Scandal Never Sleeps

  more time. “No. She said she needed some space. We’ll find her there, I’m sure. I have a car downstairs. We can go get her right now.”

  The Russian chuckled. “How quickly they turn on each other. Americans. You’re all the same. You look out for yourselves.”

  Scott’s gun was aimed squarely on Gabe again. “That’s not his reputation at all.”

  Shit. “Look, she’s just some chick I was banging. I don’t want to die.”

  Scott’s eyes narrowed as he studied Gabe. “Really? Just some chick? She was your best friend’s sister. Even if I believed for a second you don’t have feelings for her, you cared deeply about him. I know she’s not in Brooklyn. I’ve already been there and had a look around so I know you’re lying. She’s here, isn’t she? I thought I heard the elevator earlier, but I wrote it off as paranoia. I was right. She’s here and she’s hiding.”

  Panic threatened. He forced himself to stay calm and cool. “I’m alone. I told you. I came up here to get some paperwork.”

  “Sure you did.” Scott strode his way, but Gabe held his ground. He stayed put even when Scott shoved the muzzle of the gun under his chin, pain jarring through his system. “Where is she?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  It didn’t matter if they blew his head off as long as Everly was safe. His brothers would protect her. It would be all right. An odd calm settled over him. Scott and his uncle wouldn’t find her.

  The Russian looked down the hall. “I don’t like the silence. My boys know to answer back. Don’t kill him until I return.”

  As his uncle walked away, Scott tightened his hold. “Everly, sweetheart? Are you here? Because I’ve got a gun pressed against your pretty boy’s head and I’m about to pull the trigger.”

  Gabe prayed again that she couldn’t hear Scott, prayed that she was smart enough to stay hidden.

  “I’m here.” Her hands came up first. He watched in horror as she slowly rose into sight over the cubicle wall. “Gabe came looking for me. I wasn’t supposed to go off on my own.”

  She placed a heavy emphasis on own. Dax was nearby and he intended to make his move.

  The gun at Gabe’s jaw never faltered. He would give that to the asshole. Scott—if that was even his real name—seemed well trained. “I want that diary, Everly.”

  Her eyes were wide as she shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I came up here to grab a hard drive. I got a message saying something important was on it. I can get it for you, but you have to let Gabriel go. He doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

  What the hell was she doing? She was obviously bluffing since he knew the diary was on an SD card and not a hard drive. He wasn’t going to let her take the heat when the Russians found out they didn’t have the right information. “No. She’ll tell me where the hard drive is, then you’ll let her go.”

  Of course, he wasn’t stupid. Gabe knew how it was going to work. Scott couldn’t afford to leave either one of them alive.

  Even if he could wait until Connor brought the cops and it turned into a standoff, they could trade Everly for their freedom. Gabe would go with them as a hostage.

  “I’m going to get that hard drive one way or another,” Scott promised. “Once I’m assured the information is on the drive, I’ll need the name of the person who sent it to you. Move. We’ll all go to your office.”

  She nodded and started to move toward the end of the aisle. “Don’t hurt him. If you do, I won’t help you.”

  “Everly, baby, the minute you give him what he wants, he’s going to kill me. Then he’ll kill you. Don’t do this.” Gabe was going to have to make a move before then and give her a chance to escape. The only problem was, he wasn’t sure she would take it.

  She stopped as she moved out into the aisle, making herself completely vulnerable. “What you told me earlier? I should have said it back, Gabriel.”

  She was killing him. “It doesn’t matter, baby.”

  “I love you, too. I’m never going to leave you.” Her jaw was tight, and yet her words came out softly, as though she was trying to impart some truth to him.

  He had to get them out of this. “Everly, you know what I would want.”

  Scott jammed the butt of the gun against his jaw again, making pain flare. “You two shut up. Everly, if you want your boyfriend’s head on his shoulders for the next few minutes, you’ll turn around and walk toward your office. If you try anything at all, I’ll pull the trigger. Is that understood?”

  She nodded and turned, moving slowly toward the bank of executive offices.

  Scott had such a tight hold on him, Gabe found it hard to move. He shuffled forward. If he stumbled, would that give Everly time to flee? Or would she fight back?

  If he lived, they were having a serious talk.

  A horrible scream stopped them all in their tracks and suddenly Gabe found himself falling forward. He hit the ground with a hard thud, his knees buckling and pain shooting through him. No time for agony. Adrenaline poured through his body, forcing him to turn onto his back. Everly was standing over him. He turned and saw Dax. Damn. The man was good with a gun, but it turned out Dax also excelled at finding weapons in an office setting. He’d stabbed a pair of scissors into Scott’s right foot. Gabe winced as he glimpsed how deep Dax had managed to sink them.

  “Son of a bitch!” Scott was on the floor, but he hadn’t dropped the gun. As Dax got to his feet, Scott aimed at him, the metal glinting in the low light.

