Page 80 of Tag (The Golden Team #9)

Tag

T he barrel of his pistol pressed harder into the hostage’s temple, dimpling skin. The man’s eyes were wide above the duct tape, his breath coming fast through his nose.

“Let’s talk, Tag,” the gunman said, his voice a slow drawl. “Graves says you like control. So here’s your choice—you drop your rifle, or this poor bastard paints the wall.”

I didn’t flinch. “If Graves had something real to say, he wouldn’t send you to do it.”

He smirked. “He wanted me to deliver this in person. Eye to eye.” His free hand dipped into his vest and came out holding a folded scrap of paper.

My gut tightened.

“You drop the rifle,” he repeated, “and you get the message. Otherwise—” He jabbed the pistol harder into the hostage’s head. The man whimpered.

Through my communication, Gideon’s voice murmured in my ear. “We’ve got the back wall. Two shooters down. One left inside.”

I kept my voice low. “Hold. This is still live.”

The gunman tilted his head, reading me. “Tick tock, Tag.”

I let the seconds stretch, my mind running every angle. Then I eased my finger off the trigger and let the rifle drop to my side—not slung, just enough to make him believe I was bending.

That half-second of smugness in his eyes was all I needed.

I lunged, closing the distance in two steps. My left hand wrenched his pistol arm up and away from the hostage’s head while my right slammed into his throat. He gagged, stumbled, and I ripped the gun from his grip, spinning it back on him.

One shot. Center mass.

He dropped, the folded scrap tumbling from his hand to the dusty floor.

I kicked it over, keeping my rifle up now, and snatched it before Gideon’s team swept in to pull the hostages out.

The note was short. Just six words, written in a sharp, deliberate hand:

“You can’t keep her forever.”

My pulse hammered. I didn’t need to ask who “her” was.

I stuffed the note in my vest and keyed my communication. “Package secure. We’re done here.”

But inside, I knew this wasn’t over.

Graves wasn’t done—not with Aponi.