the first place? It sure as hell wasn’t me. Anya made sure I got Steph out. Anyone’s at fault here, it’s me. I wanted to see if I could make a few bucks off that drive.”

“You see, not innocent at all.” Fedor glanced down at the phone again.

“Have you thought about the fact that someone might blame you if she dies?” Tucker said. “Steph has people who care about her. Strong people.”

“Yes, I was surprised that the mouse had ties to a man like Ian Taggart,” Fedor agreed. “But this I do not worry about. He is a man I can handle. He will play by his rules and they have nothing to do with mine. Besides, I believe her ties are as a client. He won’t come after me over a client. She has no family.”

Oh, but she did. It brought tears to her eyes to think of it. She had Avery and Liam and Aidan.

She could have Brody if she was only brave enough to really love him. Not in a passive way, as she had since the moment she met him. She’d always known she couldn’t have him, and that made loving him easy.

But real love, honest deep-down love required something more than sacrifice. It required her to live, to believe, to have faith.

Tucker looked up at him, his eyes steady. “She has more family than you can imagine. You think family is blood and some oath you make because you have a mutual need to make money and pretend you’re doing it for the right reasons. You don’t know what a family can be when it’s truly chosen, when it has nothing to do with need and everything to do with the fact that the people around you give a shit. You think she’s a random client. She’s not Brody Carter’s client. She’s his lover and he won’t forget her. She’s not Taggart’s fucking client. She’s his friend, and I’ve learned that some people can do remarkable things for their friends. You think you can toss us aside, but friends keep up with friends in my world. Friends find a way.”

“Well, good for you. Perhaps Mr. Taggart will find you before de Vries kills you. I wouldn’t be surprised. You’re quite good at handling pain.” Fedor glanced over and said something in his native language that had all the men standing taller. All the guns came out and Steph knew they were close.

There was a loud slam as a door came open and a group of men strode in, all wearing black and carrying weapons that were banned in most countries. She didn’t know much about guns, but these looked state of the art. The team moved in like a well-schooled predatory flock.

Outnumbered. There had to be fourteen, maybe fifteen, versus Fedor’s six or seven. And it was a military crew against Fedor’s mobsters. A chill went up Steph’s spine.

“Mr. de Vries, where is my sister?” Fedor didn’t seem at all fazed by the fact that he was outnumbered.

De Vries glanced behind him and nodded. A man from the back pulled along a woman with a cloth bag over her head. Anya. Steph recognized the blue scrub pants she’d been wearing that night and the top with pink and yellow flowers that had caused the kids of the village they served to call her the Flower Lady. Flowers and bling and glitter. Anya loved anything bright and cheerful.

It would bother her that she’d been forced to wear dirty clothes. Anya loved her girly products. Even when they would go deep into rural villages, Anya would carry small tubes of body lotion, shower gel, and dry shampoo so she could stay clean and sweet smelling.

De Vries took hold of her elbow and pulled her up. He dragged the bag over her head. “She’s right here. Now give me what I want or I’ll take you all down.”

“Fedor?” Anya blinked, though the lights weren’t bright in here. She squinted and seemed to be trying to focus. “Fedor, what have you done? Stephanie? Is that you?”

“Everything’s all right,” she called out. “You’re going to be okay.”

Fedor held up a hand. “Both of you be quiet. Say another word and I’ll have you gagged.”

“Like I haven’t heard that before,” Steph said. Yes, she’d said that out loud.

Petor put a hand on her arm, but she was already thinking. If she let them get her into the car, she wouldn’t see Brody again. The minute Anya was safe with her brother, all bets were off. Somehow, she had the feeling that Fedor would honor his agreement since she’d upheld her end of the bargain. Now she had to find a way to get herself and Tucker out.

Could she really leave Alfi? Maybe. He was a dick. He was the kind of man who slung Nate’s diaper bag into the backseat of a Jeep without closing the top so everything went everywhere and then complained about it later. He’d bitched until she’d gotten in the back and shoved it all into her bag without even organizing it. It still wasn’t organized.

