Page 101 of Love Undercover
Shit.
The first inkling of uncertainty hit him as a chill shimmied down his spine, but he kept his face and voice neutral, holding up his hands. “Hey, I’m not turning anyone in here. If I was out to get you guys, I would’ve gone above Gibson’s head.”
“But you lured us both here. What exactly were you hoping to accomplish?” Zimmerman asked, tipping his head to the side, that danger infusing his voice.
Against his will, Chase’s heart started to hammer against his ribs, and the skin along his back tingled with awareness of the gun burrowed there. If he reached for it now, it would confirm exactly what they were accusing him of.
Maybe going with a little bit of truth would help. “I want out.”
“I knew it was more than just protecting the girl,” Gibson said, realization dawning in his leathery features. “You want out so you can be with her.”
Zimmerman laughed, the sound threatening to punch through Chase’s resolve. “That much was obvious when he took out Santiago and his men. Bravo, by the way. One man taking out five is pretty impressive. She must mean a great deal to you.”
Zimmerman’s satisfied grin sent another set of chills racing down his spine. And then he heard the shuffling of feet behind them.
No.
Chase spun.
51
Through-and-Through
From the corner of her eye, Sadie caught the way Chase lurched toward her, then halted as if jerked by a string. The gun bit into her skin again, and she gasped from the pain, lifting her head higher to relieve the pressure.
“So, tell me, Chase. What do you really have for us?” Zimmerman asked, his voice ominous, and she knew they were in deep trouble.
“A flash drive. With names.” Chase sounded less confident than usual, the words coming faster. This wasn’t going the way he’d planned.
Her eyes shot to his face, hope that it was just an act scoring her from the inside.
“Ah. So you really don’t have the information I need.” The man almost sounded bored. Unsurprised.
There was a pause, hesitation heavy in the air.
“No.”
Zimmerman laughed, and the hair along her body stood on end. They weren’t going to make it out of this alive. Chase might’ve been good at thinking on his feet, but if they were backed into a corner, it wouldn’t matter.
“Drop your weapons!”
The words pelted her body with fear, and the man holding her jerked just as she did. This was an unexpected development for him, too. She heard the shuffling of the others, felt the ripple of confusion and fear that bounced between everyone there, ricocheting against the enclosed space like a pinball.
“FBI! Weapons down, hands up!”
The tactical team flooded the area, and the gun came away from her throat. She thought she was free, but the man holding her didn’t release her. The panic in his movements poured into her as he dragged her back into the alley. She stumbled along, jerking against his grip, terror lighting through her bones.
Chase’s eyes were huge as he was thrown to the ground like one of the criminals, his hands being yanked behind his back.
“I’m FBI!” he shouted, his gaze never leaving her even as the man dragged her away, kicking and flailing.
She clawed at his hands as Chase disappeared from view. The man grunted, trying to flatten her arms to her sides as he moved back into the alley.
“Release the girl!”
The man fired off several wild rounds toward whoever gave the shouted command, and a scream ripped up her throat as the strength left her legs. Dropping to the ground was what she should have done in the first place because he lost his grip on her as she went down.
Returning gunfire rang out from the mouth of the alley, and the man abandoned her entirely as he ran for the other end.
