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She twistedand found herself nose to nose with him, his breath fanning warm against her cheek. His eyes locked on hers, dark and intent, and she felt the weight of him in every sense. Not just his body shielding hers, but the fierce protectiveness in his gaze.

The moment broke as he shifted, his voice a low rumble that sensitized her skin. “Stay close. Keep moving.”

He scooped her up like she weighed nothing, hooking his arm around her waist, propelling her back to her feet in one smooth motion.

“Hurry!” he growled, pressing her forward with a hand between her shoulders.

Her attention snapped back to the hostages. They were huddled near the stairwell, their faces pale and bodies trembling with barely contained panic. “Go. Now!” she shouted, waving them on. For one endless second, no one moved. Then the spell broke, and they surged forward as one, stumbling and shoving through the door in their desperation to escape.

Leo stayed behind, laying down cover fire as she herded the hostages down the first flight. The door slammed shut abovethem as Leo followed, taking the stairs three at a time to catch up.

He grabbed Kat’s arm. “Change of plans. Stairwell’s compromised. They’re coming up from the third floor. There’s a window washer platform, east side. Two rooms over.”

The hostages’ eyes widened in panic. “The maintenance walkway won’t hold?—”

“It will.” He jerked his chin toward a door on their right. “Through there. Fast and quiet.” He pressed a stocky handgun into her palm. Kat hesitated—she’d only met this man hours ago—but something about him made her believe in him.

“You trust me?” His eyes met hers, clear and unwavering, displaying raw determination.

“Yes.” The word came easier than it should have.

His approval warmed his expression for just a moment. “Take point. I’ll cover our six.”

She nodded, mouth sour with fear, and hurried to guide the group forward.

A burst of gunfire erupted behind them. Leo returned fire. “Hurry,” he urged. “We’ve got maybe two minutes before they reach this floor.”

Kat pushed through the door. Empty office space, floor-to-ceiling windows ahead. As he’d promised, the platform hung just outside, swaying slightly in the wind. Her stomach clenched.

This was madness.

7

Leo shouldered past her,his carbine still trained on the door. Time was bleeding away. He pulled the glass breaker from his tactical vest.

The glass breaker struck true, fracturing the safety glass in a controlled spider web. His hands were steady even as his stomach churned.He delivered two more precision strikes.Not fast enough.

With a growl, he raised his gun and drove the buttstock through the remaining glass. It shattered in heavy chunks.Winter wind whipped in, carrying the distant wail of sirens.

The platform swayed as he swung out, testing its stability. His stomach lurched—not from the height, but from the seconds ticking away. Metal creaked beneath his weight as he did quick mental math. Eight people. The platform was rated for maintenance crews, but this was pushing it.

“It’ll hold. Two at a time.” He reached back through the broken window, forcing his expression to stone despite the urgency clawing at his chest. “Women first.”

One of the male hostages lunged forward, shoving past a woman. Leo pistoned an arm, catching him hard across the chest. Hot rage flared through him.We don’t have time for this shit.“Back. Off.” He kept his voice level, though his pulse clamored in his ears. “Women and injured first. You want to play hero, you can help me cover our exit.”

The man stumbled back, face flushing.

The nearest woman balked, staring down at the swinging edge. Panic flared in her eyes—panic that would cost them seconds they couldn’t spare. Leo gentled his voice with effort. “Look at me, not down. I won’t let you fall.” He gripped her arm, guiding her firmly onto the platform, ignoring the slice of arctic wind numbing every inch of exposed skin.

A second woman followed, tears freezing on her cheeks.Too slow.

Gunfire erupted from the hallway. Kat ran to the door and returned fire as Leo got the woman positioned. The platform groaned under the growing weight.Jesus.If the cables failed, if Burke’s men reached this floor before they cleared it—this would be the shortest rescue op of his career.

He killed the thought and helped another shaking woman through. “Keeplow, against the rail.” Five stories up. Exposed on all sides. A fucking nightmare, but his only shot at getting everyone out alive.

The male hostage who’d tried to push through shifted restlessly from foot to foot. “They’ll be here any second?—”

“Then make yourself useful,” Leo snapped, shoving his second backup sidearm into the man’s trembling hands. “Watch that door with Agent Landon.”