Oh, god. She knew where the drive was. He’d tossed it in the back after he’d thrown the bag in. She remembered the moment clearly. They’d been rushing to the Jeep and she’d been locking Nate’s car seat when Alfi had told her to be quiet. They’d stood there in the darkness, holding their breaths. After a moment, whatever had spooked Alfi was gone and they’d driven off as quietly as possible.

She’d had the damn thing all along, buried under rattles and diapers and wipes.

How could she use that to get them out?

“You will send my sister over and then we will back off and you can take these three with you,” Fedor commanded.

De Vries’s eyes narrowed. “If you so much as breathe the wrong way, I will kill you. Is that the man who says he knows where the thumb drive that fucking journalist had is?”

Steph kept her mouth shut because she was fairly certain she wasn’t up for as much physical pain as Tucker had been. It wouldn’t help to admit she knew anyway. It would only make Tucker useless to them, and that would get him a sure bullet to the brain.

Fedor put a hand on Tucker’s head. “It is, but you should know he’s hard headed. I tried to get him to tell me. I think he wants to go with the girl.”

“He’ll tell me,” de Vries promised. He eyed Alfi. “And you are merely coming along because I need to give my men someone to torture.”

“Excellent. I always knew I was the pretty one.” Alfi took a deep breath. “But I would leave the doc behind if I was you. She knows nothing and she’ll be more trouble than she’s worth. Let Fedor take her back to her people. Ain’t no one coming after me or the pup there, but they will come after her.”

“I’ve already tried this line of thought on them,” Anya said. “Neither one of us knows shit, but this one doesn’t understand. He is very thick in the head.”

“Do you want me to take another finger, bitch?” de Vries growled.

Fedor’s gun was up and aimed in a heartbeat.

Anya raised a hand, showing him her wrapped right pinkie finger. “He didn’t even get that right, Fe. He left me this one. Fuck you and whatever happens, know you deserve every bit of it. I can’t wait to see what Carter does to you. He’s going to take you apart and eat your intestines.”

She walked toward her brother, her middle finger shoved in the air.

Not broken then. And it was good that Anya had some faith. Steph looked at her friend. “He might pull his intestines out, but Brody would never eat them. He’s a gentleman.”

“Not so much a gentleman that he didn’t knock you up,” Anya replied. “As I’m being held prisoner by the cavemen, all I think of is the good thing that will come out of this is Brody will pull his head out of asshole and man up, as you Americans say.”

“Do the women ever shut up? And who the hell is Carter?” de Vries asked.

“He’s the man who’s going to kick your arse, as we say Down Under,” Alfi replied.

Fedor’s group closed ranks around Anya as she made it to their side. Anya put her hand on her brother’s arm before reaching for Steph.

“Come along. He’s not going to let them take any of you,” Anya whispered. “He never was. Now he will kill them all and we need to take cover.”

Fedor’s eyes never left the other team, but his lips curled in a way that let Steph know he’d heard his sister and was happy she knew him so well.

He hadn’t meant to let them go?

“Bring over the younger one,” de Vries commanded. “Something about him is familiar to me.”

“I think perhaps I will keep them to ensure that we are allowed to leave this place,” Fedor replied. “When I know where this drive thing is, we can talk again.”

“Shadrova,” de Vries yelled.

The guns came up and that was the moment that Steph heard something she didn’t expect. A low, familiar baseline wailed from the speakers on the walls.

Everyone froze, looking around, trying to figure out what was going on.

Was that Guns N’ Roses?

“You see, that’s where you assholes always go wrong.” Ian Taggart strode out from behind one of the islands of crates awaiting transportation. “You got no style. You need a theme song.”

The men seemed to move in perfect accord, all guns trained on the new guy. Taggart was a massive presence wearing all black, a Kevlar vest over his big chest. And he wasn’t alone. Li O’Donnell was right beside him dressed exactly like his boss and friend.

“Don’t take him too seriously. I’m pretty sure he stole those lines from a kid’s movie. And I thought ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ was your theme song,” Li mentioned casually as he carried a big-ass gun like he meant it. “Isn’t this ‘Paradise City’?”

It was. And it was surreal because no one seemed to know what was going on. Even the big bad mercenaries didn’t seem to know how to react.

How the hell were they here? How had they found her?

