High-Risk Rescue, page 2
Ayden gritted his teeth. “Under the circumstances, I will do both.”
As the crowd squeezed tighter toward the door, he reached down to lift her up with one arm.
“Can you make it?”
She appeared dazed, battered and bruised, but nodded. “Thank you,” she whispered.
They pressed through the exit out into the hallway where more people tried to flee the packed hotel, but it was like rush hour traffic. Slow-going with so many people crammed inside.
Instead of staying with Ayden as instructed, Stevens forced his way through the mob, leaving both Hannah and Ayden behind. She acted as though she wanted to rush forward with her boss then suddenly slinked back and pressed against Ayden. At least she’d stayed with him, but on the other hand, maybe that wasn’t by choice. He doubted she had the power to press through the crowd as Stevens had done. He was clearly a man on a mission, determined to save only one life—his own. Stevens had given up on helping Hannah, after all. Still, Ayden was pretty sure everyone here had the same goal.
“Stevens!” Ayden shouted over the crowd, and the blaring alarms, spotting the back of the man’s head.
Once through the next door, people spread out and ran toward the two available exits on each end of the long hallway. Ayden had scoped the premises out ahead of time. Through the door across the hall, they would find another exit.
But he’d lost sight of Stevens now. Great. The first client of his new Honor Protection Specialists venture.
“I’m okay. You can let me go,” the woman he’d pulled from the floor said, drawing his attention.
“Are you sure?” Hannah touched her arm, impressing him with the fact she was still a kind and caring person in the middle of an everyone-for-themselves atmosphere.
She nodded, glancing between Hannah and Ayden, once he released her to find her own way. Against the wall, she edged her way to freedom.
Panic surged in Hannah’s eyes, but to her credit, she remained composed as she looked at him. “Where’s Mr. Stevens?”
Ayden gripped her hand and moved through the throng of people rushing from the hotel. “I see him. He’s waiting at the back door across the hall.”
Odd. But then again, he wouldn’t risk leaving the building without his hired bodyguard. And, honestly, Ayden couldn’t really be angry at the man for getting himself away safely. He’d made it that far, and no thanks to Ayden.
Still...he didn’t want Hannah getting ideas that the danger had passed. They weren’t out of the woods yet. “Stick with me.” Ayden glanced at her, and she nodded. “As soon as we get out of this hotel, we have to get far away.”
“The bomb?”
“Yes.” If there was a bomb, it was ticking.
God, please let us get out of here in time. Let these people make it to safety.
At least he served a purpose here today, though a very small one. After this catastrophe, he would be rethinking the kind of clients he took on.
With Hannah in tow, he moved toward the wall then headed away from the main exit and against the tide that fortunately had begun to dissipate as the hotel emptied.
A split second later, gunfire erupted from the front exit. Unleashing panic and pandemonium once again. People who had been fleeing the hotel turned back and ran toward them.
“Hurry!” Ayden rushed Hannah toward the side door in the hallway that would lead to another exit.
Stevens waited for them at the door—Ayden had gone over the exits with him should they need one—and the CEO stared at Ayden now, willing him forward as if his life depended on it.
He suddenly slid down, leaving a streak of blood on the wall.
“Stevens!” The sight gutted Ayden and when he reached him, he crouched next to the dying man.
Hannah screamed and dropped to her knees next to her boss. “Mr. Stevens! No, no, no, Alfred.”
Ayden took in the scene before him. Found the man’s midsection already drenched in blood. He assessed Stevens’s injuries, but in his peripheral vision he caught Hannah’s tear-filled eyes, along with the accusing look she gave Ayden. Her grief shifted to anger.
The injured man’s pulse was weak and erratic and then...gone. He’d lost too much blood already and there was nothing Ayden could do to help him now.
But he could help get Hannah to safety.
Another round of gunfire suddenly erupted then the wall near her head took a bullet.
* * *
Hannah pressed her hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes shut. She curled into a ball against the wall and prayed this nightmare would go away. More gunfire ensued, close enough she felt it to her bones. She couldn’t breathe.
I’m going to die!
Ayden crouched next to her, covering her, protecting her. If only Mr. Stevens had stayed with him, he might be alive. When Hannah opened her eyes, Ayden aimed his gun and then fired at their shooter as people continued frantically clearing the hallway. Keeping his gun ready to shoot, he gripped her arm. His handsome face suddenly filled her vision, his eyes penetrating. Ayden’s mouth moved, but she couldn’t comprehend the words. Then his deep frown, the fierce determination in his gaze, broke through her paralyzed mind as she took in what he said and what he meant.
“We. Have. To. Run!”
He tugged on her arm, forcing her up from the floor, then pulled her away from Mr. Stevens. She took in his motionless body and wished she hadn’t. She would never be able to erase that image from her mind.
Alfred.
He was gone now.
Gone!
She stared at his lifeless eyes again as if that would help her to grasp this new reality, but her mind couldn’t gain traction and she remained dumbfounded. Ayden’s shouts carried through a wave of screams as hotel security guards rushed in to protect people against the shooters.
