Page 97 of Lethal Game

Fifty-four seconds.

The lights on the timer went out.

"Oh, God! Did I do it? Did I stop the bomb from going off?" she asked.

"You did it, Alisa." He flipped on his radio. "The last explosive has been located and disarmed on the bottom level of the parking garage. The threat is over. Repeat: The threat is over."

They could hear cheers from inside the garage and across the radio.

Jason gazed into her eyes with admiration and respect. "You are crazy brave, you know that?"

"I knew if I didn't find the bomb, no one else would know the code unless Kyle remembered the numbers I gave him, but he was trying to move the van, and?—"

"You're amazing." He crushed his mouth against hers.

It felt like forever since she'd kissed him, and this kiss was filled with joy, relief, and gratitude. They were alive. It was over. The bombs were not going to explode tonight. Everyone was safe.

But then she had to ask…

"My dad?" she questioned, looking into his blue eyes. "Is he okay?"

"He's on his way to the hospital. He probably has a concussion, but he's fine, Alisa."

"Is he going to be arrested for what he did? He was forced to build the bombs. He was going to try to detonate them before they ever got to the hotel. He gave me the code to disarm them."

"I don't know what's going to happen. I wish I could tell you I did."

"I wish you could, too, but I appreciate the fact that you never lie to me. What about Novikov and Stephanie?"

He shook his head, his expression angry and grim again. "In the wind. No idea where they are."

"So, they get away without consequences—again."

"Well, you foiled this plan, so that's something. A lot of people are alive tonight because of you."

"And you. And my dad. He gave me the code. He's the reason we were able to stop the attack."

He gave her a smile. "Don't worry. I'll go to bat for your father. I'll do whatever I can." He paused as they heard pounding footsteps and raised voices. They moved out of the utility room as Flynn and Beck came running into the garage.

"The bomb is in there," Jason said, tipping his head to the backpack on the ground.

Flynn shook his head in amazement as he looked at the open backpack. "I can't believe you disarmed both bombs in minutes. I didn't know I was getting a superhero when I hired you."

"Alisa did this one," Jason said, giving her a proud look.

All three of them looked at her with an enormous amount of respect.

She shrugged. "I was the closest one, and I knew the code. I was watching on the monitor when Jason did it in the hotel. I also knew the bomb was in a backpack. My hand was shaking so bad, though, I almost messed up."

"I'm sure you didn't come close to messing up," Beck said. "You're very tough under pressure, Alisa."

"I'm just glad it's over, although I guess it's not really over until you find Novikov and Stephanie."

"We have three of his men in custody," Flynn said. "Novikov's right-hand man, Ilyin is dead, along with two others at the Elliott Tower. We're going to pick up Pieter Moldev as soon as possible. Novikov's group has taken a big hit, and someone will talk. We'll get him."

She wasn't so sure, but she didn't want to dim the hopeful mood.

"I want to get Alisa out of here," Jason said.