Page 120 of Defending You

Asher aimed his weapon toward the noise.

Fifty feet ahead and twenty feet above, Cici stumbled onto the catwalk.

A man’s arm wrapped around her neck, the barrel of a pistol pressed against her temple.

Nausea and rage crawled up Asher’s throat.

Her eyes found his through the hellish red light—wide with terror but alive. So alive.

Asher lifted a finger to his lips.Shhh.

The man holding her kept his back against the wall, Cici in front of him, inching toward the corner. Because of that, he didn’t see Asher. Too much of a coward to peek around his human shield.

Maybe not a coward. Just smart. If Asher got his sights on whoever that was, the guy would be dead.

“Grant.” Asher’s whisper into the comm was barely audible.

“I see her. Focus. We’re not alone in here.”

A shadow moved to Asher’s left, just past a huge machine on the factory floor. A commando trying to flank him.

Asher watched the spot where the enemy was sure to emerge. When he did, Asher fired.

The man went down.

A door opened below, then boots thumped on the concrete.

“Move,” Grant said. “We’ll cover you.” A gunshot punctuated his point.

Cici and her captor had continued moving along the catwalk and disappeared. At least he knew which way to go.

Hold on, sweetheart. I’m coming.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

When Cici had caught sight of Asher, her hope had soared like an eagle on an updraft. Of course he’d come for her. And based on the gunfire inside and out, he’d brought an army.

Maybe a stray bullet had hit her metaphorical bird because once she lost sight of him, that hope had been reduced to a few bloody feathers.

As they’d maneuvered along the catwalk, they’d had to step over the body of one of the commandos. Another one slumped over the railing.

The blood and death… It was more than she could handle. More than she’d ever wanted to know about war.

Now they were outside the office where Gagnon waited.

Souza stood with his back to the door, keeping her between him and danger.

A gunshot rang out on the floor below, followed by a thump. Someone was down. Asher?

Please, no.

From inside, Gagnon’s voice carried. “Now. I need that bird now!” He was shouting, though Cici heard no response. “If I go down…” His voice lowered, becoming incoherent.

Souza’s arm around her neck tightened, and dizziness overcame her. She fought against it, managing to shift enough to increase the blood flow to her brain.

Souza pushed her toward the catwalk railing, then shifted to the side.

He fired at the doorknob.