Page 72 of Hidden Attraction

He didn’t hesitate. He took the first guy down with a double tap to the chest. The next spun, trying to backpedal behind the burning van, but Chase was already sighted in.

Two more shots.

The third ran—he was younger than the rest. Chase let him. If the gas tank exploded, he’d be taken out too.

He only wanted Alyssa.

He crossed the lot at a sprint, boots slapping through ash and debris, weapon raised. When he reached the side door, he kicked it in.

He took in the dim light, the oil-stained concrete floor. Empty crates were stacked in one corner.

Footsteps.

He turned and spotted a fourth man coming down the hall. The guy raised his gun—too slow. Chase dropped him with one shot.

Heart pounding, he cleared the next room, then the next, filled with broken shelves and worktables.

Finally, he reached a small chamber near the back. The block walls were pitted, and several were stained with blood. Not hers—it was too old, stained the color of ochre.

A muffled sound made him swing to the side, and he saw her.

Alyssa.

She was standing, hands bound, hair mussed, blood drying at her temple. A man stood behind her, arm locked around her throat, pistol pressed against her temple.

“Don’t come any closer!” he shouted in Arabic.

Chase raised his weapon, but his finger froze on the trigger.

He could shoot. He could aim for center mass and end this.

But Alyssa was in the way.

If it were a teammate, he’d take the shot. A graze or small wound was worth it to stop the threat.

But this was her.

He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t risk it.

This is why we’re not supposed to get close. Goddammit.

The man shifted behind her. Sweat streamed down his face. The guy was panicking. Desperate.

Alyssa spoke, calm, measured, in Arabic.

“Let me go,” she said softly. “You don’t need to die. This doesn’t have to end that way.”

The man flinched. His grip loosened slightly.

“You want money, right?” she continued. “There is still a way. You help us. Help us contact Cypher.”

The man muttered something. Chase caught:“They’ll kill me.”

“Not if you help us.” Her stare fixed on Chase. To his shock, her beautiful golden-brown eyes were filled with fear, but also sparkled with love.

His stomach bottomed out.

Alyssa went on, “We can stop him. You think he cares about you? He’ll leave you here with nothing. He might even kill you.”

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