Chapter 18

GOLDEN TOWERS, ABU DHABI, UAE

"Move! Out of the way!" Davis barked in Arabic at the people running the opposite direction down the stairs.

Fury threaded the legs of the hundreds moving en masse down the stairs in a panic. He dodged more than one person unwilling to move and bounded up the stairs like the master tracker he was.

Davis struggled to stay with him, people not as willing to yield their path to him. Clearly, the landshark had a scent he was tracking, so Davis wouldn't call him off. They needed to find Hollyn before the twerp got her killed.

Gun in position, he negotiated the fastest path through the flood of bodies. The deafening claxon of the alarm drilled into his nerves. His gut tightened when he realized he'd lost line of sight on Fury. "Moving to third floor," Davis huffed into the comms. "Fury has a scent."

"Copy," Glace replied. "Two and Three twenty meters behind you."

Good. Davis strained to find Fury.

A blur of fur ahead keyed him into Fury shooting left at the landing.

Davis plowed through the oncoming throng and hauled it up the last few steps. Weapon tucked close in position sul once more, he cleared the corner and moved into the passage. Past seven stragglers making their way toward him, he spotted Fury hauling scents up and down the hall.

Two faltered halfway down the hall and pinned themselves to the wall, terrified of the dog working the scent cone.

"Clear out, clear out. Move," he ordered the three, motioning them past him as he closed the distance. They bolted for the stairs as soon as Davis stalked by. He shifted and gave his four-legged partner room to work. Listened for anything out of the ordinary. Which was difficult with the alarm still trying to split their ears open.

When the shepherd went from a brisk walk to a full-on run, Davis took off after him. Near the midway point of the hall, Fury suddenly slid to a stop. Head swung back and forth, tail up. "Whatcha got, bud?" he asked, closing the distance, keeping his weapon held close and down as he visually searched the door and threshold. He strained to listen around that stupid fire alarm?—which was clearly a false one. Who'd triggered it? He advanced to his dog and heard a noise. Paused. Cocked his head to hear better.

Was that a muffled yell?

Fury bolted two doors down and, snout pressed to the threshold, dragged in thick draughts of air. He did a head tilt, then planted his butt in front of the door. Stayed there, statue still, gaze boring holes in the door.

"Good boy," Davis breathed, moving to the door. He palmed it to verify it wasn't hot from a fire, even though he saw no smoke. Ear to the barrier, he listened again. Rapped on the door. "Security! Anyone in there?"

He heard something that blended with the alarm. "Hollyn?" he shouted.

"Yes! I'm here!"

Davis saw Benn and Glace hustling up on his left, so he stepped back, lifted his right leg, and nailed the door with his boot. It bucked, but a crack splintered down the jamb. He did it again amid an excited whimper from Fury, who barked.

The door surrendered. Cracked open.

Fury sailed into the room like the landshark he was.

When nobody fired at Fury, Davis moved into the room, weapon up. First thing he spotted was Hollyn anchored to a marble column like a horse at a hitching post. It ticked him off, but he kept himself in check. Knew that was a classic lure—get him to rush into the room to save the hostage, then kill him. So he focused on clearing. Heard Bennion do the same and Glace rush to Hollyn. The room held a table littered with papers and a wall of monitors. Checked a door—closet. Another accessed a bathroom.

"Clear." Davis holstered his weapon and pivoted toward Hollyn. Dropped to a knee and produced his KA-BAR. "You okay?"

"Light bruises. Nothing significant." Glace provided the medic's rundown of her condition.

"Yeah . . . "

The tremor in her voice punched his gut. He sliced through the zip ties, his gaze scanning her for injuries. In a blink, she leapt at him. Thudded into his chest, arms coiled tight around his neck.

"You're okay. I've got you."

"You came. I can't believe you came."

Davis swallowed at how deeply those words dug past his tac vest and years-hardened heart.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, her lips moving against his neck as she shuddered. "I'm so sorry! I should've listened. Stayed put."

Surprised at her words and the way she'd thrown herself at him, Davis held her tight. Heard as much as felt Fury sniffing Hollyn's face and swiping his tongue along her cheek. He ruffed the shepherd's head, knowing Fury wasn't too thrilled when others "attacked" him. "You're okay now. It's okay. I wanted to kill you when I heard you'd left."

He tried to laugh but couldn't. Felt a primal need to know she was okay, wasn't injured. "You're safe now. That's what matters." He wasn't sure if he was saying that for her or for himself. That's when the desperate, frantic realization rushed through him—he loved her and would do anything for her. "I'll always come for you." When she eased back, he framed her face with a hand. Swept his thumb over the bruise forming on her cheek. He bent in to be sure she was listening, she truly heard that. "Always."

Her blue and green eyes took him in.

Somehow, his mouth was on hers. He sealed the promise, letting the kiss linger. Letting himself become entrenched in that commitment.

"Hey, lovers, we need to wrap this up," Bennion groused.

