Page 61 of Bold Encounter
For a split second, the box cutter pulled away from Genevieve's throat as he fought to stay upright.She was suddenly free of his grasp and swiftly ducked under his arm.Then she sprinted up the stairs to the landing.
Abe took the last two stairs in one lunge.In a flash, he grabbed Jason's ankle and yanked his feet out from under him.Without missing a beat, he squeezed Jason's wrist hard to force him to release the box cutter.The blade clattered loudly down the steps.
Abe picked up Jason by his arms then shoved him into the railing against the wall, momentarily stunning him.Amazingly, Jason fought back, kicking and trying to wrench free.Then Abe punched his elbow into the guy's stomach, shutting him up.
Denson had sprinted up the stairs past the action.He stood protectively in front of Genevieve.
"I've got her," Denson said, his weapon now trained on Jason as Abe wrestled the man's arms behind his back.
"Jason Thornton, you're under arrest for kidnapping, assault, and stalking," Abe said, securing Jason's wrists with handcuffs from his duty belt.After spinning the man around to face him, he continued, "You have the right to remain silent.Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
Jason had barely regained his breath, but his rage was palpable."This isn't over.You have no idea what you're dealing with."
"I know exactly what I'm dealing with," Abe said, pushing Jason up the stairs toward the hallway."A coward who hides behind criminals."
*****
The four of them had just stepped into the hallway when the elevator dinged.The electronic chime seemed unnaturally loud in the sudden quiet, then the doors slid open.
Two men stepped out of the elevator.The first was unmistakably the same muscled man from Jason's office building, the one who had pushed Abe down the stairs as a warning.His scarred face showed no emotion as he raised a pistol and pointed it directly at them.Another thug stepped out right behind him, also armed.
"Give it up," the first man said, his gravelly voice carrying the weight of authority.His eyes moved between Abe and Denson with the calculating gaze of someone who had done this before.
Abe's response was immediate and unwavering."You're under arrest."
The muscled man's laugh was cold and humorless."I don't think so.You won't live long enough to arrest us."His gaze shifted to Denson, and then to Genevieve standing beside him."Let her go."
The hallway seemed to contract around them, the air thick with tension.Denson stood in front of Genevieve, making his body a barrier between her and the armed men.He pointed his gun at the intruders.
In the same instant, Abe shoved Jason hard to the ground, causing him to hit the polished floor with a grunt of pain and surprise.The sudden movement caught both thugs off guard and split their attention between multiple targets.
"NOPD!Drop your weapons!"Denson shouted, and advanced on the gunman.
Before the criminal could get off a shot, Abe tackled him, while Denson engaged the second.The hallway erupted in chaos as the men wrestled for control.
Jason had managed to struggle to his feet during the commotion, his cuffed hands making the process awkward and undignified.Since the fight blocked the way to the elevator, he moved swiftly toward the stairwell.
Genevieve would have none of it.She kicked his left knee hard, making him cry out in pain and fall back to the floor."Not on my watch," she said with satisfaction, all fear gone in the heat of the moment.
Abe disarmed his attacker with brutal efficiency.The man's weapon skittered across the polished floor, coming to rest near the elevator.
Outside the building, sirens began to blare, their wailing cry dying out when they pulled up out front.Noise on the stairs announced the backup's approach.
"Third floor!"Denson shouted into the stairwell.Two more officers burst through the door, their weapons drawn and ready.Denson indicated the two subdued thugs with a nod."Cuff those two and put them in the patrol car."
The officers moved efficiently, without asking questions.Within minutes, both men were escorted down the stairs.
*****
From the floor, Jason watched as his buddies were escorted away.His expression chilled Genevieve more than his earlier rage.
He was smirking.
"The alarm that went off here was a call to the family," Jason said, his voice carrying confidence that seemed completely at odds with his current situation."Their guys will be here any time now, and you'll see who's in charge."
Genevieve felt a new wave of fear wash over her.Even defeated and captured, Jason still believed he held the upper hand.The criminal organization backing him was his ace in the hole, his insurance against consequences.
But in the distance, other sirens were heard.These were different from the NOPD vehicles, their tone carrying authority that made Jason's smirk falter slightly.