  “Run!” Dax yelled as he dove for the cubicles. “Get her the fuck out of here.”

  Gunfire resounded, so close it nearly split his ears. Everly was trying to drag him. She wouldn’t leave, and Scott was going to catch them again if they didn’t flee. Dax leapt over the wall and disappeared. Scott shot again, this time Dax’s way. It was all happening at lightning quick speed. Gabe grabbed Everly’s hand.

  They had come to a turning point. He loved his brother. They were a family, but the woman he loved came first.

  As he ran down the corridor with her, it struck him firmly that the world had changed. He had to put her before all others. They were going to get married and have kids, and he still loved those friends who had been his whole world, but they would forever take second place to her. His childhood, that grand, carefree time when he could be selfish and the world had been his oyster, was over. He served her now. He would be her husband, and that came with other terms—lover, friend, protector.

  He ached at leaving Dax, but Gabe would come back for him after he made sure she was safe. Dax was smart and had training. He wouldn’t go down easy. Neither would Everly, he knew. But Gabe simply refused to risk her.

  They ran toward her office, his feet pounding against the carpet.

  He gripped her hand, threading his fingers through hers so he couldn’t lose her. God, he couldn’t lose her. Just a few more moments and he could lock her in and she would be safe.

  A large man rounded the corner, and there was no way to miss the gun in his hand. Gabe stopped, almost falling back. He heard Everly’s gasp and felt her stumble against him.

  Too little. Too late. He’d been too late. He tried to turn, to run the other way.

  Scott was standing at the other end of the hallway.

  Gabe shoved Everly behind him, putting her back to the wall, but they were caught.

  “Your friend is dead, asshole. You’re on your own.” Scott walked with a pronounced limp.

  Everly gasped, and Gabe’s heart sank. Dax couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t.

  Scott kept his aim up but nodded to the new guy. “Where are Niles and my uncle?”

  The big guy replied in Russian, but Gabe would bet anything that he was saying he wasn’t sure.

  Where the hell were Connor and the police? He knew there was no way he could hear the sirens from here, but he kept waiting and praying for those elevator doors to open and the office to be filled with New York’s finest, screaming for everyone to get to the
floor.

  Dax couldn’t be dead. He was just shot and pretending. That must be it. They would take him to the hospital and tonight would eventually all become a rousing story they would tell later.

  Damn it. None of this was supposed to happen. They were supposed to be friends all their lives. All their long lives. They weren’t supposed to lose each other in their prime.

  Everly squeezed him tight, as though she could feel his pain and tried to take some of it. “It’s going to be all right.”

  “You take Bond. I’ll take the girl,” Scott said. “If she tries anything, kill him.”

  “I love you,” she whispered as they were pulled apart.

  He watched as Scott placed the gun to her head. So precious. She was precious to him and that fucker was treating her like she was an expendable pawn.

  “Now we’re going to get that hard drive. Then we’re all going to take a little trip,” Scott said.

  “Who is Sergei?” Even as he felt the gun pressed to his temple, he remembered that Mad had mentioned he needed to find a man named Sergei. Was he the Russian boss? Was this Sergei the one pulling the strings?

  Scott stopped, fear lighting his features. “How do you know that name? Who the fuck told you that name?”

  “I don’t know, but I think it’s time we found out, don’t you?” a familiar voice asked.

  Connor was here. Gabe sighed with relief.

  The big Russian walked into the hallway, his body stiff. Connor forced Scott’s uncle into the room, pointing a gun at the back of his head and using his big body as a shield.

  “All right, little boy, I’ve taken out your muscle and now I’m going to kill this fucker if you don’t let my friends go,” Connor growled.

  “I don’t think so,” Scott said. “I don’t believe you killed them.”

  “Believe it,” the Russian managed between pursed lips. “I saw the bodies. He killed them all with his bare hands. He is animal.”

  Scott paled, but didn’t relinquish his grip. “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”

  “This is Yuri Golchenko,” Connor said, moving them farther into the room. “He’s a lieutenant with a Moscow syndicate, headed by a man named Ivan Krylov. You’re looking for the diary of Natalia Kuilikov, who took care of the president of the United States from the time he was born until he was seven years old. You think there’s something in the diary you can use against him. I’m going to give you one chance to save yourselves. Drop your weapons and walk out, and I’ll give you a head start. You might have a day or two before I find you again.”

  Scott shook his head. “I’m going to kill her if you don’t let my uncle go.”

  “Do it,” Connor said. “Now that I know where the diary is, she’s meaningless. You kill her. I kill your uncle. Hell, kill Bond, too. I can still take the two of you out and leave here with the prize.”

  “Connor?” Gabe stared at his old friend in perfect horror. He couldn’t have meant that.

