God dammit! The last thing I want is for any of them to get hurt.
He would probably have a better chance of getting out of this alive if Tate and Marcus were planning something together. Truth was, he wanted to live. Zane didn’t want to leave Ellie on this Earth alone, and he wanted to be around for her. They hadn’t had enough time yet. He wasn’t ready yet.
I never told her how much I love her.
That was Zane’s deepest regret. Maybe he wasn’t a romantic guy, and maybe he hadn’t been all that good at telling Ellie exactly how he felt. But damn! How hard was it to tell her that he loved her, that he’d do damn near anything to see her smile?
Obviously, it was difficult or he would have already told her. He hadn’t wanted to scare her off by pouring his heart out all at once. Now, he wished he would have just taken the chance.
Sean’s snoring suddenly stopped, and Zane quickly closed his eyes. Better to look like he was still unconscious until something happened, and he knew something would. He knew his brothers, and they weren’t going to leave Zane’s fate to the police, especially when Sean had threatened to kill him the minute he saw a police car.
Something was going to happen. He knew his family was up to something. He just wished he knew exactly what they had planned.
Ellie waited long enough for Tate, Marcus, and Lara to gain access to the ventilation system. She’d let them into the building through the delivery entrance with her key before coding in the numbers that would stop the alarm system in the area, and relocking the back entrance after the three of them were in place.
Once their plan had been worked out the night before, Blake had been excluded because what they were doing wasn’t exactly the way the government would approve of handling the situation, and Blake had a senator’s seat to consider. He hadn’t been happy, but he’d finally bowed out, mostly because he didn’t want to be a hindrance since he had no experience in law enforcement.
I have to be patient. I have to give them time to get through the ventilation system.
Ellie hadn’t slept, but she was far from tired. Her nerves were on edge, and her hands were shaky as she made her way to the front entrance of the building. She knew she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t afraid, but it was Zane’s life she was afraid for right now.
What if he’s already dead?
She had to stop and take a deep breath, clear her mind of negative thoughts. There’d be no functioning the way she needed to if she panicked.
A cold chill ran down her spine, and she instantly knew she was being watched. The window in Sean’s office looked over the entrance, and Ellie was positive he was scrutinizing her every move.
Hefting the duffel bag over her shoulder so he could see that she was carrying a bag and a laptop under her other arm, she unlocked the door of Colter Labs and stepped inside.
With a glance at the alarm panel, she noticed that the system for the main building was off. Sean had either never reset the office and reception alarms, or he’d just shut them off before she entered.
Her phone rang, and she startled, nearly dropping Zane’s laptop. Hurriedly, she sat the bag and the computer on the receptionist desk and pulled her phone out of the pocket of her jeans.
She looked at the caller ID before she answered. “I have what you want. Now I want a trade.” Her voice was surprisingly firm. Anger that Sean had brought Zane into his crazy game was fueling her courage right now.
“Come up to my office alone,” Sean warned.
“I am alone,” she shot back at him. “I’m on my way, and I want to see Zane.”
“He’s here, and he’s not very happy right now,” Sean replied cheerfully.
“What did you do to him?” Ellie asked furiously, only to find that the line was now silent.
“Dammit!” She shoved her phone back in her pocket and gathered up the items on the desk, and then made her way to the elevators that led to the offices.
By now, Tate, Lara, and Marcus should be in position. Ellie wasn’t sure what had finally made Tate relent and bring Lara along with him. But Ellie had heard him remind his wife of her promise before he’d gone into the building, so Ellie knew Tate didn’t believe Lara should be anywhere near the dangerous situation.
Ellie took some deep breaths before the lift stopped at the floor where Sean’s office was located, trying to keep as calm as possible. Her greatest fear was that she couldn’t save Zane.
He never gave up on me. I won’t give up on him.
The words had become her mantra, her strength. She’d give her life in exchange for Zane’s in a heartbeat; she was just afraid that she wouldn’t have the chance.
Sean’s office door was open, and Ellie felt her heart hammering against her chest as she walked into the space slowly, frantically looking for Zane. “Where is he?” she asked, feeling like she wanted to smash the evil smile off Sean’s face as he greeted her at the door.
“I’ll take those,” he growled menacingly, snatching the duffel bag and laptop from her arms.
Her eyes caught sight of one of Sean’s office chairs moving, a pair of hiking boots flat on the floor. “Zane!” She ignored Sean, who was rifling through the bag to make sure it contained real money, and ran to the chair.
Fury coursed through her body as she saw how he was literally tied from neck to knee into the chair, blood streaming from his head, his face bruised. “You bastard,” Ellie turned and cursed at Sean. “You hurt him.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t have a little fun,” Sean answered nonchalantly as he pulled his handgun from his waistband and pointed it in their direction.