37

Dominic’s heart chilled as he heard Nate’s emotionless statement. A member of the SWAT team had managed to place a listening device on the window. Fortunately, it worked even through the thick glass. The one area Gwendolyn had cut corners. It was thick but not soundproof. He looked at Hunter. “We’ve got to get in there now.”

Hunter asked, “Does the door open inward or outward?”

Dominic had Mac check for hinges.

“In,” Mac said.

“Let me know when he’s in front of the door.”

“Copy that,” Mac’s voice came through his earpiece clearly.

Serena watched Nate’s cruel eyes. He paced as he waited for her to pick up the gun. She desperately tried to think of a way out and came to the sickening conclusion that there was none.

Nate gestured with his gun. “I don’t have all day. I have a job to get back to. Now let’s go.”

“Who’s going to bury the bodies this time, Nate?” she whispered.

He frowned. “I’ll worry about that later. Shut up and pull the trigger.” He walked up to her and placed the gun against the side of her head. Serena settled her hands on the weapon in front of her, felt the coldness of the butt of the gun against her palm.

Sweat slid from her temple and she swallowed.

“Do it!” His scream shattered the silence broken only by harsh breaths. She flinched and stared at Camille. Where could she aim? How could she communicate with the girl to move left or right—

“May I pray first?” she blurted.

“What?” He stilled and looked at her, disbelief stamped on his features. “Pray?”

Serena bowed her head and reached down, pulled the cuff open.

“Pray!” he screamed. “No, you can’t pray! Now take the gun!”

“I’ll go first!” Camille cried. “I’ll do it!”

Nate swiveled and moved to the girl. He backhanded her and Camille’s head snapped back. She spat blood and glared at him.

“It’s not your turn,” he sneered.

Nate moved back to Serena and grabbed the back of her hair. She cried out as he lowered his head next to hers. “You’re ruining my game! Do I have to do everything?” He wrapped his hand around the gun.

“No!” With all of her strength, she shoved back with her elbow and caught him in the stomach. Air whooshed from him as he stumbled back.

Then the door exploded inward, clipping him in the shoulder. He went down, his gun sliding across the floor, and Serena raced around the table to grab Camille and push her down. Choking gas filled the room and she figured someone had tossed a flash bang into the room as they knocked the door down.

“Freeze! FBI!” Shouts and screams filled the air.

Camille clutched at her and Serena nearly cried her relief when Dominic appeared at the door, weapon drawn, eyes searching.

They landed on her and she saw the instant relief fill them.

Nate Lindell fought his captors as they did their best to subdue him in the small space. With a yell and a twist, he brought a hand up and broke the nose of the officer nearest to him. Blood spurted from the man as he fell back with a harsh cry.

His partner tackled the man. Dominic added his weight and together they worked to subdue him. Serena pulled Camille around to the other end of the table, out of harm’s way.

Another harsh cry sounded. She whirled to see a large knife Nate managed to procure flash in the dim light of the room.

“Dominic! Be careful!”

Nate went down, clipped behind the knees by another officer. Then incredibly, he was back up, as was Dominic.

A gunshot sounded.

Nate’s eyes went wide and blood bloomed across the chest of his starched white shirt.

Serena’s ears rang as she spun to focus on Camille, who sat at the table, staring, wide-eyed and frozen, her hands locked around the weapon.

Dominic tackled the man once again and this time he stayed down.

More officers swarmed inside. Camille remained still as stone, her eyes on the man who had added his own short reign of terror to their day.

“We’re fine now, Camille. We’re fine.”

“He was going to kill Dominic.”

“I know.” Serena pulled the girl’s hands from the weapon and wrapped her in a hug as an officer uncuffed Camille’s ankle from the leg of the chair.

Together, they walked toward the exit.

Serena tried to shield Camille from the two bodies on the floor, but the girl pulled away. Dominic’s arms wrapped around Serena as Camille looked into Nate’s lifeless eyes and whispered, “You lose.”