Authors: Kris Norris
“No!” The hallway was empty. He darted forward, kicking her purse across the floor as he stopped at the doorway. His heart rose into his throat, his stomach lurched and heaved, as he stared at the strewn contents of her bag.
“Brooklyn!
Damn it, answer me!”
“Where?” shouted Sam, stopping beside him. He took one look at the purse and cursed, flinging open the washroom door before running inside. He returned moments later, his face furrowed into deep lines. “She’s not in there.”
Shit!
“She’s not answering,” he cursed, tapping the small receiver in his ear. “Check the men’s room. I’ll see if Trevor had one of his men grab her.”
Sam nodded and ran down the hallway.
“Trevor!”
“Gage.
What the hell’s going on? I’ve called in the men, but Rebecca and Collins aren’t responding and Troy’s trapped in the men’s room somehow.”
Son of a bitch!
“Brooklyn’s gone, and she isn’t answering over the wire. Did you have one of your guys take her out?”
He listened to Trevor curse on the other end. “Fuck, no! You told her to wait for you. Why would I have someone else pull her out?”
Gage stilled the need to punch his fist through the wall and took a deep breath. “Get the hell in here and get Cooper to see where Collins is. I’ll check up on Rebecca and Troy.” He cursed at the noise of the alarm, so loud he couldn’t hear himself think. “And for God’s sake, turn off that fucking alarm!”
* * * *
Brooklyn
felt the barbs span across her shoulder an instant before the shock hit her. She screamed as her muscles clenched then jerked, dropping her to the ground. It felt as though someone was smashing her bones and grinding them into the floor before the sensation finally eased, leaving her lying in a hazy blur.
“Damn it, Sarah! You shouldn’t have done that to me.” The guy grunted and banged something hard against the wall. There was another loud growl followed by a cry of pain. “That hurt!”
Brooklyn turned her head, trying to remember who was talking to her, when two hands seized her shoulders, lifting her off the ground until she was staring into the man’s face—his face. Her memory came rushing back, and she drew a shaky breath as her eyes locked on his.
“Drake.”
“Why do you fight me? I asked you nicely, but you still insist on making things difficult.” He ran one hand up her arm and across her chest. “I told you I didn’t want to hurt you. I promised I’d wait to show you everything. But how can I do that if you keep disobeying me? Perhaps you need something to help bring your memory back. A taste of what it’s like between us.”
He fisted her shirt and ripped it from her body, ignoring her frantic movements as he trapped her with his body. “You’d better not try to trick me again,” he warned, tossing the torn pieces on the floor. “Because you’re going home with me, even if I have to take you by force.” He eased forward and nipped at her lips. “You know how much I hate using force, precious.”
Brooklyn
shook her head. “I won’t,” she whispered.
“Good. But just to be certain…”
She jumped as something cold and metallic slipped around her wrists. She pulled her arms away, staring at the silver bracelets encircling her hands. Her heart flip-flopped and she had to bite back the nausea as her stomach heaved in protest. “No. Drake, please.”
“I’ll take them off after we get reacquainted. When I’m convinced you won’t try to run away on me.” He took a step back, and wrapped his fingers around her arm.
“This way.”
Brooklyn
took one last glance up the corridor and followed.
* * * *
Trevor ran into the store just as the whine of the alarm cut off, leaving a sudden void in the air. Gage met him at the end of the hallway.
“Well?” asked Gage.
Trevor shook his head, panting despite the thick mass of smoke still hanging in the air. “None of my men have her. Cooper found Collins.
Looks like he was hit with a stun gun and then drugged.
He’s alive, but Lord knows when he’ll wake up.”
“Shit!” Gage slammed his fist against the wall, denting the plaster. “Rebecca got knocked out by the blast. Sam’s got her back by the washroom. She’s pretty disoriented.”
Sam ran down the hallway. “Rebecca’s okay. But someone fused the lock on the men’s room. I can’t get Troy out of there without taking the door off the hinges.”
