Page 73 of Her Chosen Protector

Asher and Eden looked at one another. Asher remembered just how sturdy that steel gate was.

“I’m hanging up now, Max. Have Ezio call me.”

“Yep.”

It felt like forever before his phone rang. Eden had a calm look on her face, but he knew it was bullshit because her hand on his forearm might possibly leave bruises.

“Asher,” Ezio said before Asher could say a thing. He sounded out of breath. “How are you doing?”

“Hanging in there.”

“Damn glad to hear it. We’re going to get you out of there, don’t you worry.”

“I wasn’t worried until you told me not to worry,” Asher said sarcastically. “Your bedside manner sucks.”

Ezio huffed out a laugh. “Cut me some slack, man. I’ve been sweating up a storm trying to crawl through this maze.”

“Don’t bitch to me, you do this for fun. You’re just getting a chance to do your weekend workout on the job, so be happy.”

Ezio laughed again. “Right now, I’m going to try to crawl under the gate to see if there is any way I can leverage it up off the door. I’m hoping there’s something underneath the gate that I can shove up under it. If I was a really good boy this year, maybe I can find something to use as a fulcrum.”

“We can only hope.”

“Hanging up now.” Asher’s phone went dead. He quickly tried to think of something to take Eden’s mind off of their predicament.

“What’s your friend Kane doing right now? Can we get him on your phone?”

“We can try, but I’m betting he and Cullen are securing some transport other than a food truck to get everybody to the plane, or they have eyes on what’s going on with the secret police to keep Max and Leo appraised of the situation.”

Eden’s expression was fierce. “I need Kane to let Leland know everything he’s found out about Becker. Leland will be able to have everyone coming down on him like a ton of bricks as soon as he hits Puerto Rico.”

“He has that much power?”

“Oh yeah, he can get that done. I don’t want Becker disappearing into the wind.”

“Let’s make this fast.” He got Max back on the phone and explained the situation. It was like Asher thought—Kane was a block away from the bank on a rooftop, keeping watch on the secret police’s operation. Max promised that Kane would call Leland from his current position and fill him in with the details.

What?

Asher almost lost his footing as the vault shook.

“Ouch!” Eden yelled.

“Eden, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I bumped hard into the table. What was that sound? Why did the vault move? Was it Ezio? Is he okay?”

“No, it came from the safety deposit wall.”

Asher called Max.

“What was that?”

“What was what?”

“Something just felt like it hit and shook the vault. Did they hit us with charges?”

“Hold on, I’m getting a report from Kane.”