Page 94 of Parker

He also understood the vast difference between the training he’d had, and the experience Charlie Team brought to the table. So rather than shove his way to the front of the line like he wanted to, Parker forced his lungs to move steadily as he waited for the signal to move.

Thankfully he didn’t have to wait long.

Winters’ raised fist pointed to the door. Silent assignments were handed out to each man, and after receiving nods of understanding from his team, Winters grabbed the metal door’s long, silver handle and pushed.

Moving as one, each man let their training kick in as they made their way onto the roof. Upon their initial breach, Winters went high and right, while Kellan swung his weapon low and to the left. With the immediate clear, both men swiftly made room for the others to go through the door.

A cool breeze slapped Parker in the face as he stepped onto the roof, the sound of slowly moving water reaching his ears. He gave the roof a panoramic sweep, the South Branch Chicago River flowing lazily along the property’s edge.

When he and the teams had first arrived, he’d noticed the unique architecture, and how the building’s entire southern half had been designed to hang suspended several feet over the frigid river below.

But he couldn’t tell that from his current vantage point. He also couldn’t see Quinn.

She’s not here!

Parker’s gut tightened with the thought that their target had somehow gotten away. But then…

“Fucking bitch!”

Every man there swung their attention to the right, where the building’s massive ventilation system was positioned several feet away. McMahon’s angry voice seemed to have come from somewhere behind it.

Gotcha, asshole.

He and the others adjusted their stances to prepare for their approach. Walking shoulder-to-shoulder this time, Parker and the members of Charlie Team covered the distance to the HVAC system with swift, purposeful steps.

This was it. Just a few more feet were all that separated him from Quinn. From hislife. They just needed to find a clear line of sight to McMahon. Once that happened…

“Ah!” A feminine cry of pain.

Parker’s foot was moving before he’d given it any conscious thought, but a rough fist to his bicep stopped him. He shifted his gaze to his left and found Asher shaking his head.

A silent reminder to think with his brain not his heart.

Shit.The man was right. He had to play this smart.

For Quinn.

With a curt dip of his chin, Parker let his friends take the lead, and together the group of six made their way to the north side of the massive metal unit. Splitting them up evenly, Winters motioned for McBride and Frost to follow him around the east side, while Parker, Asher, and Maddox went west.

His heart raced with adrenaline and pounded with fear. But even as he acknowledged the terror growing exponentially with each new breath, Parker knew Quinn’s best chance of survival were the men marching with him now.

More sounds of a struggle ensued before he heard her sweet, scrappy voice…

“So much for your little plan, eh, Vic?” Quinn taunted her captor. “I mean, look around you. Do you see a lot of options here? ’Cuz I sure don’t.”

Jesus Christ.“Is shetryingto get herself killed?” he spoke only low enough for Asher to hear.

Rather than agree, Asher leaned back with an unexpected whisper of his own. “In case I forget to mention it later, I really hope you marry that woman.”

Despite their current situation, Parker’s lips twitched with a sideways smirk. “That’s the plan, brother.” Or part of it, anyway.

Get Quinn to safety. Figure out where that asshat Reynolds is and deal with him. Take her home…er…not home. It blew up, remember? A hotel. Take her to a hotel and make love to her until some of this fucking fear leaves you…

That was his new plan. And once each of those goals had been reached…

I am absolutely going to ask her to marry me.

After nearly losing her twice, there was no way in hell he was letting her get away from him again.

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