Page 92 of Lethal Game

She stared at him with shock, as if she couldn't believe he'd just suddenly appeared as if she couldn't trust what she was seeing.

Savannah moved past him to check on the man on the ground.

"Put the gun down, Alisa," he said gently as she still held it pointed toward him.

"I…I shot him. I can't believe I shot him."

"You did good."

"I can't breathe," she gasped. "Is he dead?"

He looked to Savannah for the answer. She gave a negative shake of her head as she cuffed the man who was barely conscious and bleeding from a wound in his abdomen.

Turning back to Alisa, he said, "He's not dead, but he won'thurt you again." His gaze swept her body, noting the bruising on her face, and the ripped sleeve of her sweater. He couldn't imagine what hell she'd been going through or how she'd ended up with the gun and the man on the ground, but clearly, she'd fought for herself.

"Are you sure?" she asked, her breathing still coming too fast.

"Yes." As Savannah communicated with the rest of the team, and he heard Nick and Beck clearing other areas of the building on the radio, he moved forward and took the gun from her hand.

Then he pulled her into his arms, needing to hold her, to know she was okay. She sank into his embrace, burying her face in his chest as he stroked her back, as the terror began to seep out of her.

"I was so scared," she muttered.

"You're safe now."

"It's hard to believe."

Her body shook in his arms, and the last thing he wanted to do was let her go, but he had to find out what she knew. "Was anyone else here but this man and the guards in the front and back of the building?"

"They were all here. My dad was forced to turn the explosives into chemical weapons. If they didn't, they were going to torture me."

His chest tightened. "Who else?"

"Novikov. He slapped me in the face. He looked right into my eyes. He was terrifying. He was so cold." Her expression changed suddenly as if she'd just remembered something. "And Jason, Stephanie was here, too. She's working with Novikov. She's helping him, Jason. She's a traitor."

His lips drew into a hard line. He'd had doubts about Stephanie, but he'd been unwilling to see what was right in front of his face. "Did she set you up to be kidnapped?"

"I think so. Why else did she show up at the hospital? And I went along with her. In fact, I invited her to go to the cafeteriawith me. She played me, Jason. I thought she was your friend. She used your trust in her to make me trust her."

Another wave of anger swept through him, but he couldn't get derailed by emotions about Stephanie. "What happened when she showed up here? What did she say?"

"She said she made her choice a long time ago. She's the reason your dad is dead. She's been working for Novikov the whole time. And now she's going to help him set off the bombs. They left together. Novikov, my dad, Stephanie, and some other guy."

His gut churned with intense anger, but he couldn't give in to rage. He'd deal with Steph's betrayal later. Right now, he had to worry that she might use her badge to get Novikov and the bombs through security. He turned his head as Nick and Beck ran into the room.

"You got her," Nick said with relief.

"Yes. What about the rest of the building?"

"It's clear," Beck replied. "The two guards have been tied up. They're not going anywhere. But they're also not talking. What do we know?"

He turned back to Alisa. "Did Novikov go to the convention center? To another location? Do you know what they're planning?"

"They went to the Kensington Hotel where the vice president is staying. I think that's where they are putting the explosives. My dad said the ventilation systems are connected to the mall and another office building. If the bombs go off, the toxins will spread a great distance."

His heart sank. The complex was an even worse location than the convention center.

"And, Jason," she added. "One of the bombs is in a vest strapped to my father's chest."