Davis cupped her face. Wanted to say so much more, but he knew, in her life, words had been cheap. So many had left. Even her adoptive parents. He helped her upright but didn't let go of her hand.

"Give us a rundown on what happened."

Grief played havoc on her features. "I've been so stupid."

"Not possible. You're the smartest person I know."

Something faltered in her expression as she stared at him. Swallowed. Then wiped her eyes. "It's Leila—it's been her the whole time."

"The dead girl?" Glace balked, giving Benn a confused look.

"She's not dead—she was here. She's the mastermind behind the whole thing, and holy wow, that girl has a cold, wicked streak the size of Alaska!"

Behind them, Benn's curse wasn't completely drowned out by the fire alarm.

"You're sure?" Glace asked.

"I told you—she was right here. Held a gun to my head. Trust me, I know my fr—" Hollyn stopped mid-word, sickened that she'd ever called that woman "friend." She nodded. "It was her. And she's not alone. Archie's working with her—blackmailed, but he chose money over my parents' lives."

Davis grunted. "Knew he was a piece of?—"

"Any idea where they went?" Bennion asked as he slung his M4 to his back, folded his arms, and studied the screens. "Not seeing him on the surveillance feeds."

The words drew Davis over. He saw the hall, apartment foyer. The back alley. Exact one they'd use to infil . . . "Saw us coming."

Benn nodded to a lower-right screen. "A klick out."

Davis eyed another more active screen. "That's the dignitary event." He rubbed his jaw. "She had a contingency plan."

"What does that mean?" Hollyn asked.

Davis shifted to face her. "D'you know where they went? Did they say?" He noted Fury searching the room. Kept track as he listened.

"No . . . I don't know." She shrugged. "Leila and the bouncers with her left . . . maybe ten or fifteen minutes ago. Then Archie took off saying he was going to stop her."

"Stop her?" Glace challenged. "Thought you said they were working together."

"They are—were—I don't know." She kneaded her temples. "Archie tried to sell my program to her, but that's where the blackmail came into play. We have to find her." Her eyes widened, and she caught Davis's sleeve. "She said the buyers were waiting, that she'd have a lot of money soon."

"Not good," Bennion muttered.

"Missile launch," Davis suggested with a nod.

"Has to be," Hollyn said gravely. "She's trying to prove that it can do what she promised—that has to be it because she said she wouldn't have a need for me. If I can get my hands on the tablet she's using to run the AI, there's a chance I can hack in and stop the launch even after it's been started."

"How much of a chance?" Glace asked.

"Doesn't matter. Chance is better than no chance," Benn said. But a scowl was etched onto his face. "So, clear the hotel and palace?"

Thinking through what they'd learned, Davis considered the guy. "If not an entire square mile." His gaze shifted to the screens again. "Anyone got eyes on them?"

A round of "negative" answered.

"Can't move against them until we know where they went." He returned his attention to Hollyn. "You have any ideas?"

She gave a halfhearted shrug.

He touched her shoulder. "I know it's been a lot, but . . . we need actionable intel."

"Leila didn't say."

There was something in her voice and expression that made Davis still. He frowned at her. Couldn't believe what he saw in her eyes. "I . . . don't believe you."

Those eyes widened almost imperceptibly. Her lips parted and color flushed her cheeks. "Are you calling me a liar?"

Her tone, the flush that now seemed infused with anger, warned him to tread carefully. "Hollyn, I'm not?—"

Fury's incessant barking drew them around just in time to see his sable coat vanish out the door that hung crookedly on its hinge.

Davis hissed an oath and darted to the hall. "Fury, heel." His boy bolted down to the stairs, barked loudly, hackles raised.

"Stay with her," Benn muttered as he hurried that way, M4 at the ready and Glace trailing him toward the stairwell.

Ear trained on the room—all quiet—Davis watched the two. Whistled to his boy, who suddenly whipped around and came trotting back. "What was it?"

"Didn't see anything." Benn shrugged.

Davis turned as the alarm suddenly fell silent, the emptiness of that noise suddenly deafening and gaping.

Davis's ears rang in the wake of quiet emptiness. "'Bout freakin' time." He shifted just as a loud creak popped from his left. He pivoted that way, weapon out and trained on the shadows. Saw a smear of green duck through a door. No. Couldn't be . . . Heart in his throat, confusion rank, he jerked his gaze to the room—to Hollyn. And pitched himself down the hall. "Hollyn!"

He whipped open the door marked Roof in Arabic and shoved himself up the stairs. Saw her boot round another flight. He sucked in a breath. Toed the next step. Threw himself up, reaching out . . .

Caught her boot even as the steps thumped his chest.

She yelped and tripped.

Davis lunged and caught her calf.

"Let go," she cried out. Turned and tried to kick him off.

Hardcore determination dug into him. He fisted her shirt and held her in place. "What're you doing?"

Watery eyes held his. "Please—just let me do this."