“It is indeed, my old friend,” Taggart replied. “‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ is my sweet, sweet lovemaking song. This is the one I kill assholes to. GN’R provides the soundtrack to my whole life. Hello, Fedor. I thought I told you we would meet again. You have something of mine and I’m here to fucking take it back. You boys might not give a shit about your people, but I’m smart enough to microchip all my puppies. Tucker, you brilliant motherfucker. You get all the hookers you want, my brother. I’m paying.”

She looked down at Tucker, who was staring at de Vries, seeming not to hear Taggart. That was why he’d come along, why he’d allowed himself to be tortured? Because he’d known he could be the beacon that brought their people here. He’d had little time to figure out what to do, but he’d offered himself up in an instant.

“Perhaps we could talk, Mr. Taggart,” Fedor said, his voice steady. “My sister is right. I was about to murder them all and give you your people back.”

“You’re outnumbered, you idiots,” de Vries yelled.

Taggart smiled, the pure, happy smile of a predator about to get a meal he’d long been denied. “Not on your life, asshole. You see, you forget. I came prepared. I brought snipers to the party. Hello, boys.”

Suddenly the room seemed filled with red laser lights painting the chests or heads of every man in there.

“Speaking of parties, I’m supposed to be at one in about five hours,” Taggart said, glancing down at his watch. “So we should get this one started.”

“Aye, I’m double-booked, too, brother, and I have to be there to work the grill.” Li continued on as though they were talking about a damn hair appointment that was running long. “Adam can’t do medium rare to save his life. He overcooks everything.”

She gasped as an arm curled around her waist and started hauling her back.

“Time to go, luv.”

Brody. It was Brody. He was here. Oh, god, Brody was here and he was taking her away from the brink of what would have been death and pain, and she wanted to turn and hold on to him and beg his forgiveness.

That was when she noticed Brody wasn’t alone. Theo and Case Taggart had his back, providing him with access to move to her and start to drag her away.

“Anya, I think you should go with the doctor’s friends,” Fedor said, never taking his eyes off Taggart. “I don’t believe they’ll hurt you.”

“I think I better stay here and try to explain that you are an idiot, but you don’t deserve to die,” Anya replied.

Alfi got to his feet. “Bloody hell. Save me from stubborn women. I’ll take her.”

Before Anya could say another word, Alfi had her in a fireman’s hold, walking her back to the McKay-Taggart line.

“If you think we’re going down without a fight, you better think again,” de Vries promised.

“You are going to run to the back of this bloody building and you’re going to hide,” Brody whispered into her ear. His voice was cold as ice, his hold on her not at all lover like.

He was angry. So angry. She could feel it.

“I can walk, Brody,” she said, trying not to be a burden.

“Alex McKay is back there along with Erin, and they’re going to get you someplace safe. I want you safe. I can’t do my job if you’re not safe. Is that clear?”

She was going to have to handle his rage at another time. Now wasn’t the time to argue or to explain that she’d seen the light.

She hadn’t meant to hurt anyone. She’d only wanted to go to a party and see her friends. That had been the reason, the motivation behind her crime. It hadn’t been the same for de Vries. De Vries meant to kill them all. His sin was an act of evil, hers of youth.

She might never be able to find the meaning in it that Kai and Avery talked about, but maybe she could try to have something good in her life, try to forgive herself enough to be worthy of them.

“Yes, Brody. You can let me walk. I’ll go back there. Tucker needs help. They hurt his feet.”

“Can’t worry about Tucker because I can’t trust you,” he whispered back. “Get behind me. Something’s wrong.”

She found herself pushed behind Brody’s body. Theo Taggart moved in behind her.

“I’ve got her back, Carter,” he promised. “But you’re right. I got a feeling de Vries won’t go down and Big Brother is going to get his firefight.”

“Why don’t we get the women and hurt puppies out of here and then we’ll talk?” Taggart seemed tenser than before, as though he’d realized what his brother had as well.

“The puppy? Are you talking about that animal there? Now I recognize him.” De Vries was staring at Tucker. “Since when do you hire true mercenaries, Taggart? I didn’t see it at first. He’s cut his hair. What the hell are you doing here, Razor?”

