Wanted (Hostage Rescue Team Series Book 8) (15 page)

****

Racing to where the local PD had last spotted the suspect’s car, Clay’s phone rang. He hit speakerphone, his heart in his throat when he saw the same number as before. “Zoe?”

“Yes.”

Thank fucking God. His throat was almost too tight to get the words out. “Are you okay?” He needed to know. It was killing him to think of her wounded and in pain.

“So far,” she said in a shaky voice.

A sliver of relief slid through him. Maybe the kidnapper wouldn’t harm her. Maybe it was all about luring him there. “Where are you?”

“You need to meet us at this address.” Clay could hear the female kidnapper snapping out numbers in the background as Zoe repeated what she said.

He glanced over at Tuck, who was already inputting the address into his phone’s GPS. “Got it. I’m coming, baby.”

“Clay, just
please
—”

The line went dead.

Squeezing the steering wheel so hard his hands ached, he expelled a huge breath and followed the directions Tuck gave him, sending him back to the freeway.

He didn’t speak while Tuck relayed the update to the cops. His mind was on Zoe and what might be happening to her, each thought worse than the last.

****

This had to work.

Amanda’s heartbeat thudded hard in her ears as she pulled up behind one of the abandoned warehouses, leaving the engine running. Her mind was spinning out of control, fear threatening to overtake her.

She couldn’t allow that. Had to stay sharp, keep a level head. Her target was coming and she’d have only one shot to do this.

Her gaze strayed to the digital dashboard clock. Three more minutes until the deadline. Time seemed to be crawling right now but if she was lucky the cops wouldn’t have time to—

Headlights cut through the darkness to her left. She swiveled to face it, squinted to make out the shape of the vehicle as it approached. A pickup.

She swallowed, barely breathing as she watched it come closer. Definitely a pickup. Had to be Bauer. Was he alone, or not?

A sudden burst of doubt and panic slammed into her. Part of her brain shrieked at her to run, to gain more time and distance so she could think more clearly, come up with a more solid plan.

But the logical part of her knew she couldn’t run forever. And the cops would be out looking for her in force by now.

She thought of the dream home she’d build on the beach. The crystal clear perfection of the warm turquoise water as it lapped against the sand.

No
.

No more running. Her only choice was to kill the bitch now.

It would slow Bauer down, give her time to escape, and maybe even get a few shots off at him. Without killing him, she’d have no money to go on the run with.

She had to find a way. She’d fire a bullet into Zoe’s side, open the door and shove her out.

Bauer would stop then. Run for her.

Amanda would take off, fire at him as she drove. Her chances of killing him were small. And this scenario wasn’t what she’d planned, what she’d craved. It wouldn’t be the same as getting to see Bauer’s face fill with horror and grief an instant before he died from a bullet he never saw coming.

But it was her only chance now.

A weird kind of elation twined with the fear, fizzing inside her like champagne now that her mind was made up. A sense of euphoria took hold, filling her veins with warmth.

I can’t wait for him to watch you die.

Twisting in her seat, she seized Zoe by the hair and rammed the gun into her side. “Time to say goodbye to your boyfriend, bitch.”

Pain exploded through Zoe’s scalp, bringing an involuntary rush of tears to her eyes. With her hands bound behind her she had no leverage, couldn’t grab for the pistol.

She twisted her wrists frantically, trying to get free. The left cuff was looser than the right, but she couldn’t pull her hand through no matter how hard she tried.

Zoe knew she was about to die.

Rage slammed into her, hot and powerful. She’d seen Clay’s truck turn into the lot a second ago. He and Tuck would be here in seconds.

This bitch thought she could use her as bait to lure Clay and maybe Tuck to her? Thought she had the right to kidnap and kill her?

Fuck. That. Fuck
her.

Zoe fought.

“
No
!”

She lunged forward, using every bit of her strength to twist away from the gun even as she slammed her body into her captor. Her shoulder caught the woman’s jaw, hit with a crunch.

Startled, the woman cried out and wrenched away, her foot hitting the gas. Zoe twisted her left hand, hard, gritting her teeth against the pain as the metal bit into her as they accelerated toward the brick wall in front of them.

