Page 84 of Tango
“Against dozens of armed security guards.”
“Alice, if Dylan came in here alone, his only weapon a rusted knife, I’d still bet every dollar I have on him. And if I have that much confidence in one brother, think about what the entire team can do together. Right now, I need you to have faith and decide how you’re going to hide important information behind a wall that will be invisible to even the best hackers. Because they were right about one thing—only you can do it.”
I’m not even sure how long we’re trapped in this supply closet, but it feels like forever before the door opens and Ramiro steps inside, gun in hand. He points it at us. “Let’s go.”
I don’t move. “You’re making a mistake.”
He shifts his aim to Tucker, who growls in response. “I’m allowed to shoot him if you don’t comply.”
Hurt and angry, I take one step. Then another. Tucker moves in behind me, and we leave the closet. When time continued passing and no one showed up to rescue us, I lost hope that Tucker’s message had gone through. It was a long shot, anyway, but now the horrible truth settles in: We’re on our own.
Tucker stumbles forward, shoving me to the side. He spins and kicks, his foot hitting the firearm in Ramiro’s hand and knocking it free.
“Hey!” Ramiro yells.
Tucker doesn’t hesitate. He barrels forward, slamming his body into Ramiro and taking him to the ground. He rears back and slams his fist into Ramiro’s face then grabs the gun and grips my arm. “Come on.”
He moves so fast I barely even have time to breathe from the time we’re walking out at gunpoint to running down the hall, gun in hand.
We duck into the stairwell, just out of sight of the cameras. Tucker checks the weapon, counting the rounds in the magazine. “I don’t have my camera jammer, so they’re going to be able to track every move we make. Think you can guide us out of here?”
“Yes. This way. We’ll go out the same way we came in.” I move down the stairwell, going as fast as I can to ensure no one catches up with us. As soon as we reach the bottom of the stairwell, Tucker moves in front and checks the hall.
He takes my hand and tugs me out. We race toward the doors where the janitors unknowingly rolled us in.
Hope surges.
It’s right there.
Mere feet away.
And then?—
Darren steps into view just ahead. Tucker rips me out of the way. A single gunshot echoes, and Tucker stills. He’s frozen in place for a moment, then looks down and gently touches his stomach. Blood stains his fingertips.
A low growl cuts through the silence as Tucker raises his gun.
Darren fires again.
Tucker’s body jolts.
The weapon in his hand falls.
“No!” I scream. “Tucker!” I rush forward and catch him as he sinks to his knees. The weapon falls beside him, so I lift it, letting him lean against me as I hold the weapon up.
“Pull that trigger, and we’ll fill him with lead,” Darren warns. “Drop it, Alice.”
“Shoot him,” Tucker growls against my shoulder.
“I can’t. Not when there’s still a chance to save you.” I drop the gun, and the guards lower theirs.
“Grab him, and take him to the server room.”
“No. No! Don’t touch him!” I cling to Tucker, but they rip him from me then drag him down the hall toward the elevator. I lunge to my feet and sprint forward. Darren slams his fist into my gut before I can make it past him.
“Put your hands on her again, and I’ll tear you apart!” Tucker bellows. He tries to fight against their hold, but with the blood pouring from his wounds, his strength is waning.
Air is ripped from my lungs, and breathing becomes an impossibility when Darren wraps his hand around my throat. “You underestimate me, Alice. A mistake you’re going to keep paying for until you realize just who you’re dealing with.”