“Collins was at the employee’s door, right?” asked Gage.
“All afternoon,” said Trevor. “I even had the men call in a security code before Brooklyn went to the washroom. I can’t see how the guy got in and out so fast.”
“Easy,” said Gage. “He’d already disposed of Collins before
he
gave you the code.”
“But that’s not…?” Trevor stopped. “Cooper’s been there since you called it in. There’s no way the guy got out and by him that fast. He’s still got to be around here somewhere.” Trevor shook his head. “I still don’t understand why we can’t hear Brooklyn?”
“The bastard’s probably jamming the signal somehow. It’s not impossible,” said Sam.
Gage looked around the store. The two small blasts had created more smoke than anything else. There were a few pieces of burnt paper still floating in the air, but they’d been nothing more than a distraction. He levelled a glare at Sam.
“Any ideas?”
“Fuck no,” cursed Sam. “We came in through the front, and there’s no way he’d take her into the mall.
There’s
way too many people, and Brooklyn would put up too much of a fight.”
“My men have secured the other doors,” said Trevor. “No one’s been in or out.”
Gage closed his eyes. He could feel the anger bubbling through his veins, followed closely by overwhelming guilt. He’d fucked up again. “There’s got to be something we’re missing.
Another way out.”
He stomped back down the hallway, stopping at a small door off to his left. “What the hell is this?”
“That’s an emergency exit only,” said Trevor. “It’s on a timer. It only opens up after the store closes. In case someone gets trapped in here. We had one of our guys try to override the system.
Took him three days.”
Gage looked at Trevor then back at the door. “Are you sure there isn’t any other way to rig it?”
“Not that I know of.
The store manager assured me it’s always locked.”
Sam walked up beside Gage. “
You thinking
something?”
“I’m thinking this guy is one smart son of a bitch. Brooklyn wouldn’t go with him willingly, unless…”
“She thought he was one of us,” finished Sam. “Damn it. So the bastard changes his appearance, grabs her during the explosions and leaves. But where did he take her?”
“Through here.” Gage pointed at the door. “Somehow he got the door open.” He turned to Trevor. “Where does this go?”
“It leads into the basement and through the utility room. From there, you can use a few different doors to get out.”
“Get your men on it. Have them cover whatever they can. Sam! I want this fucking door open…now!”
“Any ideas?” asked Sam.
Gage pursed his lips. All he could think about was what that bastard was doing to Brooklyn. He wouldn’t put it past the son of a bitch to have her pinned to the wall already, ramming his cock inside her despite her screams of protest.
Or worse.
He’d knock her out so he wouldn’t have to listen to her scream. Gage knew she’d fight, and she’d get hurt.
“Gage?”
Gage shook off the thoughts of Brooklyn stripped naked, her eyes dim, unseeing, and tried to focus on Sam. “There must be another way to get the damn thing open.” He ran his fingers through his hair, cursing under his breath. “If Trevor’s men couldn’t override the system, I doubt our guy did.”
Sam tried the handle, shouldering it with most of his weight. “Tight as a preacher’s daughter, buddy. Maybe we should just head for the doors? Try to catch him on the way out.”
“I told her I was coming for her. I won’t break that promise. Besides, he might just be hanging around waiting for us to leave so he can double back.” Gage tried the door. “Fuck!”
“We’ll get her back.”
“What if we don’t? What if she spends what’s left of her life being raped by that bastard before he kills her?”
“We won’t let that happen.” Sam shouldered the door again. “I’ll break the damn thing down before I let that happen.”
“Sam…” His voice trailed off suddenly.
“Emergency exit.”
Sam stopped shoving on the door and looked at Gage. “What?”
“Trevor said it was an emergency exit.”
“So.”
“So what happens when there’s an emergency?”
“Fuck. The bugger pops open,” scowled Sam, already heading down the hall. “Ready?”
