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Jumping to her feet, Eve cried out in a shrill voice, “What is she doing? Oh, Darius, she has a gun! Get it before she shoots me.”
Darius whirled around to gape at her. “What?”
Eve’s voice went even shriller. “She’s going to shoot me!”
Everyone, including Greta, was looking at her as if she’d dropped in from outer space. With all eyes on the witless Kimmie, Eve took advantage. Running for the door as if in a panic, she stumbled and fell on top of Greta, knocking into the woman so hard the gun flew out of her hand, sliding across the hardwood floor and under one of the sofas.
Barely a second later, the door busted open. Asher Drake and Gideon Wright stood there, holding guns.
Eve cursed under her breath. Perfect timing, as always.
* * *
Ash had been surprised many times in his life. To see the elegant and capable Eve Wells sprawled on top of another woman, while others stood around them gaping, was surprising indeed. He’d told her to create a distraction if necessary. Apparently, she had.
“Hands up, everyone.”
Dalca abruptly came out of his shocked trance and sprang to his feet. “What is the meaning of this? Who are you people? What are you doing in my home?”
“We’re here for you, Dalca. No one needs to get hurt.”
“This is outrageous. Get out of my house immediately before I call the authorities.”
“The authorities are not your friends today, Dalca. Make it easy on yourself and everyone else and give up.”
Dalca glanced over at the man to his left and then returned his gaze to Ash. “May I confer with my attorney?”
“You can confer all you want when we get you to a secure facility. For now, keep your hands where we can see them.” He nodded at the women still on the floor. “You two, get up and go stand over there.”
“There’s a—”
Eve’s words were cut off when Dalca dived for something on the floor and came up with a gun. Grabbing the woman standing beside him, he pulled her in front of him and held the gun to her head.
Ah, hell. Tapping his earwig once, Ash spoke softly, “Plan B.”
Holding his gun steady, Ash advanced toward Dalca. “You don’t want to do this, Dalca. It won’t have a good ending.”
“If I put the gun down and surrender, it won’t have a good ending either.”
Ash took another step closer. “Perhaps, but at least you’d be alive.”
“Don’t come any closer, or I’ll shoot her.”
“Shooting your attorney’s wife might put a crimp in your relationship.”
Finally coming out of his shock, Balan snapped, “Andrei, unhand my wife immediately.”
In response, Dalca pulled the woman even closer to him, blocking Ash’s chance for a clean shot. “Attorneys are easy to find.”
“Adding murder to the list of your charges will not help your cause.”
“You won’t let me kill her.”
Ash cocked his head. “I won’t?”
“No. You’re going to get me safely out of here. I’ll release her when I’m safe.”
“I think you’ve been watching too much television. That’s not how I operate.”