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“Clever, clever man,” she purred, crimson lips twisting into a smirk. “But not clever enough.”
Ryker raised and kept his gun trained on her, his heart pounding. Audra’s followers were gone, buried under piles of rubble or fleeing from the coming inferno. Now it was just the two of them, alone at last.
“It’s over, Audra,” Ryker said. “Your plan has failed.”
“Has it?” Audra tilted her head, eyes gleaming. “I still have you right where I want you. And I have your precious Oakley too.”
Rage boiled up inside Ryker, nearly blinding him. He wanted nothing more than to put a bullet between Audra’s eyes, but he couldn’t. Not yet. There was still a chance she knew where Oakley was being held, and he had to get that information out of her before it was too late.
Ryker met Audra’s gaze, icy calm settling over him. “If you touch her, I will end you.”
“Big words,” Audra scoffed. “But can you back them up?”
She raised her pistol, a clear challenge. His Oakley was likely already dead. His heart seized in his chest, but Ryker didn’t hesitate, firing before she had the chance. The bullet struck Audra’s gun, sending it clattering to the floor. She stared at her empty hands, eyes wide with shock.
Ryker kept his aim steady, waiting. The next move was hers.
Audra’s shock melted into rage, her hands curling into fists. For a moment, Ryker thought she might charge at him, but she remained still. Calculating. Come on, bitch. I have nothing to lose.
“You’re going to regret that,” she said softly.
Ryker’s grip tightened on his gun. “Where is she?”
Audra’s lips curved into a smirk. “Somewhere you’ll never find her. Not in time, at least.”
Hope welled in his chest. Ryker fired again, the bullet whizzing past Audra’s head. She flinched but didn’t move, her smirk widening. His hands were shaking now, anger and fear twisting inside him like twin vipers. He couldn’t lose control, not now. Not when he was so close.
“Tell me!” Ryker snapped. “Or the next bullet won’t miss.”
Audra stared at him, eyes gleaming with malice. “Go ahead. Kill me. You’ll be doing me a favor.”
Ryker hesitated, cursing under his breath. She was right—if he killed her now, he might never find Oakley, dead or alive. But if he didn’t get the information soon, it could be too late to save her. If she was under the fallen debris, she had little time left. He was trapped, torn between impossible choices, with no way out.
Just then, a faint groan echoed through the warehouse. Ryker and Audra turned as one, eyes widening at the sight of a figure pulling themselves from under a pile of debris with the help of Jacquard Reynaud.
It was Oakley.
“Thought you might need my help,” said Jac.
She was battered and bruised, her clothes torn, but she was alive. Ryker’s heart nearly burst from his chest as Oakley looked up, meeting his gaze. Her lips curved into a weak smile.
“Miss me?”
Audra shrieked with rage, whirling on Ryker—but it was too late. His gun was already swinging down, striking her across the temple. She crumpled without a sound, eyes rolling back into her head.
Ryker raced to Oakley’s side, pulling her into his arms. “I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered, burying his face in her hair.
“You’ll never get rid of me that easily,” Oakley murmured. She tilted his chin up, kissing him softly.
Ryker held her close, breathing in her scent. They were together again, and this time, he wasn’t letting go.