Gage nodded, his
Glock
already in his hand. He drew a quick breath as Sam pulled the fire alarm. A sharp shrill filled the air. Gage pressed on the handle, releasing his breath as the door gave against the pressure and disengaged from the lock.
“Well?” asked Sam.
Gage smiled as he pushed the door
open
, clearing the area with a sweep of his gun. “Let’s go get the bastard.”
Chapter Twelve
Gage moved slowly down the passage, his gun leading the way. He could smell the faint scent of Brooklyn’s perfume hanging in the air. It was so uniquely hers—fresh with a hint of floral sweetness—he’d recognise the fragrance anywhere. He’d always loved how he could still catch the scent on his clothes long after she’d left, or how it’d drift through the house following her from room to room. It was his scent.
His wife.
“Gage.”
Gage stopped, pressing his back against the wall as Sam touched him on the sleeve. He hadn’t heard or seen anything, but Sam’s hushed word was more than enough to convince him his partner had. He glanced at the man, nodding when Sam raised his hand in a fist. He covered his friend as Sam dashed forward, clearing the next doorway before darting back into the room and over to the far corner. He crouched down near the doorway, and grabbed something off the floor.
“Well?” asked Gage when Sam rose slowly to his feet.
Sam pushed his breath out in a long, low sigh, sending cold shivers down Gage’s spine. Sam didn’t like what he’d found.
“Just show me.”
Sam turned, pieces of purple fabric wedged between his fingers. “I’m sorry,” he said, laying the strips in Gage’s hand.
Gage stared at the bizarre offering, noting how cool and soft the torn shirt felt. It reminded him of Brooklyn’s skin, so soft he often feared he’d scratch it from the calluses built up along his palms. He loved the contrast.
Her silky skin, his rough hands.
Despite the fact she was strong and fit, her skin always felt completely feminine against his.
He turned the shirt over, lifting it high enough to catch the strong scent of her perfume. There was no doubt it was hers. He looked up at Sam, bunching the material in his fist. “I’ll kill him.”
Sam didn’t reply, but merely drew his lips into a thin line. “Maybe we can catch up to them before they get outside. Based on how badly that shirt’s ripped, I’ll bet money Brooklyn’s giving him a hard time.”
“Oh she’ll fight, all right. That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Gage stuffed the shirt into his jacket pocket and moved to the doorway. He cleared it again and shuffled down the corridor. The hall was dimly lit, with a strong musty odour clinging to every surface. The floors were dark linoleum and smudged with years of dirt. He followed the passage around a corner and down a flight of stairs before entering a small utility room. There was a boiler wedged against one corner and two sets of doors along the other walls.
“Damn it!” He threw open one door as Sam checked the other. “How the hell do we choose the right one?”
“We can split up. One of us is bound to find him.”
Gage cursed, pounding his fist against the wall when a sharp hiss sounded in his ear. “Son of a bitch,” he snarled, grabbing the device, his lips pulled back to expose his teeth. “What the hell is Trevor—
”
“Drake.”
Gage
stilled,
the soft sound of Brooklyn’s voice a whisper of hope in his ear. He cupped his hand to his head, straining to hear another clip of conversation. The words were garbled at times, but enough came through to convince him the bastard’s jamming device was malfunctioning. That, or Brooklyn had found a way to trip the switch.
“Don’t argue with me, Sarah. I know what’s best for you…now try to relax and we’ll be out of here in a few minutes.”
Gage clenched his fingers around his gun, the anger so hot inside him he felt burnt from the inside out. He looked over at Sam. The man was crouched down on the floor by one of the doors. “Sam.”
Sam glanced over at him. “I heard.
Looks like our girl’s still got some tricks up her sleeve.
From the sounds of it, the bastard doesn’t even know we can hear him.” Sam motioned to a smudge on the floor. “Someone scraped their toe across here, recently.
Left a smear behind.”