  “Gabe, it’s a job, and you know damn well that my job is more important than anything. I told you before, I don’t feel much. But I will have that information and I will find Sergei.” Connor’s stony face stared back at him. “It’s like when we played lacrosse, buddy. I got the job done. You were only there to make sure I got to score. Life isn’t any different than that game against Whittington.”

  Shit. Shit. Shit. Gabe had mostly sat on the bench while Connor and Roman had been the stars of the team, but during their senior year, they’d played a game against Whittington Prep. All Gabe had to do was distract the defender long enough for Connor to score.

  Connor needed a distraction. When he got out of this, Gabe swore he would never think his cushy job was boring again.

  “You’re a son of a bitch. You were always a selfish player.” He nodded at Connor, then went for it. He dropped straight to the floor. His body hit with a hard thud, pain flaring through his system. He heard Everly’s shout, then the ping of a silencer going off.

  And he felt the man who had been holding him fall to the floor. Connor wouldn’t have missed. He wouldn’t have simply injured the man. The dude was dead the moment after Connor’s bullet had left the chamber.

  “Get his gun, Gabe,” Connor ordered.

  “Don’t you fucking move off that floor or I will kill her.” For the first time, Scott sounded a little panicked. Not a good thing. He could freak out and pull that trigger. Then nothing would matter.

  “He won’t kill her because he still thinks he can win and he’s right.” Connor’s voice was as smooth as any conman’s. “You’ve made a study of Maddox Crawford, Scott. That means you know his friends. You knew I was lying about killing Gabe, but you also know I don’t give a shit about some bimbo he’s been banging. I want to cut a deal.”

  Gabe got to his knees, picking up the gun that had fallen. He had to pray Everly didn’t believe a word coming out of Connor’s mouth. Connor wouldn’t hurt her. Gabe trusted him with his life and he had to trust him with hers.

  Just for insurance, he gripped the gun and trained it on Scott.

  “Take the girl. I’ll take your dear uncle here, and when you have the information you need, we’ll make a trade. I’ll give you your uncle and the diary in exchange for the man who’s been feeding the girl information. We both walk away,” Connor explained.

  “You give him nothing, nephew. You know what is at stake. You know what they will do,” Yuri Golchenko said in his thick accent. “I am no fool. This man is CIA. If he discovers—”

  A loud bang cracked through the air and a dot of red appeared on the front of Golchenko’s white shirt. Blood bloomed as Scott’s shot hit him, and Connor couldn’t hold the Russian up. He let the man fall.

  “Put the fucking gun down,” Connor yelled as Scott shoved Everly away.

  Gabe caught her before she fell to the floor, and he covered her with his body.

  “You want to know who Sergei is?” Scott asked with a fervent light in his eyes. “He’s closer than you think.”

  “Put the gun down now.” Connor stepped toward him.

  “No, and you can’t make me talk.” Scott took all the choices out of their hands as he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

  Everly shrieked. Connor cursed, and Gabe finally got a really good look at his friend. His previously pristine clothes were covered in blood and he wore the most ferocious look on his face as he pulled out his cell phone. It looked like Connor had taken out more than the Russians. He’d taken out the cell jammer as well.

  “This is Sparks. I need a cleaning crew at the Crawford building in Manhattan. Nine bags. Yeah, I’ve got five who will need cover stories. No. I’m alone.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket and raised his gaze. “I just lied to the CIA. I need you to get Everly and Dax and that damn SD card out of here.”

  “Dax is alive?” Hope sprung inside him.

  Connor nodded. “He’s got a bullet in his side, but he’s alive. Get him to the hospital and tell them it was an attempted carjacking. You were not here. Go. Quickly.”

  “We need to call an ambulance.” Gabe got to his feet and helped Everly up, pulling her into the circle of his arms. She was here and she was alive. He held her for a moment.

  “I can’t have anyone find you here,” Connor insisted.

  “Gabe, we have to go.” Everly pulled away. “Baby, we have to get Dax to the hospital. Connor, I can erase the cameras for the whole building from my system. It won’t take me long. I used my keycard to get in.”

  “The Russians stole your card,” Connor replied. “And I stole Gabe’s.”

  Everly dashed to her office.

  “What the hell is going on, man?” Gabe stared at Connor, not certain he recognized his old friend. “Dax needs medical attention and he needs it now. You have to call an ambulance and the cops.”

  Before Connor had a chance to say anything, Dax stumbled into the hallway, a small towel over his left side. “I swear, if he ever says he’s an analyst ag
ain, I’m going to beat the shit out of him. After I get some surgery. A little help, buddy? Damn, that’s a lot of bodies. I was freaking safer in the Middle East.”

  Gabe got there just as Dax started to fall. He caught his friend. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  Dax grinned as he leaned heavily on Gabe. “Sure you can. You give me some of that Scotch and get me to a hospital. No cops. We can’t, Gabe.”

  They damn straight could, but it looked like even Everly was