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Then, suddenly, Mike barked out a laugh and clapped his hands several times. “Brava! You nearly had me believing you, Elizabeth.” The smile melted from his face, and he snarled. “But I’m calling your bluff.”
She involuntarily took a step backward. “So what? You’re going to threaten Owen unless I give you the password. I’mcalling your bluff. You’re a criminal, Mike, but you and I both know you’re not a complete monster.”
“You’re right. I’m not.”
He snapped his fingers again, and this time when the guard spoke into the radio, the back door burst open. Three rain-soaked men entered, carrying a body between them. Unceremoniously, they dropped it on the floor, and a groan arose. Ellie’s chest tightened until she couldn’t breathe as a set of familiar boots came into view.
“Daniel!” Holding Owen, she dropped to her knees beside him. He’d been beaten. Badly. Blood soaked his jeans where his stitches from his gunshot wound had opened. Bruises formed on his cheeks and a nasty cut marred his lip. Even his hands were puffy. One finger jutted at an unnatural angle, as if he’d broken it while fighting back.
She wanted to weep, but couldn’t.
Daniel opened one eye—the other was swollen shut—and focused on her. “Don’t… give it to him.”
Mike crouched next to Ellie. “You see, I know you better than you realize. This man is in love with you, and I knew you would never walk in here without backup. You’re playing checkers, Elizabeth, and I’m playing chess.” He pointed a gun at Daniel’s head. “And this is checkmate.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
Daniel’s vision swam and nausea threatened to unmoor him. The gun barrel pressed to his temple was an immediate cause for concern, but he barely noticed. All he could focus on were Ellie and Owen. In this desperate moment, he knew the whole truth. He didn’t just love them. They were his life. His future. The reason he breathed.
That’s why he’d deviated from the plan after Ellie’s frantic phone call and driven out to the coordinates she’d provided ahead of his backup. Daniel had been trying to figure out a way to sneak into the house when he’d been jumped. Four men, overseen by Mike, had beaten him senseless. He hadn’t gone down without a fight though. He’d given as good as he got.
Coming here alone had been reckless, a move born from desperation and panic… and a fierce need to protect them. Now, he lay on this cold tile floor, with a gun pointed at his head, and all he could think about was that he’d put the woman he loved in an impossible position.
His throat was dry, his body aching, and it hurt to breathe. Still, he managed to say, “Don’t do it, El. He’ll kill us both anyway.”
“True.” Mike hovered over him, a sinister smile on his face. “But we can end things mercifully or…”
He rose and delivered a swift kick to Daniel’s gunshot wound. White-hot agony exploded, along with a primal scream. He smothered the cry behind gritted teeth but couldn’t control his breathing. It was shallow and ragged, each draw of air sending pain pulsing through his entire body. He forced his good eye open and leveled it at Mike. “I’m going to destroy you.”
“You can barely stand.” Mike turned to Ellie, who had tears shimmering in her eyes. “What’s it going to be, Elizabeth?”
“Don’t, El.” Daniel dragged himself upright through sheer strength of will.
She looked down at him, her expression saying everything she couldn’t out loud.I love you. I’m sorry.
It ripped him to shreds, causing more pain than the wounds on his body. He wanted to haul himself up off the floor and tackle Mike but knew he would only get himself shot before he even rose to his feet. He frantically searched for a way out of this. For Ellie and for Owen, if not for himself. His backup was probably still twenty minutes away, and it would take time for them to get into position. Too late to save them. At this point, Daniel needed a miracle.
God, please. If this is my time, then I succumb to Your will, but I pray You will bestow grace on Ellie and Owen. Save them, Lord.
Ellie held a protective hand over Owen’s head. The baby, thankfully, was sleeping straight through this nightmare. “What about Owen?”
“As you pointed out, I’m not a monster. Owen will be returned to his foster family by tomorrow morning.”
"You swear it?"
"I give you my word." His tone turned impatient. “Enough stalling. Give me the password.”
Daniel reached up and used the island to pull himself to his feet. Each move sent waves of pain through him. He was powerless to stop this, but he wouldn’t be silent. “You've betrayed everything you swore to protect."
Ellie reached out and touched his arm. The warmth of her hand seeped straight through his torn shirt, past his wounds, and right down to his bones. He longed to pull her into his arms. To stop her as she drew in a breath.
“The password is?—”
A thunderous blast shook the entire foundation, and an inferno erupted outside the kitchen window. On instinct, Daniel grabbed Ellie and yanked her down with him under the shelter of the island. Owen’s small form was nestled between them. Shouts and panicked cries were punctuated by gunshots.
“We’re being attacked!” Mike bellowed into a handheld radio.
“Rangers?” Ellie whispered.