Page 100 of Lockout

“Keely!” Gabby was being dragged in the opposite direction, out the other door.

All the fight drained out of my body and I scrambled out of the vehicle as fast as I could so that I could be reunited with her again. She wrapped her arms around me as we met at the back of the SUV.

“Let’s go,” the man who’d first grabbed Gabby said, jamming the barrel of his gun into my back. “That way,” he said, motioning with his head.

We walked, our footsteps echoing eerily until we got to an elevator. The man punched the button for the top floor. “Where are you taking us?” I asked.

He ignored me. As soon as the doors opened, he dragged us over to where more men were waiting, ducking down behind some cars.

“Finally,” one of the men said. He looked to be in his sixties. His long gray ponytail was as greasy as his beard. I immediately didn’t like him. His eyes roved over me. “This her?”

“Yeah. Brought you a bonus too, Prez.” The guys shoved both me and Gabby forward.

I pressed her back, keeping my body between her and the man because I recognized him. I’d seen enough pictures of Hangman to know him anywhere. My blood ran cold staring at his grim face. We were in so much trouble.

The guys had left because Hangman had come back to Arizona, so I knew he was around. I just hadn’t realized I’d end up face to face with him. Or worse, that Gabby would. This was worst case scenario and I didn’t know how to get out of this situation with Gabby.

“Let her go,” I pleaded. “I’ll go with you. Just-”

“Oh, I plan to let her go,” Hangman said with a wide grin.

I grimaced at his smile. There was something evil about it. Some might think he was good looking for an older man, despite the fact that he needed a shower. All I could see was themurderous intent written all over his face. Why would they bring Gabby here just to let her go?

“Little girl,” Hangman said, motioning to Gabby.

I held her arm, keeping her by my side, but he didn’t seem to care.

“See that group of cars over there?”

We both craned our heads to look across the top floor of the parking garage. There was nothing but open sky and stars above us and this garage had to be at least four stories high, so there was nowhere else to go.

“Yeah,” Gabby whispered, giving me an uncertain look.

“Your daddy and his friends are over there.”

My head snapped back toward the area he mentioned, straining to see. There were lamp posts up here, illuminating the night, but it was too far to see if he was right. “You’re lying,” I told him.

“Why would I do that?”

I met his gaze again. I had no idea. Whywouldhe do that? What was his plan?

“Lockout!” he bellowed, making me jump. “I’ve got a couple of your girls here.”

“Bullshit!”

My heart started thudding hard when Lock’s voice echoed through the still night air. I turned a little, searching the cars, trying to see them.

When Gabby screamed, I jerked her hard against my body, glaring at Hangman. The asshole just kept grinning. Gabby rubbed her arm where he’d pinched her.

“Gabby?” Priest’s voice sounded tortured.

“Daddy!” she cried out, shaking in my arms.

“No!” I screamed, as two of Hangman’s crew forced Gabby away from me. One of them held me by the waist as the othertwo pulled her out from the safety of the vehicles we were hiding behind.

“Go,” Hangman said, staring at Gabby.

She froze as the men dropped their arms, releasing her. “Wha-”