Page 76 of No Going Back

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

He could use more Sunday mornings like this, waking up to sunshine streaming through the windows and the woman he loved curled against him. Maddie was sleeping soundly after a wonderful day of celebration and great company, before they’d seen Ros and Simon off on their honeymoon. Watching his fiancée play with Charlotte had made his heart ache with pain and wonder. She’d have been an incredible mother to their daughter.

“What time is it?”

The muffled words, preceded by a groan, vibrated across his chest. Nope, some things didn’t change. His woman was still at the owl end of the spectrum. He adjusted his arm around her. “There’s plenty of time before breakfast. Go back to sleep.”

“Uh? ’kay.” She snuggled into his side and draped a long, silken leg over him. It wasn’t too much of a stretch to picture those legs wrapped around his hips in the throes of passion. The image brought a smile to his face and a vow to make it happen in the not-too-distant future. For now, though, he was content to enjoy the peace and quiet.

The enjoyment didn’t last long. The entire hotel rocked under the force of an ear-shattering blast, or so it seemed. Within seconds, both Guy and Maddie were out of bed and dragging on their clothes.

“Guy?”

“I don’t know.” He made a grab for his jacket. “I only hope it’s a gas leak, because if it isn’t…”

A flash of silent understanding passed between them. When another explosion came moments later, shaking the building to its foundations for a second time, he realised it was a forlorn hope. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

“You’re not the only one. I have to help with the evacuation.” Maddie twisted her hair up and clamped it into place.

Guy grabbed her hand. “We both will.”

Making their way through clusters of confused, panicking guests and members of staff who were trying to help them, Guy and Maddie sprinted through the hotel. Their destination was the wing where the Spectrum Security group were located.

Their friends were already dressed and ready for action. Guy sent up a silent prayer of thanks for Maddie’s foresight when she booked the block of rooms together, especially when Alex and Beth appeared with their baby daughter.

“What the hell is going on?” Alex cradled his daughter while his wife pulled on a jacket.

“I’ve put you all in danger. I’m sorry.”

“Maddie, we don’t know that for sure.”

The way she looked at him broke Guy’s heart, but they didn’t have time to argue. He turned back to Alex. Although the other man was the CEO of Spectrum Security and the person to whom they all looked for leadership, in these circumstances he was husband and father first. With the ease of too many years of experience, Guy slipped into command mode.

“Alex, take Beth and Charlotte, and get out of here. Stacie, Fiona, you go with them. Get everyone you can find out of the hotel—”

The sound of rapid gunfire and blood-curdling screaming stopped Guy in his tracks. He turned to the others. “You need to get help fast.”

“I can’t get a signal.” Cam Fraser held up his phone.

“Neither can I.” Ryan stuffed his back in his pocket, as Alex gathered the women together.

More phones came out—all of them were useless. Guy cursed. “They must be using a jammer.”

Stacie ducked away from the group and dashed back into her room. She emerged seconds later with more bad news. “The land line’s dead, too.”

The sound of shouting cut through the hysterical yelling. The words were foreign and indistinct, but the accent drove Guy to face Maddie. She looked as if someone had just handed down a death sentence.

“It’s them.”

The bleakness behind the words tore through him.

“You know who’s behind this?”

Maddie answered Alex’s question. “It has to be the Bratva. They’re here because of me. You have to get everyone out of here now. If they manage to take hostages…”

Guy knew with grim certainty there was no if about it. The layout of the hotel, and the level of panic and confusion amongst the guests would ensure some of them would run straight into the enemy’s path. “What’s the safest route?”

“The kitchen. There’s a tunnel—it comes out at the old ice house. It’s not an approved evacuation route, but it’s going to be the best way to get everyone to safety.”