Tucker managed to get to his feet, his face contorting with pain. “Razor? Are you talking about me? Do you know me?”

“But you already know all of this, Taggart. We call him Doctor Razor because he cuts so deep. I find it interesting that he is here with your doctor. You like to experiment, don’t you? What were you doing with this one in Africa? Something terrible, I assume,” de Vries said.

Tucker shook his head. “No. I wouldn’t do something like that. I would never hurt someone.”

A low laugh came from the mercenary. “Very cute, Razor. And you call me a monster when you’re harboring the worst I’ve ever seen.” De Vries took a step back. “I think we’ll call it a day. Don’t think this is over.”

“Taggart, take her,” Brody ordered. “I’ve got a better chance at getting Tucker out than you do, and this is about to all go to hell.”

Steph looked up at him, trying to memorize his face. “Please don’t make me leave you.”

His jaw hardened, his eyes flinty as he looked down at her. “Go, now.”

Theo Taggart took her by the arm and started to lead her back. “Hurry, I need to drop you with Erin and get my ass back out here. Please don’t give me trouble.”

She kept up, but turned to see Brody’s big form becoming smaller as Theo led her away.

Through her tears she wondered if the battle had already been lost before she’d even started to fight it.

 

* * * *

 

Brody shoved down his fear, trying to stay cool and calm. All these years of fighting and he’d never once had his heart in his throat the way it was now. He’d been trained to handle the anxiety, the pressure, the fear of having his life in danger. It didn’t bother him. Most of the time he welcomed the adrenaline rush, sort of lived for it.

Not this time.

He had no idea how to handle losing her. This was everything he’d thought it would be and more. And this was what it would mean to be with her. She would never take her own safety seriously. Every single day would be a fight to curb her self-destructive tendencies.

How many times would she lie to him? Go behind his back and put herself in danger because a dark impulse made her do it? How would he explain this to their son?

Stop. Breathe. Work the op and let everything else go.

She was safe for now. Alex wouldn’t let her move. Erin would put her on her ass before she’d let Steph run out in the middle of a firefight. He trusted Erin and Alex to keep her where he wanted her.

He moved through the Ukrainian group, who seemed to have figured out that this had gone to hell and they better pick a side. The men at the back of the group were looking to their leader.

Fedor glanced his way and nodded toward Tucker. His voice was low as he spoke Brody’s way. “Take him. He’s in shock over something. I’m sorry about his pain, but I had to do everything I could to save my sister. I thought if I had the drive, I could avoid all bloodshed. Well, here at least. I would have gone after the fucker sooner or later.”

“You’re lucky I don’t kill you here and now,” Brody replied. “I’m only sparing you because of Anya.”

“And your doctor might have something to say about it, too, no? I think we both have difficult females in our lives.” Fedor moved in front of Tucker, blocking him from fire. “You need to move him out of here. De Vries is getting antsy and he’s right about one thing. He’s better armed than my men. I don’t think he will go down without a fight.”

And Taggart wouldn’t let him get away.

“If you step back out that direction, I think you’ll find a small tactical group led by a man who goes by the name of Mr. White,” Big Tag explained. “Well, he has so many douchebag names we can’t keep up with them, but feel free to call him whatever you like. He’ll have the place surrounded by now and I think you’ll find he’s more than willing to provide you with an escort out of the US. He’s got a couple of places where he likes to take his new friends.”

So Ezra Fain had managed to get here in time for the party. Brody hadn’t been sure the CIA operative would make it. When they’d realized they knew where Steph was being held, Taggart had called on Fain, making a deal to get backup. Fain and a team had been on a plane from DC and had only recently landed.

Fain would be more than pleased to get a man like de Vries in the hot seat, giving up secrets about how outside businesses were working against US interests and citizens abroad.

De Vries’s group turned, realizing they were trapped.

“I don’t believe you. You couldn’t have had time to plan this,” de Vries said.

Tag snorted. “I am a planner, asshole. And as I plan to be at my friend’s birthday party soon, why don’t you drop those guns and we’ll take you in nice and easy.”

Brody kept his sights on the mercenaries, fairly certain Fedor’s men had no interest in a two-sided fight. He knelt down beside Tucker. He was the only one close enough to get a hand on the bloke. “Come on now, then. It’s time to get you away from here.”

