Page 28 of Redeeming Meg

Except for a familiar face—Shredder Man.

“We’ve been looking for you, Mr. Anderson,” Hagar said, dark, merciless eyes locking on the guy as another of his squad shoved the assistant forward.

Anderson stumbled and fell to his knees before raising his hands in surrender. His slacks and shirt were torn and bloody now. His hair was matted with sweat and dirt. “I told you, I don’t know where he is. He’s not here. You’re wasting your time.”

Meg sidled up next to him, and Declan was torn. Should he force her to leave, take the tunnel and escape, or keep listening?

She scrunched her brows as Hagar continued speaking. “Where is the thumb drive you promised me?”

The assistant was smart enough not to look the madman in the eyes. He kept his attention glued to the ground. “I don’t know. He must have taken it. I’ve checked everywhere, and it’s gone.”

“Who’s he?” Meg whispered. “The chief?”

“That’s unfortunate for you.” The terrorist paced around the man in an ever-tightening circle, his combat boots smashing the debris on the tiles. He stuck his hands in the pockets of his jacket, pretending to be deep in thought. “We had a deal, and you have not held up your end.”

“I can’t hand over something I don’t have,” Anderson said. “He shouldn’t have had access to the safe, but somehow, he managed to break into it and steal your information.”

Hagar’s circle grew smaller, one boot smacking the back of Anderson’s shoe as he passed. “Why do I not believe you?”

Anderson’s shoulders slumped. “It’s the truth. Your man already checked me over. I don’t have the drive, and I’ve searched everywhere. He didn’t hide it here.”

Hagar stopped before him, leaning over to put his face in front of Anderson’s. “Surely, the information is still on his computer. You can access that, yes?”

Anderson started to reply, then stopped himself, as if thinking it over. “Maybe. If I can get his password…”

Declan’s internal bullshit meter went haywire. Anderson was playing with fire… Whoever put the information on that USB did it for a reason, and most likely, to get it off a work computer. Or it had never been there to begin with.

Why did Hagar want it?

Whatever the reason, Anderson was buying time, and Declan had to respect the man for it. Unfortunately, he feared Marchetti’s assistant was almost out of time.

And if Declan was reading the look in Meg’s eyes, she thought the same.

“We need a distraction,” she whispered. “We have to save him.”

Hagar gestured at his lieutenant, who grabbed the man by the shoulder and jerked him to his feet. “Where is his office?”

Anderson stumbled slightly. “Second floor. “

The terrorist leader made a sweeping gesture with his hand. “Take me there.”

They started walking directly toward Declan and Meg.

She grabbed Dec and hustled him toward the nearest door, labeled as a meeting room. He took her arm and dragged her toward the stairwell instead. “He made us—you. We have to get out of here.”

She protested, but he tightened his hold, forcing her to keep up.

“The supply closet,” she hissed.

That was lengths of hallways and corridors away. This place was a maze. “No time.”

He hit the bar on the fire door, shoving it open and flinging her onto the landing. “Up,” he ordered as he forced the door shut behind them.

Before it clicked shut, he heard them enter the hall. As anticipated, they opened every door along the way.

Meg was already climbing, taking the steps two at a time.

He barreled after her, then passed her. She couldn’t keep up with his strides, twice as long as hers. Reaching back, he offered her a hand, and she took it, but even when he tugged her along, it wasn’t fast enough.

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