A Beautiful Lie (Playing with Fire #1)(112)

“I was able to persuade the nurse we spoke of to call a code blue on Agent Parker here. She was reluctant until I reminded her that her niece was still in our employ and could easily be terminated from her work with us. She was all too happy at that point to do as I asked. The code blue was called when a majority of the staff was in a meeting so my men only had to take out one other nurse and an intern. I borrowed the intern’s hospital scrubs and identification and the nurse informed the CIA and Navy guards sent to keep an eye on Agent Parker that they couldn’t enter the room during an emergency. I entered the room while she stood just outside the door with the men, and after several moments, informed everyone I was unable to revive Agent Parker. The guards are now scrambling around downstairs trying to figure out what should be done now that their assignment is deceased. A healthy dose of Ritalin into Agent Parker’s IV perked him right up after being under heavy sedation for so many hours.”

Garrett and Parker both listened to the explanation of how anyone could have possibly got anywhere near Joe with equal parts shock and anger. He was supposed to be safe in the hospital. It should have been the one place where Fernandez’s far-reaching arms couldn’t penetrate. They had been fools to underestimate him in any way.

“Very good,” Fernandez replied. “I assume we will only have a few moments before someone realizes they need to see the body for verification purposes, so we’ll make this quick.”

Fernandez turned to face the guard who held Garrett’s arms behind his back.

“Let Lieutenant McCarthy go.”

It was obvious the guards and Milo were unaware of whatever Fernandez had planned at this point. They all looked at him and then each other in confusion.

“Sir?” the guard beside him spoke softly. “Do you think that’s wise?”

The man who held onto Garrett squeezed his arms behind him tighter, and Garrett winced at the extra force the man used in his uncertainty about what was going on.

Fernandez motioned to the man holding Garrett. “I don’t think it is in your best interest to question me,” he said sternly. “Let him go, Alejandro. I believe the lieutenant would feel better if he could ensure his lover is well, aside from the obvious damage that has been done to her pretty face. I fear I will not have his full attention until this has been accomplished.”

The guard only hesitated for a moment before he reached down and sliced through the rope that held Garrett’s hands together behind his back. Garrett pulled his arms in front of him and rubbed the raw areas on each wrist. Through the entire exchange he never took his eyes off of Parker. He wanted nothing more than to touch her, to pull her into his arms and feel the beat of her heart against his chest and smooth the hair off of her face. It seemed like a million years had gone by since he kissed her lips and lay in bed with her body wrapped around him. But having Fernandez grant him this wish, allowing him the freedom to touch Parker without being unencumbered by rope, made Garrett nervous. Fernandez didn’t do things just to be a nice guy; he did things for a reason. Right now Garrett’s gut was telling him that a heavily trained Navy SEAL was being permitted to roam freely in a room where he could easily access a weapon because Fernandez wanted Garrett to take everyone out for him, or because he knew Garrett wouldn’t live long enough to do much of anything.

Garrett didn’t want to waste any more time on trying to figure out what Fernandez was up to. In four quick strides he was across the room and down on his knees in front of Parker. If a bullet to the back of the head was what Fernandez had in store for him, he wasn’t about to go without touching his girl one last time.

“Are you okay?” Garrett asked softly as he cupped the back of Parker’s neck with one hand and ran the tips of his fingers over every inch of her face with the other.

Parker nodded, her throat closing up with emotion now that Garrett was so close. With him on the other side of the room, it was easy to be strong and confident. Having him touch her, speak to her, and be so gentle with the cuts and bruises on her face was enough to break her.

“Ahhh, the lovers are together once again,” Fernandez spoke from behind them. “Now we can finally get on with things.”

Garrett kept his back to Fernandez and continued to run his fingers over Parker’s lips and cheeks, staring deep into her eyes and promising her wordlessly that everything would be okay.

“Juan, would you be so kind as to let our young lovers know that everything is set on your end?” Fernandez asked.

Within seconds Garrett and Parker heard the distinct clicking sound of a gun being cocked through the phone. Garrett watched Parker’s eyes grow wide and saw her catch her breath. Before Garrett could fully process that Juan was most likely holding a gun to Joe’s head at the hospital, he felt the distinct press of the barrel of a gun against the back of his own head.

“The Parkers, father and daughter, both agents with the CIA, both the bane of my existence,” Fernandez spoke.

Garrett could tell Fernandez was the one who held the gun against his head since his voice was so close. With his back to the room, Garrett had no idea how many guns were trained on him right then, but he assumed the two guards and Milo were both taking aim to protect Fernandez. He could easily sweep his leg behind him and knock Fernandez down, but too many things could go wrong. Parker could be shot by a stray bullet or one of the other guards could take her out. It was best for him to just remain still for the moment.