Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(81)

He crouched, checked the hall. One guard sat outside Rowan’s room. This one, however, was alert and watchful, gaze constantly scanning. Great. If Brent’s intel from Veronica was correct, Garcia’s suite was at the end of the hall. Any disturbance by the guard would draw unwanted attention.

Brent eased back and retreated a few steps to stop beside his medic. He whispered in Jake’s ear, “Dart.”

A nod and the medic eased his mike bag from his shoulders. He reached inside and drew out a dart gun, chose a vial, loaded the dart with the drug to knock out the guard. In silence, he moved past Brent, aimed, pulled the trigger. Immediately, he and Brent crossed the thirty feet separating them from the guard. Jake caught the man just as he slumped to the floor. He moved the guard to the opposite doorway.

So far, they’d met little resistance, everything going according to plan. And that made Brent suspicious. Missions never worked without adjustments. Garcia should have had more guards roaming the place. The cartel leader had installed cameras everywhere, but Zane had hacked into the system remotely and put the feed on a loop. Garcia might have a sensor in Rowan’s room. If he’d been this lax over the years, he would be dead.

Brent activated his comm system and whispered into his mic, “Be ready. Too easy.”

Each of his team leaders acknowledged his warning.

His skin crawled. He glanced at Adam, then Jake. “Stairs,” he whispered. If Garcia was indeed watching, he wanted the crime lord lulled into believing Brent was the overly confident one. The two operatives returned to the stairwell where they’d watch and wait.

He knelt in front of the knob and picked the lock, praying Rowan and Alexa didn’t raise an alarm. When the lock gave way, Brent stood and slipped into the room. Eli followed him inside, shut the door.

Rowan paused mid-stroke over the little girl’s hair, tension radiating from her body. She stood, turned. Her gaze locked on Brent’s.

He didn’t say a word, simply opened his arms. Rowan raced across the room and threw herself into his embrace. He inhaled the familiar scent of her shampoo as he wrapped his arms around her. He never wanted to let her go. “Are you okay, baby?”

She pressed her face against his neck. “I was so afraid I lost you,” she whispered.

Brent didn’t miss the fact Rowan avoided answering his question. Had Phillips or Garcia hurt her? He pulled her tighter against his chest. “How is Alexa?”

“Terrified, but unhurt. Phillips is dead. Garcia killed him with us in the room.”

Brent mentally shrugged. Garcia saved him the trouble of taking out the militia leader himself. However, killing Phillips in front of Rowan and Alexa would lead to nightmares for both of them. He made a mental note to contact a child psychologist for Alexa as soon as they returned home. “Did she see the murder?”

Rowan shook her head.

But Rowan had. Nothing like this should have touched her. If Brent had anything to say about it, Rowan would never have to face this again. “Ready to go home, baby?”

“Beyond ready.” She eased away from Brent. “Let me wake Alexa.”

“Hurry. We’re running out of time.”

She returned to the bedside and gently shook her niece’s shoulder. “Lex, wake up.”

A soft groan, then, “Is it morning?”

“Shh. No, sweetheart. Brent is here to take us home.”

The slight figure popped up and the beautiful blue eyes looked at Eli, then Brent. “Which one is your boyfriend?” she whispered.

Brent crouched beside the bed, putting himself on her level. “I am, Alexa.” He nodded at Eli. “That’s Eli.”

“Ready to go home, sugar?” Eli asked, his voice soft.

Alexa nodded and threw off the blanket covering her. Brent was pleased to note she was fully dressed in her pink outfit except for her shoes.

While Rowan helped Alexa with her tennis shoes, Brent unzipped his pack and pulled out a stuffed rabbit, one with long floppy ears, the fur soft as a butterfly’s wings. As he’d hoped, Alexa’s eyes lit up. He smiled, handed her the rabbit. “Is it all right for my friend to carry you, Alexa? We need to move fast to get away from the bad men.”

Alexa eyed Eli a moment. “Aunt Ro?” She didn’t take her attention away from the SEAL who did his best to look non-threatening.

“He’s my friend, Lex. You can trust him.”

“But I want Brent.”

Shock rolled through Brent at her honest words. His heart turned over in his chest. “I need to protect your aunt, sweetheart.”

Another few seconds of staring at the SEAL and Alexa held up her arms for Eli to pick her up.

He lifted her into his arms and hugged her close. “I’ll take good care of you, Sweet Cheeks.”

The girl smiled at him, tugged the rabbit close, and laid her head on Eli’s shoulder. “You’ll keep Aunt Ro safe?” she asked Brent.

“No one will hurt her, Alexa. You have my word.”

“Brent, movement headed your direction,” Jon said.

“Copy.”

Eli’s expression turned grim.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Rowan whispered in Brent’s ear.

“Company. We have to go.” Into his mic, he said, “Adam?”

“Ready.”

Brent dropped a quick, hard kiss on Rowan’s mouth. “Follow my orders without question, babe.” He glanced at Eli without saying a word. His friend gave a subtle nod. No one would touch Alexa. Eli would do whatever was necessary to protect her.