by Melody Anne
“I saw her sneak out through the front driveway,” Stormy admitted when it appeared as if he was going to panic.
“And you didn’t stop her?” Ace thundered.
“I figured she needed a minute by herself,” Stormy said as she shifted on her feet.
Ace didn’t say anything more. Instead he ran back to his car and peeled out of the driveway, his windows down as he frantically searched for her. He was sure there was nothing wrong, but he wouldn’t feel better until he saw her.
He was pulling through an area where a trail started when he heard a scream. Without a second thought, he skidded to the side of the road, pulled out his gun, and began sprinting in the direction of the cry. He had no doubt that cry had come from her. What would have made her think taking a walk was a good idea?
Turning a corner, he found Dakota sprawled out on the ground. She whipped her head around, obvious relief filling her eyes at the sight of him. He didn’t know whether to be relieved or throw her over his shoulder and smack her ass the entire way to his vehicle. Because they were in no way out of danger, he rushed to her and knelt down. He grabbed her arm to pull her to her feet, scanning the area around them the entire time.
“What happened? Why are you out here?” he fired off.
“Someone grabbed me,” she told him, anger in her eyes. “I kicked him in the groin, surprising him, and he took off that way when he heard you,” she said, pointing down the trail.
Ace was torn. He needed to get Dakota back to safety, but this might be his chance to catch the monster responsible for terrorizing her. But then again, it might just be another goon. He didn’t know what to do.
“Go get him,” she said, as if there was no other choice.
“I can’t leave you alone,” he told her, frustration mounting as the perpetrator ran farther away from them.
“I’ll go right back to the house,” she assured him.
“No, go back down the trail and get in my car. Drive back. I’ll be right behind you,” he told her. Then he ran off after her attacker. He hoped and prayed she listened to him for once in her life. The guy must have been watching the property for some time, just waiting for an opportunity—and that asshole had found it.
As Ace gained speed, he turned a corner and saw someone running at full speed up ahead, their head covered with a hat. Ace picked up his pace, his gun stable in his hand. He was going to get to this man, and he damn sure was going to make him talk.
A few seconds later, he heard the sound of traffic. He realized they were coming back out into the open. The man disappeared in front of him around another bend, and then Ace heard a vehicle peeling out. He moved even faster, his gun clutched in his fingers. He knew he was going to be too late, but that didn’t stop him from trying to get to the guy.
When Ace broke out onto the street, traffic sped by, and he knew the guy was long gone. He had to get back to Dakota, and he had to do it now. Hopefully she’d listened and was at the house by now, but he went to where he’d parked his SUV instead. After all, she might not have left.
And what if this distraction had been their plan all along, and he’d played perfectly into their hands? The thought made his forehead break out in a cold sweat as he sped quickly back to the street where he’d slammed his car into park, praying he hadn’t just handed her over to them. She’d be the ultimate bargaining chip. There was no way Ace was allowing the woman he loved to get hurt.
That thought sent his heart racing all over again, but he pushed it down. He didn’t have time to panic. He had to get to Dakota and get her out of the open. Then he would be ready to take down Nestor. He’d die before he let that man hurt Dakota or anyone else in his family.
When he reached the street, he found Dakota standing by his vehicle. He felt his frustration growing. He was glad she was safe, but she should have done what he’d said—then she’d be safe with his family.
There were cars driving by and other people walking, so Ace quickly sheathed his weapon so he didn’t scare the bystanders. But he didn’t slow his pace. He wouldn’t feel comfortable until he had Dakota in his vehicle and the two of them were back home.
Ace was still about four hundred yards away from Dakota when a vehicle with tinted windows raced down the road, doing a spin right in front of where she stood. Her head whipped up as she looked at Ace, a question in her eyes.
Ace was still running, but again, he was going to be too late. He had no doubt about it. He called out to her to get down, to roll beneath his SUV. But she seemed to be in shock. It was all happening too fast. A few people were standing frozen on the sidewalk across the street, watching in confusion at the scene playing out before them.
The window on the car lowered, and though Ace reached for his weapon again, it was too late. A shot rang out, and he felt the burn of the bullet impact his side. It didn’t slow him down. He moved forward, fighting against the pain.
He lifted his gun and fired, but his aim was off because of the wound in his side. He was winded from running full force toward Dakota. Another shot rang out. This one hit him in the same shoulder where he’d been hit before, sending him flying backward as additional pain ripped through him.
The pedestrians, who’d been watching in horror, screamed and dropped to the ground, quickly crawling into the nearby shrubs. Ace didn’t even look at them as he jumped back to his feet.
This time when he took aim, the bullet went in through the vehicle’s front window. A scream could be heard ringing across the nearly empty parking lot. The car squealed away, and Ace rushed forward to Dakota. He finally reached her and let out the smallest breath of relief.
He covered her body with his as he looked around, watching as the black car spun out of the lot. Maybe this would be the end of it. He somehow doubted it, though. They weren’t going to give up this opportunity.
“Are you okay?” he asked her. “Have you been shot?” His hands were roaming over her body, his own wounds temporarily forgotten.
