Page 194 of The Vigilante's Lover

Still, he won’t break this kiss. He’s passing air into me, keeping me calm. I want to panic, but the kiss won’t let me. I feel my vision wanting to go, stars on the edges. He reaches behind me and forces open the doors, straining.

I sense a different sort of air coming in. Jax’s hands come around my waist and he lifts me, shoving me up onto the floor that is revealed halfway up through the door.

I want to close my eyes, to sleep, but he keeps pushing until I fall back.

My knees come high as he forces my feet up and out of the elevator. I’m lying on the ground, a cold marble. Above me is a chandelier, bright and crystal.

The doors start to close and this gets my panic to rise. My adrenaline bursts and I sit up, moving to stop the doors, trying to make them stay open.

But they shut tight. I bang on the panels, but nothing moves in there. The elevator is still closed. I jump to my feet, looking for buttons toopen the door, but there aren’t any.

I want to wail and scream and cry. “JAX!” I call out, pounding on the door.

“You don’t need to worry about him anymore,” a voice says.

I turn around.

It’s Sutherland.

I still have the dart gun. I aim it at his face. “I’m not going to go for your body armor,” I say, willing my voice not to shake.

Sutherland holds out his arms. “It is my pleasure to finally make your acquaintance,” he says smoothly. “You’ve caused quite a stir, bringing your captor right to our door.”

My mind buzzes. Are they falling for the ruse? What could they know? That Jax kidnapped me, obviously. Then ditched me.

But then they took him from our hotel room.

So no, they aren’t falling for it.

I aim the laser square on his forehead. “I hope you have an antidote for this new dart,” I say.

Sutherland’s expression wavers for just a second.

“System. Scan the gun,” he commands.

A green beam cuts across the weapon.

“Under development,” a computer voice says. “Technology unrecognized.”

His lips twitch. “You’re getting mighty big for your britches, Ms. Morrow,” he says.

“Get Jax OUT of that elevator,” I hiss. “I’m going to count to three.”

“System. Take her out,” he commands.

We’re alone in the room. Is he talking to the computer?

Nothing happens.

“System,” he commands. “Take out the special.”

“System requires override by the committee for this command,” the voice says.

“Send in my guards,” he says.

I can see this isn’t going to go my way. As soon as real people are involved, it’s like Jax said, they can reassess the situation.

So I do the only thing I can think of.