Page 22 of The Ranger (Black Hawke Security #5)

COLE

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“G et a better job, asshole .” I clock the guard on the back of the head, and he drops.

Liam lets out a brief chuckle, and we head around the side of the warehouse just as the sound of gravel has us turning back.

The US Marshals have arrived.

Three unmarked black government vehicles pull up at the gate and six men climb out. They’re wearing US Marshal jackets and dark glasses.

“Why do they do that? Can they even see out of those things?” Liam asks.

“Beats me.” I lift my rifle and can almost hear an invisible clock ticking. “Let’s go. We’re running out of time. And if Josh asks officially, we didn’t see them.”

“Didn’t see anything,” he whispers. “Blind as a bat.”

I shoot him a grin.

“Two minutes,” Ryder says in our ears.

We don’t reply, now moving swiftly along the side of the building.

I stop when I see Chen’s vehicle parked inside the large warehouse. There’s fuck all inside except for a few rows of shelving and forty or fifty boxes. The place looks like it’s being emptied out. God knows what else they’ve been up to.

Several men are standing near the back of his car, all of them of Asian descent and armed.

One of them suddenly starts yelling, and both Liam and I flatten ourselves against the building.

“Marshals,” Liam mutters, and I nod, barely glancing at him.

When they don’t run outside, we nod at one another and slip inside, staying in the shadows as they run around like chickens with their heads cut off. Chaos erupts, and their weapons are drawn. Clearly hiding shit and trying to get away before the authorities get through their gate.

Which we just cleared for them, so what is taking so fucking long?

We should help and stop the men.

Then again, we shouldn’t be here. Fuck, national security is at hand here. I glance at Liam, about to tell him to head around the back and cut them off, when I hear a muffled scream.

Scarlett.

My feet are already moving when I hear Liam say, “I’ll cover you.”

Nothing, including my own life, matters right now. Scarlett and my baby are here.

Fuck.

I race along the wall of the warehouse with Liam at my six. Our movement gets their attention, and shots start firing. I duck and do a figure eight, darting out of the fire.

“Jesus,” Liam groans.

Pop, pop, pop.

He sends a few their way.

“Go.” He slaps my back as Scarlett lets out another scream.

Every second of my training kicks in, and I’m running, sliding and ducking behind boxes and racks while Liam follows on my tail.

I spot two doors and drop behind a shipping container.

Liam slides down beside me. “Christ.”

Panting, I stare at the two doors. Which one?

Tell me where you are, Scar.

“Hands up! Put your weapons on the ground.” The Marshals yell at the North Koreans from the warehouse entrance.

We should present ourselves, but there’s no time. Scarlett needs me, and they’d have to fucking shoot me to stop me right now.

“That includes you two behind the container. Weapons down!” a Marshal yells out.

Damn.

Well...what’s another bullet wound?

Scarlett screams once more, and now I know which room she is in. Thank you, god.

“Go,” Liam encourages.

I turn my head and realize they can’t see us—they likely saw us skid behind the container. I climb to my feet, count to three, then launch at one of the doors. Ripping it open, I’m hit with the stale smell of urine and fear.

Jesus fucking Christ. This is definitely not the Four Seasons.

That’s when I see Scarlett, lying on the floor, writing in pain and horror.

Motherfuckers.

I run over and drop to the floor. “Baby. Fuck. Scar, I’ve got you. Jesus, Scarlett, I’m here. I’m here.”

My hands are trying to slow down as my eyes adjust to the light and get all the information I can.

“Cole,” Scarlett cries, reaching me hysterically. “Help me. Get me out of here.”

“Are you shot?”

Goddamn, I can’t see any blood, and we don’t have our night vision gear with us.

“Cole, oh god. The baby!”

My heart stops; my hand goes to her stomach.

“Scarlett,” I scream. “Tell me.”

Has she miscarried?

I’m so enraged and filled with terror I can barely think. Barely breathe.

My hands run over her matted hair, and that’s when I feel her tears and something registers in my brain. I’m kneeling on a wet floor.

Not just wet, it’s soaked.

“Fuck. Your water broke.” I cup her face. “Are you having contractions?”

“The baby is coming.” Scarlett clutches my arm, drawing blood.

I rip out my phone and dial 911.

“The baby is still inside you? Tell me, Scarlett. I need you to focus.”

“What? Yes.” She nods, looking confused. “Get me out of here. Please. We have to go.”

Unfortunately, there’s a bit of a battle happening outside, so we can’t just carry a pregnant woman through it. But if I have to, I fucking will.

“Crap. Incoming!” Liam says from behind me, a second before the door is slammed open and the light turned on.

Jesus!