“I’m fine, Ace,” she told him as she held up a hand to block the blood pouring from him. “But you aren’t.”
“They are just flesh wounds, trust me,” he told her despite his breathing growing more ragged. “We need to get the hell out of here.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” she told him.
He got to his feet, glancing around them before trying to push her into the vehicle.
“I’m driving,” she insisted. “You were shot twice, and I want to get out of here before you pass out on me.”
He thought about arguing, but he feared she might be right. He just nodded as he jumped across the seats into the passenger side of the vehicle, trying to stay as alert as possible even though tremendous pain was radiating through him.
“This time we’re going to the hospital. Call your brothers. They can meet us there,” she told him.
“That’s really the reason you wanted to drive,” he grumbled. “I’m fine. Go home and Lindsey can fix me.”
“Not going to happen,” she assured him. Ace was growing too weak to keep arguing, so he leaned back as she revved the engine and began moving down the street. She was sure the police were on their way, but they could talk to them once they were in the safety of the ER.
“Pick up the speed,” he told her when she paused too long at a stop sign.
“Let me drive,” she answered before she accelerated.
Ace could feel himself losing consciousness and fought against it. This wasn’t the time to leave Dakota alone to defend herself. Just because they were in the vehicle moving along the roads didn’t mean they were in any way safe. He didn’t want to go to the hospital, but at least it would be staffed with armed security.
He picked up his phone with the last of his strength and called Cooper, explaining quickly where they were heading before he dropped the phone. All he could do now was try desperately to focus on the road while Dakota drove.
“Stay with me, Ace. Don’t you dare pass out on me,” Dakota scolded him.
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He shot his eyes open and attempted to smile at her. He loved when she was fierce and commanding. It was just one more thing about the woman that he didn’t think he could live without. Most women he knew would have been panicked in this situation, but not Dakota. She was taking charge, wouldn’t allow herself to fall apart until she was sure someone else was there to take care of him. She wouldn’t even worry about herself, which actually did frustrate him a little.
“I’ve been injured worse, Dakota. Stop focusing all your energy on worrying about me,” he told her. But the weakness in his voice undermined his reassuring words.
Dakota was forced to slow down as she turned a corner, and Ace was fading, so he didn’t see the car heading straight for them. But he felt the impact as the vehicle slammed into theirs, sending his body forward, his head slamming against the windshield.
Dakota’s scream was the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Ace woke up, found himself strapped to a gurney, and felt a renewed sense of panic and fury. What in the hell had happened? He turned, trying to find Dakota.
“Dakota?” he called out, his voice barely a squeak.
“Sir, we’re almost to the hospital. You’ve been shot and have a head injury,” the paramedic hovering over him said.
Ace tried to move again, but he was held down tightly. There was a gunshot wound and a hit-and-run. They weren’t taking any chances with him.
“I’m Ace Armstrong, I’m with the CIA,” he said, but by the look in the man’s eyes, the paramedic didn’t believe him. They screeched to a halt in front of the ER, and the back doors flew open. It was only seconds before Ace’s gurney was on the ground and he was being rushed inside the room.
“We have an adult male in a hit-and-run accident with an injury to the head and two bullet wounds, one to the side, one in the left shoulder,” the paramedic shouted as a nurse began taking his vitals.
“I don’t have time for this,” Ace tried to yell, but his voice wasn’t going to be scaring anyone any time soon.
He was rushed to a room and soon switched to a hospital bed, where he was strapped down again, his left arm free this time so they could assess the damage from the gunshot. He tried pushing them away, but he was too weak.
Even though Ace knew he couldn’t do a damn thing at this moment, he still struggled against the people trying to help him. Time was of the essence, and if Dakota hadn’t been with him in the vehicle, then it meant Nestor or his goons had gotten to her. These doctors just needed to stop his bleeding so he could get the hell out of there.
Ace was too angry to pass out again, so he continued cursing at the medical staff as he told them again and again he was CIA and he was on an important case. They either didn’t believe him or they didn’t care. It was infuriating. He demanded they call his supervisor, but he didn’t have Bill’s card on him. It wouldn’t have mattered if he did—he wouldn’t have been able to reach for it, since he was still strapped to the damn bed.
There was a commotion in the room. Ace had never been happier than when Cooper and Maverick ran into the room. The staff tried to slow them down, but one look at their fierce faces and they backed off. Only Nick wasn’t there, since he was with their wives and children.
“You have to get me out of here. They have Dakota,” Ace told Cooper.
The doctor numbed him and removed the bullets as Ace tried to remain conscious enough to get the entire story out to his brothers. They listened, and the medical staff became much more subdued, realizing he’d been telling the truth the entire time.
“She’s got a tracking device on her,” Ace said. “We have to trace it now before they figure it out.”
“The bullets are out,” the doctor said. “No internal organs were hit.”
“I told you that,” Ace snapped as the nurse took over for the doctor and began sewing up his wounds.
“You most likely do have a concussion, though, and will need to stay overnight,” he said, glaring down at Ace.
“That’s not going to happen,” Ace told the man with just as strong a look.