Tucker moved, but not in the right direction. He paid zero attention to Brody, stepping toward the Belgian group. “What’s my name?”

De Vries wasn’t taking his eyes off the real threat. If he heard Tucker, he didn’t let anyone know. “We can make a deal, Taggart.”

“That time is over,” Big Tag replied. “I’m no longer the man who controls your fate. Talk to the CIA, buddy.”

Tucker looked over at Tag. “He knows my name. He might be the only person in the world who knows my name.”

Taggart nodded. “And Mr. White will get that out of him. I promise you, Tucker.”

“I know all the terrible things you’ve done, Razor. What kind of game are you playing?” de Vries asked. “Are you trying to hide from the authorities? What happened to the doctor you were working with? Now, Taggart, if you want a truly evil person, you should talk to Razor’s lover, Dr. Hope McDonald. He’s the one you should hand over to the Agency. He’s the one who can show you all the terrible things they’ve done together.”

“No. No. No.” Tucker’s hands went to his head as if he was hearing some terrible sound no one else could. An animalistic cry came out of his mouth, the sound jarring Brody to motion.

Oh, god. Brody felt sick to his stomach. Tucker had worked with McDonald? He was the kindest of all the men who’d had their lives destroyed. What had happened? Had McDonald turned on her lover? Or had he realized that time was up and taken the only way out that didn’t include death or prison?

How would he handle it if he found out he’d been an evil son of a bitch in a life he didn’t even remember?

Tucker buckled over, clutching at his head. It was part of the drug and the conditioning the doctor had given them. When they tried to think too hard, tried to remember, pain flared through their systems. He’d seen a couple of the Lost Boys throw up and shake for hours after the pain came.

De Vries looked at Tucker and seemed to realize this was the distraction he’d been praying for. He shouted something to his men that Brody didn’t understand. What he did understand was the gunfire suddenly coming his way.

Brody leapt toward Tucker, who seemed utterly incapable of moving. He knocked the man over and felt his breath blow out of his body as he took a hit. Hurt like fuck, but he knew immediately that the bullet hadn’t pierced the armor Tag insisted on everyone wearing. He was better equipped than the damn mercenaries who had managed to get their guns and ammo here in the States, but hadn’t bothered with body armor.

Tag had forced anyone on the ground to dress in full-out tactical gear. Brody had dreaded the extra weight, but now it came in handy as the bullets started to fly.

He needed cover.

“Get him to the side.” Fedor stepped in front of him, firing off a few shots as everyone seemed to scramble.

Brody got to his knees, getting a hand on Tucker’s shirt. “Come on!”

Tucker’s head came up, his eyes not quite focused. “Leave me.”

“Not on your life.” He didn’t care what the lad had done before. Brody knew who he was now. Hell, they didn’t know anything at all. De Vries could be lying through his teeth for all they knew. Now wasn’t the time to figure things out. He needed to stash Tucker somewhere so he could get on to the work of the day—killing de Vries or making his life a living hell. One of the two.

“Move it,” Fedor ordered. “I’ve already taken a hit. I’m getting my men out of here in a few minutes. I don’t want trouble with Taggart.”

So he would try to make sure Tucker didn’t get them both killed. Brody looked up, glancing around the room. His best bet was ten feet to his left. There was what looked like a long row of almost ceiling-high crates.

He looked back and Taggart and O’Donnell had taken up positions, while the snipers seemed to be doing their jobs. Remy, Shane, and Declan were up in the rafters, using their skills to pick off de Vries’s men one by one.

Brody got to his feet, twisting in order to lay down some cover fire of his own. His chest ached, his ribs tender after the bullet he took.

One, two, three shots and he sprinted toward the safety of the maze of boxes. He hauled Tucker along by his shirt, praying the damn thing was well made because he wasn’t sure what he would do if it came apart in his hands.

All around him gunfire split the air. “Paradise City” became “Welcome to the Jungle” as Brody pulled Tucker deeper into the maze.

“Let me take him, mate.” Alfi was suddenly at his side. His shirt sleeve was torn and blood soaked the material.