Zoe didn’t stop. Her baby was counting on her.

A second later they hit the wall with a crunch of metal and glass. The airbag punched her in the chest and face. Zoe gasped, winced as the seatbelt cut into her belly and chest, burned across her collarbone.

“You stupid bitch!” The woman’s face was a terrifying mask of rage in the glow of the damaged headlights reflecting off the wall. She undid Zoe’s seatbelt, shoved her upright in the seat, raised her arm, still holding the gun.

Zoe twisted again and lashed out with her feet this time, trying to kick the weapon out of her grip. The bottom of her left shoe glanced off the woman’s hand. Immediately she kicked out with the other, her gaze locked on the muzzle.

Her foot connected with bone. The woman screamed, dropped the weapon onto the seat.

They both dove for it, Zoe twisting to reach behind her, the muscles in her shoulders screaming in protest at the awkward angle. Sweat slicked her palms, her left hand pulling tighter, tighter against the restraining cuff despite the pain—and popped free.

Elation soared inside her. She lunged for the gun. Her fingers touched it. Curled around it and gripped tight just as her captor grabbed it and wrenched it upward. Zoe strained to twist it free, locked her fingers around the woman’s and dug her nails in hard to—

Bang!

Clay’s heart was in his throat when he leapt out of his truck, the engine still running.

The front end of the car Zoe was in had crumpled under the force of the impact a moment earlier.

Zoe. No, Zoe.

Pistol held in a double-handed grip, he charged toward the vehicle, Tuck at his side.

The front passenger door cracked open but the dome light didn’t come on. Someone fell out of the car, hit the pavement. His truck’s headlights illuminated a flash of bright red hair.

“
Zoe
!” Her name tore out of him in a roar. He sprinted for her as fast as he could, weapon aimed, ready to fire at the woman in the driver’s seat.

Zoe didn’t turn toward him, just rolled to her knees, got to her feet and stumbled away from the car.

Relieved she seemed to be mostly okay, he kept his gaze pinned on the open door and ran over. “Zo, get behind cover,” he ordered her, placing himself between her and whoever was in the car.

“Think she’s d-dead,” she said shakily, already backing around the side of the warehouse.

Clay didn’t answer. He stopped at the open door, kicked away the Glock that had fallen to the pavement while Tuck ran to the driver’s side.

Sure enough, a woman lay slumped down in the driver’s seat, resting against the door. Her eyes were open, lips parted, a bullet wound in her right side. He didn’t see any explosive vest or remote detonators.

Leaning in while Tuck covered him, he reached over and pressed two fingers beneath the woman’s jaw. Her carotid pulse was faint, but it was there.

“Still alive,” he said to Tuck, withdrawing his fingers and straightening.
But probably not for long
.

Sirens were already growing louder in the distance. Backup would be here momentarily, although he didn’t think they’d need it.

Leaving Tuck to deal with the female perp, he whirled around and raced for Zoe.

He found her huddled in a ball, leaning against the side of the brick building. The sight of her like that broke his heart. “Baby,” he whispered.

Clay holstered his weapon, knelt and pulled her into his arms. She grabbed hold of him, held on tight. Behind him he heard the screech of tires, doors slamming and Tuck calling out information to the first responders, but didn’t bother looking. All he cared about right now was Zoe.

She shuddered, pressed hard against him. “I’m ok-kay.”

He squeezed her tighter, fighting back the sting of tears. This woman was his life, meant more to him than anything. To come so close to losing her—for the second time in just over a year—was too much. “I let you down,” he rasped out. He’d promised to never let her down, and he had. It tore him up.

“No,” she whispered in a pained voice, curling into him harder, her grip fierce in spite of her shaking. “Never.”

Clay squeezed his eyes shut and hugged her as tight as he dared, unable to forgive himself. He should have pushed harder to find the stalker. Should have gone with her and Celida to get the damn dresses fitted.

Before he could say anything else, she leaned back. “She’s w-working with someone else,” she blurted, her tone urgent, those beautiful golden eyes full of fear. “I h-heard her talking to him. Dom.”

