He leaned in close. Put his mouth to her ear. “And I will damn well die before I let them hurt you.”
They needed to be clear on that.
His life, not hers.
Never her.
Their hands locked. Together, they approached the building.
The man at the door tensed. He lifted his weapon and aimed it right at Drew.
“I’m Agent Lancaster, and I think you were waiting on me.” He paused. “On us. For a trade.”
Gunner would have his sites locked on that guy right then. If the fellow moved to fire, all bets were off. Gunner would take him out, and the agents lying in wait around the property would swarm.
But the man didn’t fire. Instead, he approached the gate. He fumbled and undid the padlock and let Drew and Tina inside. Then they headed for the door. The wood groaned as it opened. The building was dark and quiet inside.
And Drew could smell blood.
Paige.
He didn’t rush forward, though. Because his gaze had slid to the left. He saw the bomb that was planted there, just a few feet from the entrance.
“Well, well, well...” a familiar voice called out. “If it isn’t...Stone...coming back into the family once more.”
Hell. Drew focused to the right. The man walking from the shadows had bright blond hair. Angry brown eyes. And a knife in his hand.
Carl Monroe.
He’d been hiding just behind one of the bigger parade floats that filled the large warehouse.
“Figured I’d be seeing you again,” Carl said. His gaze slid eagerly toward Tina. “I was sure hopin’ that I’d be seeing you both again.”
* * *
“THEY’RE IN THE building,” Mercer said as he glared at Anton. He shoved his phone across the table. He’d uncuffed Anton’s right wrist. “Now make the call. Get your men on the line. Tell them to release Agent Lancaster’s sisters. If those women aren’t out in the next sixty seconds...”
Anton laughed and reached for the phone. “I don’t care about his sisters. I never did. They were just the means to an end.” His eyes narrowed on Mercer. “Your end.”
Mercer held his gaze. “Make. The. Call.”
Anton punched in numbers. He smirked. The phone was answered on the second ring. “Carl?” Anton said. “Are Lancaster and the girl standing right in front of you?”
Mercer leaned toward Anton.
“Good. Good. Now listen carefully. Let the agent’s sisters go....”
* * *
TWO MEN HAD come up behind Drew and Tina and taken their weapons. Most of them. Drew figured he still had about three blades left on him. They should have done a better job of searching them.
Carl’s phone rang. The man answered it, then called out, “Bring the women.”
Drew stopped breathing. From the back of the building, he heard the sound of footsteps. Shuffling. Slow. He craned to see, but the floats were in his way. One was a massive green dragon with flames coming from its mouth. Another was a mermaid, her tail crashing into faded blue waves.
But then...then they appeared.
He saw Paige first. Blood trickled down her cheek. So did tears. Helpless to stop himself, he took a step toward her.