Damn it. “Why didn’t you stay back?”

“Because I bloody well don’t deserve to be safe when my best mate is out here near dying,” Alfi shouted back. He pointed to the west side of the building. “De Vries managed to send a couple of men up the stairs. They’re going up to take out the snipers and then you’ll be a sitting duck.”

Brody watched the black-clad mercenary sneaking up the stairs. The bad guy hugged the back wall, but dropped to one knee and brought up the AK-47 he was holding. It wasn’t a sniper rifle, but it would do.

And it was pointed straight at him. Fuck.

Alfi stepped in front of him like a complete moron, since he wasn’t wearing a damn vest.

Before he could shove Alfi away, a shot cracked through the air. The Belgian’s head flew back, his body hitting the wall, and he went down.

Thank god for snipers.

“What the hell was that? Why would you do that?” Brody looked around, trying to see if anyone else had a line on them.

“I don’t know,” Alfi shouted back, frowning ferociously. “I guess I’m just stupid, but I know I’m not going to be the reason you die. I’ll take Tucker, or you take him and I’ll hold the line.”

Tucker had somehow managed to make it to his feet. “He knows my name. I have to talk to him.”

This was why the Lost Boys weren’t allowed in the damn field. “You’ll go with Alfi. I have to work my way back and make sure none of those fuckers gets close to where Steph is. Go with him. No excuses or I’ll knock you out and he can carry you.”

Taggart’s voice came over his comm line. “Carter, we’ve got them all except de Vries. Can’t see him and the comms are out with the boys above. I can’t get info from them. It looks like he’s in the maze, brother. On your side. Li’s coming in after you. Don’t shoot him.”

Shit. His best bet was getting back out the same way Li was coming in. He couldn’t engage de Vries as long as he had two civilians to protect. He couldn’t be sure this close to the side of the building that the snipers would have a shot. “We’re heading back out.”

“I’ll take him,” Alfi said, hauling Tucker up with his good side.

Li moved around the corner. “Brody, I need you with me. De Vries slipped in here somewhere and we can’t see him. I’ve got Erin on the other side and Theo and Case are taking the south end. I have no idea how the fucker got by us.”

“Where’s Steph?” If Erin wasn’t with her, had she run?

“Alex got grazed,” Li said shortly as he started to move past Brody. “The last time I checked, she was stopping the bleeding. It’s not a big deal, but we brought Shane and Dec down to help wrap up the ones left alive for Ezra.”

He nodded back at Alfi, who started to lead Tucker away, and then followed Li. “Where the hell is Ezra? I would have thought he would come in by now.”

“No idea. Hope he didn’t get stuck in traffic. Tag will have his arse.” Li moved down the big aisle toward the far end of the building.

Brody touched the comm. “Alex, I need you to watch Steph for me. Don’t let her out of your sight.”

“She’s fine,” Li insisted.

“She’s working on one of the Ukrainians.” Alex’s voice came over the comm. “We’ve got more than a few dead Belgians, but the Ukrainians came out of it with two GSWs. One’s pretty serious, but Steph thinks she can stop the bleeding.”

Steph was certain she could save the world, even if it killed her. “I need you to keep eyes on her.”

Liam rounded the corner. “Shit. What the hell happened?”

Brody stopped, his body going cold as he heard a familiar voice. He couldn’t see what Li was seeing.

“I thought he was hurt,” Steph said, her voice shaking.

Shit and shit. He was going to kill them all.

“Let her go and I’ll walk away,” Li offered.

Oh, but that wasn’t going to work. There was no way de Vries gave up his prize.

“I’m going to step out the back door and get into my car. I think I’ll keep my nice shield for now,” de Vries replied.

Brody took off running, his hand on his comm. “Keep him talking, Li. I’m going around.”

Li wouldn’t be able to reply over the line, but Brody was sure he’d heard.

“I’m on my way,” Taggart said over the line. “Someone get outside in case he takes the doc out of the building.”

Brody couldn’t think of anything but getting to her. He ran down the way he’d come, sprinting past Alfi and Tucker. He hit the open floor, barely registering the fact that there were bodies on there. He caught a glimpse of Fedor and his men, all of them having given up their guns, while Case and Theo were ensuring the living Belgians were all zip tied and behaving.