Probably the shooter. “Okay.”

She shook her head, eyes wild. “You’re not safe. They’re after
y-you
.”

Not just him. Any of the guys, including Tuck. “I know, we got a tip from Rycroft. I tried to call you—”

“I was calling you back when they took a shot at us through the window.”

Tuck walked up beside them and hunkered down next to Zoe. “Hey, Zozo. Glad you’re okay, sweetheart. Let me get these things off you.” He began jimmying the lock on the handcuffs.

Zoe hitched in a breath, twisted to look back at her cousin. “Is she dead?”

“No, but I doubt she’ll make it. Medics are with her now.”

“I didn’t mean to. Was just t-trying to get the gun from her.” She shuddered, gulped in a breath of air, shaking all over. She looked up at Clay. “I pulled the trigger.”

He stroked the hair back from her face. “It’s okay, baby. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Didn’t mean to kill her,” she whispered.

“I know. It’s all right.” Part of Clay was glad the woman would die for what she’d done, although it meant they wouldn’t be able to get any information out of her.

He smoothed another lock of hair back from her pale face, cradled her cheeks in his hands. Her skin was warm, soft. “Do you know her? Recognize her at all?”

She shook her head, the movement stiff and jerky, along with her breathing. “No.”

Tuck freed her right wrist and she immediately flung both arms around Clay’s neck. Clay wrapped one arm around her back and cradled the back of her head to his chest with his free hand. “I’ve got you, raven. It’s okay now.”

Her shoulders jerked and she hitched in a sobbing breath. “God,” she whispered against his chest, her arms tightening about his neck. “
God
.”

Throat too tight to answer, Clay lifted her into his arms and stood. Swallowing, he asked, “Are you hurt anywhere?” He’d seen the car hit the building, and it had been hard enough to do damage. He didn’t know if she’d been wearing a seatbelt, but—

“The baby,” she gasped, wincing.

He stopped walking, his heart seizing. Her face was pinched with worry and pain. “What’s wrong?”

She curled into him, one hand going to her abdomen. “The lap belt. I’m having…cramps.”

It felt like every drop of blood in his body froze. Was she miscarrying?

Clay glanced up, cast a frantic look around for an ambulance, then ran straight for it. Panic clawed at his insides like razor blades. He’d thought Zoe was safe now, but she might not be out of danger yet if she was bleeding inside, and the baby…

No. Please no
.

He’d only known about it for a few days but he was already growing attached to it. If anything happened to it he knew Zoe would be devastated, and the idea of losing his son or daughter because of these sick assholes made his guts churn.

Cradling her close, doing his best not to jar her, Clay ran her over to the ambulance. The paramedics took one look at them and moved into action, pulling a stretcher out of the back and loading her onto it. Clay stayed close, holding her hand while they tended to her, began taking her vitals.

He didn’t even hear anyone come up behind him until Celida was standing there next to him, face pinched with worry as she looked at Zoe lying on the stretcher. “Zo. You okay?”

Zoe pulled in a shaky breath and held out a hand for her friend. “Hope so. I’m worried about the baby.”

“Oh, honey.” Celida bent and kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop her. When I saw you guys and realized what was happening I was too far away to do anything.” She sounded miserable.

“Not your fault.” She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Just glad that part’s over.”

“Bauer.”

He snapped his head around to see Tuck standing there, waiting.

“The guys are here. And Rycroft sent us more intel.”

Clay shook his head. “Not leaving her.”

Tuck’s expression was full of regret. “DeLuca’s called us in. We might be going after the shooter.”

Clay hesitated. He didn’t want to leave Zoe like this. She’d been through too much, was afraid something had happened to the baby.

Celida reached over and put a hand on his forearm, squeezed. “It’s okay, I’ll stay with her.”

He looked down at Zoe, still torn. She looked so fragile lying there on the stretcher. The second time he’d seen her that way and it shook him even worse this time.

“Go,” she told him with a strained smile. “It’s all right.”

Though he didn’t want to leave her for even a second, he realized there was still an ongoing threat to all of them and he needed to help. Celida would stay with her. He squeezed her hand. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”