Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(37)

Without saying a word, Jon shrugged off his pack and pulled out a hypodermic needle.

“Hey!” Silverman protested, panic in his voice. “You promised to call off the dogs if I talked.”

“That was your second mistake, Tom.” Brent folded his arms across his chest. “I never made you that promise. Your first mistake was coming after my woman. My priority is her. You don’t matter to me.” He flicked a glance at Jon who immediately plunged the needle into Silverman’s neck. Seconds later, the thug who’d meant to kidnap Rowan was unconscious.

“How much did you give him?” Brent asked.

“He’ll be out for a couple hours or so. Hard to guess at the dosage.” His gaze zeroed in on the hallway. “Get your woman out of here, Brent. This clown’s friends are closing in.”





CHAPTER FIFTEEN


“Rowan, get your gear.” Brent pulled out his knife and sliced the ties holding Silverman to the chair. Catching the man as he slumped forward, Brent helped Jon haul the thug upright. “You’ve got three minutes, baby.”

“She okay?” Eli asked as he followed his partner and Brent to the waiting SUV, a small black scanner in his hand to check for a tracker on Brent’s SUV. “This has to be the most frightening thing she’s ever been through.”

“Rowan is a strong woman, but she’s putting on a good performance. I don’t have time to talk to her about it just yet.” Proud of her strength, he was also grateful for her control. He and the others would have dealt with a major meltdown, but it would have taken time they couldn’t spare.

Eli circled Brent’s vehicle. He stopped at the back on the passenger side, dropped to the ground and scooted under the vehicle. A small pen light clicked on. A moment later Eli scooted out from under the SUV and held out his hand to show Brent a small black object. “Tracker.”

Brent blew out a breath, disgusted with himself. He should have checked before leaving Rowan’s place. His misstep had led these clowns right to her. “That’s on me. I was distracted and didn’t check.”

His fellow SEAL grinned at him as Brent helped Jon dump Silverman into the back of their vehicle. After the thug was secure once more, Jon closed the hatchback.

“Can’t believe the invincible Brent Maddox has a weakness.” Eli shook his head, eyes twinkling. “Guess you’re as fallible as Jon and I are when it comes to our women.”

Brent rubbed the back of his neck. “I haven’t even taken her on a date,” he muttered. Should have asked her out sooner. “Can’t call her mine.” Yet. He’d like to change that, but the lady had to be willing.

Jon’s eyebrow rose. “If you say so.”

His heartbeat sped up. Had the SEAL sniper noticed something Brent missed? Man, he hoped Jon’s powers of observation were still spot on. He turned in time to see Rowan racing from the house, bag in hand.

“I’m ready.” She was breathing hard.

Eli took her bag. “I’ll take this. Brent, grab your gear.”

His lips curved. Listen to Wolfe giving orders. He trotted the few feet to his back door.

“I’m Eli.” Wolfe inclined his head to his partner. “That’s Jon.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Rowan. Thanks for helping.”

“Sure thing, sugar. Can’t let anyone get the drop on our boss.”

“Still, I appreciate everything you’re doing. It keeps me safe, too.”

Brent grabbed his Go bag at the back door, turned off most of the lights, locked up again, including setting the security system. He dumped his bag beside Rowan’s on the back seat of his vehicle. “Jon, get information from Silverman as fast as you can.” He summarized the events of the last couple days, including Alexa’s disappearance. “If Silverman knows where the girl is, I want to know yesterday.”

Jon’s face hardened into grim lines at the mention of the missing girl, reminding Brent that the SEAL-trained sniper had a soft spot for women and children in danger. “He will talk to me,” Jon said. “I guarantee it. Whether he knows anything worth hearing is another story.”

“We need to go,” Eli murmured. “I can hear Silverman’s buddies approaching. The last thing we want is a firefight with Rowan in the mix.”

“Where are you taking her?” Jon asked.

“Safe house in Brentwood.”

“We’ll follow you and run interference.”

Brent opened the passenger door for Rowan and helped her inside. He hated that she was trembling. Wanted so much to hold her until the shakes stopped, but didn’t have time at the moment. As soon as she was safe, he promised himself he’d hold her as long as it took her to feel secure. First, though, he had to leave before Silverman’s reinforcements arrived. Eli was right. He didn’t want Rowan caught in the crossfire if he could avoid it.

These guys were desperate to capture Rowan. The question was why? Must be the flash drive. Nothing else made sense. So Keith Phillips didn’t want the file out there. What was so important these guys were willing to kill to keep the file under wraps?

Instead of racing headlong into the path of the thugs, Brent turned toward the back of the property where there was a narrow path through the trees. He’d worked on cutting access to a back road when he first purchased the property. Brent loved the fact his house wasn’t visible from the road or by the neighbors. He hadn’t, however, wanted to be blocked in just in case something like this ever happened. His lip curled. Guess being paranoid was a good thing.