Brody followed the blue line. They’d been in hiding for hours, going still and silent while the Ukrainians were occupied and staying in place. Perfectly silent and hidden for three hours before de Vries had shown up. While he’d waited, he’d found a map and studied that sucker. The blue line led to the loading dock at the back of the building. That was where de Vries would take her.

Brody rounded the last row. He could hear the sound of feet pounding behind him, but he doubted de Vries would hear it over the rock and roll. Another of Big Tag’s little touches. That was the big boss. The things he did seemed arrogant, but they almost always served a purpose in the end.

Of course, he also had been trying to cover the sound of gunfire so the Agency didn’t have to deal with the local cops.

It didn’t matter why he’d thought of it. All that mattered was getting to Steph and saving her.

Again. For the last time.

“He’s almost to the door.” Li’s voice came over the comm.

“Brody, you need to flank him,” Taggart said.

And then he came into view. De Vries was dragging Steph along, her petite body held against his beefy one. Brody could see how his arm snaked around her waist right under her breasts, holding her so tight he couldn’t see how she was breathing. Her feet were dangling and he could see the way she struggled against de Vries.

“Stop.” Brody roared the command over the music that had covered his footsteps.

“Alex, cut the music,” Taggart was saying behind him. “We’re going to need to negotiate. And get Ezra on the goddamn line. He’s late.”

De Vries stopped as the music died and the whole building suddenly went quiet.

“Let the girl go.” Brody tried to get a decent shot, but de Vries was holding her over his chest, protecting his neck with her head. He might be able to get a head shot, but if he was off even a few centimeters, he could kill the mother of his child.

“Somehow, I don’t think this is going to happen, my friend. If you think for a second that I believe you’re turning me over to the Agency, you’re insane. Or if you are and they’ve got that psycho on the payroll, well, I’d rather die than be at Dr. Razor’s tender mercies.”

“He’s not who you think he is,” Brody said tightly. If de Vries would move a centimeter back…

“I know that man. I’ve seen what he can do,” de Vries promised. “And I won’t allow you to turn me over to him. Or his lover.”

“Hope McDonald is dead,” Taggart explained in a steady tone. “And the man you know as Razor isn’t the same man you met before. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I give you my word. I’m turning you over to the Agency. I won’t say Mr. White won’t hurt you a little, but he’s not a psychopath. You’ll be able to cut a deal with him. Let the doctor go and we’ll sit down and talk.”

“No one sits down and talks with that psycho.” De Vries’s eyes flicked between Brody and O’Donnell. “Now move away or I’ll kill her. I swear I will do it. I’ll take her down with me.”

“Brody, please.” Steph turned her face toward him, her eyes desperate.

Please what? Please let her go? Please save her? How could he ever know with her?

It didn’t matter. He had to save her.

“Take the shot if you have it,” Li growled.

De Vries turned and there it was. One shot. One second of opportunity before he lost it again.

Brody breathed out, seeing the place he wanted to hit—a small patch of skin above the mercenary’s ear. The bullet would go to his brain, shutting down everything before de Vries could make another move.

He pulled the trigger.

Please. Please. Please.

De Vries’s head jerked to the side and Steph was suddenly free.

She was alive. De Vries was dead, but Steph was alive.

He had to force himself to stand there, to not immediately go to her or he would be on his knees.

One of them had to be strong.

“Damn it, Taggart,” a familiar voice yelled. Ezra Fain strode in, a frown on his handsome face. “I told you I need them alive—that meant all of them. At least most. I’ve got four alive and one of them pissed his damn pants.”

Tag pointed a finger his way. “Next time, don’t freaking be late. I had to bluff and I hate bluffing. Now I have to go. I’m supposed to pick up the stupid cake. Why does Jake need a cake? He’s getting pudgy around the middle.”

“You are not going anywhere,” Ezra began.

They began arguing, bickering like an old married couple, but Brody was numb. He turned and started to walk away.

“Brody?” Steph’s voice made him stop.

It didn’t make him turn around. “You should check on Alfi and Tucker. I think they’re going to need you.”

He walked away. It was time to go home.