Scarlett presses her face into my chest and lets out a scream.

“What the hell is going on?”

“Turn off the fucking light.” I say, lifting my Glock and pointing it at him. My rifle is beside me, forgotten when I saw Scarlett.

His brow lifts, while his own gun remains directed at the floor. I don’t recognize the blond, well-built man, but then again I don’t know many US Marshals.

“Drop your weapon,” he orders.

I silently curse, then gently toss it across the floor just as the operator answers.

“911. What’s your emergency?”

“I need an ambulance,” I reply, still staring at the Marshal. “My... wife... has been kidnapped and is in labor.”

Scarlett continues to grip my jacket, and I wrap my now free arm around her, never taking my eyes off the guy.

Liam remains behind me, unmoving, and slides his rifle onto the floor. “BHS. Captain Liam Rutherford,”

“I know who you are,” the Marshal says as more shooting continues out in the warehouse.

He doesn’t turn the fucking light off but instead takes a few more steps into the room. I don’t need a weapon to kill him, and I’m feeling very aggravated right now. Having an armed man near the woman who is about to give birth to my child is not okay.

A man I don’t know or trust.

“Deputy US Marshall, Jake Murphy. You were supposed to meet us at the goddam gate.” He looks mad as fuck, and I couldn’t give two damn shits.

I focus back on the operator.

“Do you need the police?

“No.” I shoot Jake a look, then cup Scarlett’s face. “We need an ambulance here immediately. She’s been held captive and is probably malnourished and dehydrated.”

I give them the address, and they advise an ambulance is on the way.

Jake curses. “Jesus, you should have waited. Both of you.”

“Give it a rest.” Liam takes a step between us.

“You okay?” I ask Scarlett and bide my time before facing the Marshal.

“No,” she whimpers.

God, I want to scoop her up in my arms and get her out of here, but I don’t know if she is injured. I glance around and don’t see blood. I rip off my jacket and cover her.

It does fuck all, but it makes me feel better.

She lets out another cry, and I close my eyes.

“How long ago did your water break?” Jake strides over, unperturbed by Liam, and I have to give him props, because he’s an intimidating guy.

Jack crouches down to speak to Scarlett. “What’s your n—”

I snap.

Grabbing his jacket, I lift him off his feet, and that’s when I take in how big Jake is. He’s not fucking light, and yet right now I have the power of goddamn Superman protecting what’s mine.

“Cole, fuck.” Liam curses.

“Assaulting an officer? Good one.” Jake whacks his forearm down on mine, and I drop him.

It’s a nice move.

“Go near her again, and we’ll have bigger issues.” I get in his face.

“Give him space. She’s been missing for days.” Liam tugs Jake away. “Cole is a decorated Army Ranger. You aren’t going to stop him.”

“He just assaulted and threatened a US Marshall,” Jake cries.

“Yeah, well, he could have shot or stabbed you, buddy, so let’s go have a cup of tea.” Liam pats him on the back.

I almost smile, but my eyes lock with Scarlett’s, and my heart cracks into ten tiny pieces. I’m responsible for this. All of it. The fact that she’s pregnant, that she was kidnapped, that she’s lying in her own filth and about to give birth.

“I’m sorry I took so long to find you. I was fucking calling and...god. Scarlett. I am so fucking sorry.”

“We need to get to the hospital. The baby is coming,” she sobs. “Now, Cole.”

“The ambulance is almost here.”

I turn, finding Jake and Liam near the door.

“Your team needs to clear the warehouse because when that ambulance arrives, I’m taking her out. And I’m shooting anyone who gets in my way.”

I don’t wait for an answer, but when I glance down again, Scarlett has a small smile on her lips.

“Like that, huh?”

“You are going to be a good daddy.”

So far all I’ve done is fuck up, so I can’t agree, but as tears pour down her cheeks, I lean in and kiss her cheek.

“I’m never going to let you both down ever again. That you can take to the bank.”

Mostly because I’m never letting them out of my sight. Hope she liked being kidnapped because that’s essentially going to be her life.

I’m not saying that out loud, of course.

“I’m really scared.”

“You are safe now. No one can hurt you.” If they try, they’ll have to get past me and the three other weapons I have on me.

Jake can have the other two.

Ryder appears. “Jesus. What a shitshow. Hey, Scarlett. I told this guy we’d find you.”

“Hey,” she whispers without making eye contact. She’s in shock. I don’t know if she’ll even remember any of this. I hope not.

“We are going to need statements from all of you, so don’t go far,” Jake calls out and leaves the room.

“Is that guy for real?” Ryder thumbs over his shoulder as I shake my head.

Fucking Marshals.