Page 30 of Call Sign: King
“Code red. I repeat code red,” Trevor called into his comms unit, his pistol held out in front of him, ready to shoot the first person who dared come through the bathroom door. “I have the Queen barricaded in the shower. Need backup immediately. MacGyver and Arrow, return to hotel. Repeat, all hands on deck.”
Long seconds ticked by with just the sound of their heavy breaths of anticipation. Khloe had just started to hope whoever had tried to do her harm had been taken down by one of Ryder’s mercenaries when several loud pops echoed followed by the sound of wood splintering.
Khloe peeked around Trevor’s arm just as a man she’d never seen before burst into the room, his pistol pointed at Ricky’s temple as he manhandled the tiny man forward as his shield.
Her first reflex was to try to push free to go to Ricky’s aid, but Trevor’s crushing body wouldn’t allow it. The two men with guns sized each other up.
“Give me the girl or I’ll drop him right here,” the man said with a slight accent.
Trevor shifted slightly, making it impossible for Khloe to see anything but his back. She could only listen for clues of what was happening. Her brain raced with chaotic thoughts, sneaking in a quick prayer that they would all make it out of this day alive.
It was Ricky who bravely answered the intruder.
“He’ll never hand over Khloe.”
While she knew it was the truth, she still realized she was shivering with fear for them all.
“It’s not too late. Just drop the gun and get the fuck out of here,” Trevor warned the intruder.
“I’ve waited too long. I’m not leaving without my prize.”
“The only way you’re leaving here is in a body bag,” Trevor warned. “Back out now.”
“I’ll shoot the fag.”
What an asshole. She hated that word.
Khloe panicked, calling out. “Don’t hurt him!”
“Then come out now.”
She wasn’t sure if she would have been brave enough to face the intruder, but it wouldn’t matter anyway. Trevor would never allow her to leave the safety of his shield. Time stood still in those long seconds as Khloe waited to see which man would act first.
Trevor gave another warning. “If you shoot him, it will only take me a second to put one in your forehead. You won’t succeed here.”
Khloe had spent enough time with Trevor and the BSO team to suspect Trevor was trying to slow things down to give additional team members time to come to his aid. She listened to see if she could hear movement in the other room, but the silence was haunting.
“This is your last warning, Ms. Monroe. Come out now or your assistant will be lying on the floor dead when I drag you out of here.”
“Over my dead body will she be leaving with you,” Trevor ground out, his tone menacing.
“That can be arranged.”
The sound of guns being fired ricocheted off the walls of the small room. Khloe heard her own screams as she felt Trevor’s body shudder against her. He fired his gun several times as he fell to one knee, unable to stay on his feet.
As the human shield protecting her fell to the floor, Khloe found herself watching in horror as a bleeding and unconscious Ricky collapsed to the floor. The madman responsible stood over him with a menacing grin, despite the blood pouring from a bullet hole in his own shoulder.
The sound of Trevor’s gun falling the final few feet to the floor dragged Khloe’s attention to her best friend. Reaching out she hugged him from behind as Trevor collapsed sideways. He was too heavy to hold up, but she did her best to lower him to the shower floor even as she felt his warm blood spilling out onto her hands.
This isn’t happening. This is just a nightmare.
“Run,” he ground out, still thinking of her before himself.
There was no way she would leave him.
“Khloe… fight…”
Now that she could do.
