Page 79 of No Going Back

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“What the hell are you doing here? I thought I told you to get away.”

Guy was furious. He’d thought she was safe, well out of the line of fire. When he’d rounded the corner and seen her ahead of him, his heart had nearly stopped in shock.

Maddie shook her head, trying, no doubt, to dislodge his hand. If it wasn’t for the fact they were all still in danger, he’d have put her over his knee and blistered her butt. She wouldn’t be able to sit down for a month. Hell, make that six months, and she’d spend the entire time in chastity for good measure. With great reluctance, he removed his hand from her mouth, although he still held on to her waist.

“I’m your bargaining chip,” she whispered. “Trade me for everyone else.”

“Over my dead fucking body,” he growled in her ear. “Are you insane?”

“You have to,” she insisted. “I know these men. They’ll have no problem killing everyone to get to me.”

“Seriously? You think they’ll let everyone else go unharmed if we hand you over? And even if that worked, do you have any idea what bastards like that’ll do to you to make you talk?”

As soon as he said the words, as soon as he saw the light go from her eyes, Guy wished he could take those words back. He had to go and shoot his mouth off. What was he thinking?

“You’re forgetting—I already know. And the man responsible for it is out there.”

“What?” Guy’s blood iced over with the need to exact retribution. “Who is he? Tell me.”

Her tone was grim, but not directed at him. “I went to one of the upper floors to take a look at the car park. I recognised their leader—Dmitry Kuznetsov. When they held me, he was the one who—”

“He tortured you?”

“He directed the others. And trust me—he knows what to do. He’ll do whatever it takes to get to me, because he knows I’m the key to Yana, and she’s the key to controlling her father. If they get their hands on her, they’ll threaten to kill her, and you can bet they’ll do it if he doesn’t comply. I’ve seen their handiwork, as well as felt it.”

“Where is Yana?”

“Safe. For now, at least. I can’t tell you exactly, but it’s best if you don’t know anyway.”

“Still trying to protect me, Madeleine?”

She looked over her shoulder at him, her expression one of outright mutiny. “Yes.”

She was one stubborn woman. “When this is over—”

“You’ll what? Beat some sense into me? Good luck with that one. Where are the others?”

His fierce, spirited submissive. God, he loved her. “They managed to round up some of the guests and get them away.”

“Good. So it’s just you and me?”

“For now, but probably not for long.”

Cam and Ryan wouldn’t hang him out to dry. As far as they knew, Guy was alone, and once they’d ensured the safety of the people they’d managed to evacuate, they’d be back.

Not everyone had been so lucky, and the unluckiest ones of all were there in the lobby. Guy pulled Maddie back with him in an attempt to take cover, but also keep a watch on the scene unfolding before them.

The main entrance to the hotel burst open and a man stumbled in. He was sent sprawling over the lobby floor when the thug behind him gave him another brutal shove in the back with the stock of his semi-automatic rifle.

“Oh no.”

Maddie’s horrified whisper told him this wasn’t a welcome development. “What is it? Do you know him?”

“It’s Tim, the hotel general manager. Today was his day off. Dear God, his family.”

“What about them?”