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“Where is Kingsley? He checked in an hour ago. Everyone on your knees.” Yuri whipped out his rifle and shot at the ceiling.
The guests covered their ears, and a few screamed and cowered.
Yuri glared. “Tell me fast, or we start shooting. Men, check the badges.”
The room grew silent again.
The gunmen scurried around the room, searching each man.
Glancing down, her heart dropped. David’s badge hung from her neck lanyard, brushing against her opened jacket. Holding her breath, she checked both directions to ensure no one was watching while she flipped the badge over, so David’s name faced her chest. She needed to get rid of it, but it was too late to rip off the badge and risk unwanted attention.
Yuri charged toward the group of women. “Show me your badges.” He checked off Kavita and the caterers before he stopped in front of her.
Hands loose by her sides, she willed them to stop shaking. When he flipped her badge over, the lanyard tugged hard against her bare neck, like a noose tightening.
“David Kingsley? Why are you wearing his badge?” Yuri’s eyebrows squished together, and he tapped his fist against his lips.
“They gave me the wrong one.”
The gunman loomed over her. “What is your name and company?”
Instead of replying, she shrank from the huge rifle in his hands, curving her back to withdraw her torso farther from his rifle’s point.
“Name and company?”
Silent, she stood on the jagged edge of a cliff, losing ground by the second.
“Fine.” Yuri lunged to the left and yanked Kavita to her feet. With one arm braced around her, he jutted the tip of his rifle under her chin, and his face reddened.
“Name and company now, or she dies.”
Tears streamed down Kavita’s cheeks, and her chin shook.
No, no, please no. A sob clogged her throat, but she choked it back and tried to inhale. “Tess Bennett, Kingsley Tech.”
“Title?”
“Senior vice president.”
Glowering, Yuri raised his right hand, swung hard, and pummeled her left cheekbone with his fist.
A thwack sounded, followed by a sting of metal slicing into her cheek. She cried out and slumped to the floor. Warm blood dripped down her face, nauseating her. Figuring he must have worn a ring, she compressed a hand firmly against her cheek to stop the bleeding, and her fresh blood mixed with Riku’s on her fingers.
Gasps sprung up from around the room, and everyone stared.
Across the room, she spotted a man built like a World War II tank, a foot taller than the other men. Body poised, he stood with his fists clenched, ready to attack. The red-haired engineer who played rugby, Kieran Hughes. She caught his attention in time and shook her head, hoping to dissuade him from tackling the gunman near him. A pained frown crossed his features.
Hughes tilted his head to one side, but his fists remained tight as he scanned the room.
“Tell us where Kingsley is. Don’t lie, or I’ll hit you harder.” Yuri surveyed her.
Blood trickled off the bottom of her jaw onto her throat, slid down her chest, and stained her ivory blouse. She wanted to throw up. “He’s in Europe.”
Beside her, Kavita covered her mouth, and tears leaked from between her fingers.
“I see.” Yuri stood with his gun strap slung around his neck. He paced up and down the line of male guests one more time.
With her equilibrium thrown off-kilter, Tess struggled to stand. Queasy dizziness overcame her, and black spots distorted her vision. Her cheekbone throbbed.