Ayden lifted her off her feet with one arm and carried her. “Someone shot at you! We need to go if you don’t want to end up dead like your boss.”
“But Mr. Stevens! We can’t just leave him.”
She twisted around to look at Alfred’s body one last time. God... But there was nothing she could pray, nothing she could do for him now.
“He’s gone.” Ayden dropped her down to her own feet, releasing her to run with him, which she did. “We’re going through the door. Stevens was waiting for us to get through to the exit here.”
“And he got shot while waiting for us.”
Ayden’s grip tightened. “I’ll protect you.”
“You weren’t hired to protect me. You were hired to protect...” What was she saying? That she didn’t want his help? Ayden hadn’t succeeded in safeguarding Mr. Stevens, but she wouldn’t bring that up now. He already knew. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Using his body as a shield, he ushered her to the door. His back to her, he held his weapon ready to lay down cover if necessary. “Open it.”
She grabbed the handle and twisted. Nothing. She pulled but it didn’t budge. “It’s locked!”
“Stand back.”
She moved out of the way but kept to the shadows of the small alcove. Ayden somehow managed to keep her covered, as he kicked the door repeatedly. It finally gave way with a reverberating thud.
A bullet whizzed by her head, plunking in the Sheetrock.
Screaming, she ducked.
“Keep going down the hallway.”
He didn’t need to tell her twice. This time, anyway. She finally pushed back the paralyzing fear and vowed to keep moving. She ran through the doorway and continued down a long hallway, Ayden behind her. “Where are we going?”
“Hang a right. There should be an exit.”
Gasping for breath, fueled by fear, she ran down the long corridor, feeling like it just kept getting longer. Finally, she made it around the corner and took a right as he instructed. A brightly lit exit showed the way.
Hannah hesitated before going through. “But... What if they’re waiting on us?”
“I’m going first to clear the garage.”
“This leads to the parking garage?” She imagined Mr. Stevens had arranged to have a car waiting. But that wasn’t going to help them now. His driver had dropped them all off, and she had no clue where he was now.
She studied Ayden while also listening for the sound of pounding feet in the hallway, the only warning they would likely get if they had been followed.
Sweat beading on his brow, Ayden nodded and brandished his gun. “Wait for my signal.” He left her standing there alone when he exited.
She hadn’t realized how much his mere presence projected protection. And maybe that’s why Mr. Stevens had died—he’d ran ahead and left Ayden’s side. Maybe the bodyguard’s presence alone warded off evil. And with that thought she realized she’d rather be next to Ayden—despite the awkwardness of their past—than hiding in a lonely hallway during a bomb threat and shootout. Heart pounding, she feared those who had started the deadly rampage would come running after her. They had to have seen her and Ayden exit this way, of course, because they’d landed a few near misses at her head.
She started inching toward the exit despite his warning to wait. A breath away from her rushing through that door to join him in the parking garage, Ayden returned. And like she’d hoped, his appearance calmed her—if only a little.
Though she never wanted to see him again after their relationship ended, he was the security guy in this awful scenario, and she was grateful for his skills and protection.
“The garage is clear for the moment,” he said. “Let’s go. Stay behind me. Close behind me. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Together they hurried through the door, stuck to the walls and then he led her around the corner. Tires squealed.
Her heart rate skyrocketed at the threatening sounds—a vehicle steered by bad guys bent on getting to her rather than exiting with the threat of a bomb?
Oh, Lord...
Running through the hotel, herded by shooters down hallways and into the garage, she’d forgotten about the bomb. It was too much to keep up with.
“Change of plans.” The coarse timbre of Ayden’s voice rumbled through her, setting her teeth on edge.
“What?” She moved behind a support beam for cover.
“We’re not going through the garage,” he said. “We have to backtrack. Head for the stairwell.”
She inwardly groaned. “But that will take us back into the building.”
“And away from the attackers. Your pursuers.”
Your pursuers. “Why would anyone pursue me? I’m a nobody!”
She hadn’t expected a reply and all she got was his well-calibrated machine of a body rushing her through another door, while shielding her. Would he really take a bullet for her? She couldn’t fathom anyone would lay down their life for someone else.
Though, she knew One who’d paid the highest price for them all.
Ayden led her downstairs, moving slower than he normally would have, she suspected, so that she could keep up.
Even so, she gasped for breath—the heightened activity along with fear squeezing her heart and lungs. “Where are we going now?” She asked the question on a gasp.
“Out another exit.”
“You know about this how?” she asked.
“My job to scope out the place.”
Had it also been his job to look for potential bomb hazards? She bit back the question.
Both of them were breathing hard by the time they made it down to another floor that exited out into a loading dock area.
He edged toward the exit where an idling truck waited. Forgotten as someone fled the area?
“We have to hurry before someone attempts to stop us here.” Ayden rushed past the truck and into the alley.
“Wait! What are you doing? We could just climb into this truck and escape that way.”