“You aren’t going to be able to do your job when you can’t even walk straight,” the doctor informed him.
“You don’t know me,” Ace assured the man.
“I know plenty of hotshots like you,” the doctor grumbled before he turned toward Cooper, whom he seemed to deem the most responsible of the siblings. “He needs to take medication, and if he leaves, it’s against medical advice.”
“We have a couple of nurses at home. We’ll keep an eye on him,” Cooper promised, speaking far more rationally. The doctor sighed but nodded and told his staff to release Ace from his restraints.
When the straps were undone, he sat up too quickly and became ill, his head instantly spinning. The nurse looked at him with an I-told-you-so expression that irritated Ace all the more.
“Maybe you should let us and Bill handle this,” Maverick said, obviously worried.
“Would you sit here if Lindsey was taken?” Ace fired back.
Maverick just shook his head. He didn’t try to argue any further. He reached into his pocket and pulled up the app that would track Dakota, praying it was still active. It was the longest couple of minutes of his life while he tried to focus on it as it searched for her.
When the device stopped searching, it showed her in a steady location. They must have her wherever they planned on staying for the night. It was either that or else . . . No, he refused to even think about the fact that she might be gone from his life. They wouldn’t kill her. She was too valuable to them alive. They had nothing to bargain with if she were dead.
“Let’s go,” he told his brothers as he slowly got to his feet. He could barely walk. It wasn’t good.
“How in the hell are you going to save her like this?” Mav demanded.
Ace stood between his brothers as he left the ER department, waving off any effort at assisting him. “I’ll have you with me,” he assured them.
“Of course, we’re more than willing to be there with you, but you have to call in help, Ace. For her safety, you have to let go of your pride,” Cooper told him.
They reached Cooper’s vehicle, and it took maximum effort for Ace to even slide into the back seat. He ignored the accusing look his brother sent him that told him he was a fool.
Without another word, he lifted his phone and dialed Bill, who picked up on the second ring.
“They got her, Bill,” he said.
“Do you know where?” he asked.
“I have a location. I need men we can trust beyond a shadow of a doubt,” Ace demanded.
“I know just who to send,” Bill assured him.
“I won’t hesitate to kill them if they try to betray us,” Ace warned.
“I have my inner circle, Ace. No one else even knows about this,” Bill told him.
Ace knew he could trust Bill, but that didn’t make any of this easier. He wanted to be the one to save Dakota, because he couldn’t trust anyone else to take her life as seriously as he did. But he knew he was too weak to ensure her safety. He’d be putting her at more risk by not accepting help.
He gave the address to Bill and agreed to a meeting place a block away. It was a full-on stealth mission. Before Ace hung up the phone, Bill had produced a map of the abandoned home on the outskirts of the city. The thugs probably figured they wouldn’t be found in the location. Also, so far, they either hadn’t found Dakota’s tracking device or they had and this was a trap.
Ace didn’t care. He would be going in for her, no matter what.
Though his brothers didn’t like it one bit, they moved to the agreed-on location, and Bill’s team of three guys was there within minutes, in full tactical gear with additional tactical gear for the Armstrong men.
“You really need to wait out here,” Maverick told him.
Ace was having a difficult time breathing, his body hurt so badly, but he couldn’t just stand by while t
hey went in.
“You’re a stronger man if you trust us to do this,” Cooper said.
“You’re too weak. You might give away our approach,” Maverick added.
At his brother’s words, Ace knew he was defeated. He couldn’t be the reason something happened to her. Though it would kill him to stay behind, knowing she might be in mortal danger, or that he might be sending his brothers on a suicide mission, he had to be strong enough to trust all of them.
“We won’t come back without her,” Cooper assured him, placing his hand on Ace’s unhurt arm.
“I want you both to come back to me too,” Ace said. “I don’t know if I can stand to wait idly by.”
“You can, because it’s what’s best for her right now. Do I need to stay and babysit you?” Maverick asked.
“No. I need you in there,” Ace told him.
“Then you need to keep your word and wait out here,” Mav insisted.
“I will,” Ace said, not looking at either of his brothers.
“Say it while looking in my eyes,” Maverick demanded.
Ace glared at his brother, but finally he nodded. His vision was blurring again, and he knew he wouldn’t be any good to them. He truly would be a hindrance. He was going to stay put and be there for Dakota the minute she was pulled out of the situation.
“We’ll be back before you know we’re gone,” Cooper assured him.
“We won’t let you down, sir,” one of the agents said.
Ace nodded at him. Then he sat back in frustrated impatience as the three men and his two brothers disappeared down the street. Each second that passed felt like an hour. Ace sat in the vehicle, his eyes peeled for any movement as he listened for the sounds of gunshots or screaming.
It was silent. That silence nearly undid him. He’d made a mistake. He shouldn’t have let them go without him. It was all going to go completely wrong. He had no doubt about it.
Struggling to his feet, he slid into a bulletproof vest while he gripped his gun in his uninjured hand. He needed to get in there and help them. Everything inside him screamed for him to do so. He hadn’t been wrong about his instincts yet.