He dragged himself up until they were even. Found his knees, huffing out the effort it took to interdict. "No."

"I can't put anyone else in dan-"—a sob choked her word—"-ger. Please . . . "

Heart rending, Davis pulled her to her feet. Braced her against the wall even as he heard the others shift into place around them. "What'd I tell you? Down there in the room—what'd I tell you?"

She considered him, locked in a visual duel it seemed, then realization fell over her fair features. The dam broke and she dropped her head to his chest. "That you'd come for me."

Holding her close, hand cupping the back of her head, he breathed against her ear, "Always. Even if it means protecting you from yourself."

"I can stop her," she moaned. "If I just?—"

"Her brand of evil only uses people."

She swallowed her tears and her grief. "If I help her, then?—"

"Then your hands are bloodied too. For what? At what cost? How many lives?"

She gripped his shirt. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me. Everyone I love always does . . . "

He smirked. "I'm not hurt . . . "

Bennion groaned loudly. "I can change that."

"Shut up." Davis grinned as he guided her into the narrow corridor. A tall, thin window gave them light. "We'll talk more later—what do you know? What sent you up this maintenance passage?"

Gnawing her lip for a moment, Hollyn hesitated. Her brows knotted, her eyes again watering.

"Trust me, Holly Hobbie."

"Not fair, using that nickname."

"Wasn't meant to be."

She shuddered a sigh. "The roof. I think that's where she is."

The rest of the team needed to get out of the hotel vicinity. "Why the roof? Only exfil would be a chopper, and if they struck the hotel with the dignitaries, the smoke would inhibit visibility."

"She's hosting a demonstration of the drone-guided missile. She said the buyers were waiting. That means showing proof. Best place for that is?—"

"The roof." He struggled to breathe. "You really think she'd do it right here?"

"She's cocky," Hollyn said. "She was shocked we figured out where she was operating. And she thinks I'm tied up and with Archie, so I'm guessing she wouldn't think she needs a backup or exit strategy. She left me in the room with the intention of returning to kill me."

Davis tensed. "How do you know that?"

Hollyn shrugged, her lower lip trembling. "No loose ends, she said."

"I'll be very happy to send Fury after her." As he keyed his mic, he glanced at Benn and Glace, who looked both relieved to have intel and frustrated that Hollyn hadn't shared the intel when they'd asked. "Base, this is Actual."

"Go ahead, Actual," Chapel replied.

"Evacuate the hotel."

"Say again?—"

"New threat targeting the hotel with a drone-guided missile. Known terrorist is Leila Pierce."

"Thought we were hunting Archi?—"

"Complicit minion. Recommend immediate evac of the building."

A curse sailed through the comms as Davis made a signal for Two and Three to get moving. "We will hunt down and interdict. We could use some eyes in the sky."

"Actual, this is Blank. Eagle heading your way."

Benn peered out the wall of dark windows. "Looks like we've got company. Paw Patrol on-site. Heading into the building."

He nodded to Davis and Glace, and they were on the move. "Stairs only," he said.

"Looks like I'm about to get my steps in," Glace said with a winsome smirk.

Benn frowned.

"Twenty-six flights . . . minus three," she explained.

"Lady," he said to Hollyn. "Next time, can't you try to escape using an elevator?" The big guy huffed and cocked his head. "Twenty-three floors of fish-in-a-barrel." He stretched his neck. "Fun times, here we come."

Blank's soft, Southern voice twanged through the comms. "Actual, drones show four unfriendlies on the roof—three males, one female. Confirmation on Archie Durand. Negative facial rec on the others."

"Good copy. Base, we're heading topside." Davis whispered a prayer of thanks for thermal imaging that the drone could use.

It wasn't lost on him how easily that response of turning to God had just come. Maybe there was hope for him yet.

"The female has to be Leila," Hollyn said. "If they confirmed Archie, then he's with her."

Legs aching, lungs burning, they continued their climb. Finally hit the twenty-sixth floor. Davis deferred lead to Glace and Benn, who shouldered the wall next to the door, peering through the small window.

Davis stayed with Hollyn, and she'd vowed a couple of times that she wouldn't run again. Fury, on the other hand, though he panted heavily, was still a ball of energy. The elevators Benn had moaned about were still inoperable after the fire alarm, which locked them down automatically. Not that they'd all climb in and make their deaths easy for the enemy.

"What'd you see?"

"Four, just like Blank said," Benn confirmed with a nod. "I can take out two of them but wouldn't have a clear line of sight because of that transformer."

"Okay, neutralize them, and I'll come up around to our nine." He eyed Glace and Hollyn. "Take cover behind the transformers." Anticipating Glace's rejection of hiding instead of fighting, he nodded to her. "Keep her safe for me. Please."

Lips thinned, she gave a curt nod.

"On my count. Three . . . "

Benn adjusted his stance to erupt out the door, weapon tucked into his shoulder.

"Two . . . one!"