“And draw too much attention. No, let’s stick with my plan.” He checked the alley, looking both ways, then gestured across the way. “We’re going to head into that building across the street.”
She wouldn’t argue with a protection expert who held her life in his hands, but if it had been left up to her, she would have driven the truck out of here. Then of course they might have been pursued by her “pursuers,” whoever they were. Okay. So he knew what he was doing.
Sirens rang out, bouncing off the walls between the buildings, reminding her that everyone was in danger, not just her.
God, please let everyone make it out of the hotel!
Images of Mr. Stevens accosted her, but she had to survive to tell her story. To tell his story.
A protective arm at her waist, gun at the ready, Ayden ushered her across the alley and through a door that easily pushed open. A side door like this she fully expected to be locked.
The loud honk and rumble of an engine echoed against the brick walls, and she saw a flash of red before the door closed.
A fire truck. Probably more than one.
Inside the building, Ayden broke through yet another door and entered another stairwell. At a landing between floors, he stopped to wipe his brow, then turned his dark eyes on her.
She remembered those eyes so well, and the look he’d given her when she last saw him—one of the most painful, heartbreaking days of her life.
“We’ll wait here until help arrives.” His voice was gruff as he scraped his free hand down his face.
She never would have dreamed she would be stuck in a small space with Ayden Honor again. Memories rushed at her from the past and entangled with their present predicament. Dizziness swept over her.
“Are you okay?” He reached forward as if to steady her.
She took a step back, and instantly regretted it when she saw the anger and hurt flash in his eyes. He wasn’t the enemy now. He wasn’t the enemy back then, either. “I—I’m fine, thanks. I heard sirens. Sounds like help is here.”
“They’re here to address the bomb threat first, and gunfire if it continues. I suspect since the target has been removed, the shooting has ceased.”
Target. He meant her. How could it be her?
When she didn’t say anything, he continued, “Don’t worry. You’re safe at the moment.”
Huffing out a breath, Ayden paced the small landing, and Hannah backed up against the wall. She didn’t mind the support, and the small space it gave her from Ayden.
“We’ll talk to the police at some point. But right now, I need to keep you safe.” He said the words as if reassuring himself.
“Mr. Stevens didn’t hire you to keep me safe. To me that means I shouldn’t be a target or else he would have hired you to keep me safe, too.”
“Right now, you’re an extension of Stevens. It’s obvious you were targeted, too. I’m going to need your phone.”
“My phone?”
“Need to make sure it isn’t being tracked.”
Hannah fished it out of her pocket and handed it over. She was actually surprised she still had it because she’d lost her iPad in the chaos. Maybe she’d placed it on the podium, but she couldn’t remember what happened.
Ayden examined her phone and then all he did was turn it off. He stuffed it in his pocket. “As far as who he hired me to protect—do you really think I would leave you unprotected, regardless?”
In his eyes, she saw a thousand emotions swell, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to answer that question. Was he protecting her because of their past history? Or because he was just a good guy? A hero. She’d bet the latter.
Broad shoulders lifted, his feet spread in a wide stance, he held his gun at his side. She had no doubt that he was a skilled marksman. Feeling his penetrating gaze, she slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. The way he looked at her now, she had the distinct sensation he was peering right into her soul.
And she knew Ayden wouldn’t leave her unprotected, under any circumstance.
“No. I don’t.”
* * *
Her emerald green eyes sparked with trust, which honestly surprised him. But it also reassured him. Especially since her boss had hired Ayden and he’d failed to protect the man. Given what happened between Hannah and Ayden nine years ago, he wasn’t sure what to expect from her. This was uncharted territory for them both.
When she’d broken things off with him—on the day he had meant to propose—he’d seen fear and mistrust in her tear-filled eyes. That look had startled him, cut him to the quick. Where had it come from? What had happened? He must have done something to cause her pain, but he had no idea what it could have been. And protecting her now, this woman he’d once loved, was also a huge distraction for him.
He didn’t think Hannah’s presence, the effect she had on him, had anything to do with Stevens’s death, though. At least he hoped not, and he pushed the doubt aside. He couldn’t afford it right now.
Ayden fisted his free hand and wanted to pound it into the wall.
Stevens, why didn’t you listen? Why didn’t you stick close?
What was worse—he wasn’t sure that even if Stevens had been right by his side, that he would still be alive. Ayden prided himself on his years of experience keeping high-risk assets safe in the US Diplomatic Security Service. But he’d left that all behind and preferred keeping things low-key in his new endeavor—Honor Protection Specialists.
Right.
Today had been anything but low-key.
Anguish and rage twisted inside of him. Still, he maintained his composure in front of Hannah.
Leaning against the wall, she stared at the floor—to avoid looking at him, he was sure—and hugged herself. What was she thinking? That hiring him hadn’t done her boss any good? She’d be well within her rights to have those thoughts.
Ayden ground his teeth together. He still wanted to slam his fist into the wall, but right now he had to exhibit control over his emotions. This dangerous situation wasn’t over yet.
