Chapter Nineteen #3
I exchanged a look with Mars but he simply reached out, pulling me into his arms as he dropped the wires.
I instantly wrapped my arms around him, quaking with fear.
If they could figure out a way to get the elevator moving again, we’d be totally screwed.
They had weapons. Seeing those bastards of Josiah’s shoot at the car my mom had been riding in, had been utterly terrifying.
Before that moment, I’d never seen what could happen when one of them was used, other than in video games.
Somehow seeing it up close in person, was a hundred times more terrifying than watching it happen on TV.
“It’s okay, Cam,” Mars whispered. “Candy and the team will be ‘ere any second. We only ‘ave to ‘old out a few more minutes.”
I nodded against his chest, squeezing him tighter. “They were right behind us, right?” I asked shakily.
“Right behind us, luv. Don’t worry. Candy will be ‘ere.” He went back to signaling where we were.
What if no one picked up the message or didn’t know what it meant?
“Send out the kid,” a female voice singsonged. “He’s the one we want, Special Agent Clifford. We won’t harm you if you hand him over.”
I lifted my head, looking at Mars’ face with its deep frown. He looked like a warrior, so handsome and brave. If there was anyone in the world I could ask for to be with me in this situation, I couldn’t wish for better company.
“How do they know who you are?” My voice shook.
Mars frowned, shaking his head. “They obviously did their ‘omework. Did ya know Josiah had a woman working for ‘im?” he asked in a harsh whisper.
I shook my head. “No. Until the last few days, I’d only seen him with a couple of his bodyguards, but there was never a woman in the mix.”
“We’ll make it painless for him…I promise,” she called up to us again.
Hushed whispers drifted up from several floors below and I knew others had arrived…or maybe they’d been with her all along. Either way, there were more of them than the two of us. We were six ways from fucked, any way we sliced it.
“Josiah doesn’t even want your mother anymore, Cam,” she said.
“He’s focusing all his energy finding you and it’ll stay that way, as long as you cooperate.
Give up now, and things will go easy for you.
Stick with your plan, and we’ll kill her too…
slowly.” She laughed and the sound of it sent a wave of terror flooding through my veins.
They could do anything they wanted to me, but my mom…
now, that was a different story. I stared at Mars as he shook his head again.
“Don’t, Cam,” he whispered. “The manky cow is trying to scare you.”
I nodded, praying he was right and Josiah wasn’t actively looking for my mom now that he was here in L.A.
The very idea of her coming to harm threatened to take my legs out from under me.
I wrapped both arms around my middle, hugging myself to get the shaking under control.
I leaned back against the wall for support, afraid I’d fall and stop Mars from doing what he was doing.
His efforts were valiant but were they even getting through?
Minutes ticked by as Mars kept at it. The woman’s taunts continued, though, the edge in her voice was beginning to show as the threats became even more terrifying.
“No one is coming for you! You’re unarmed and I have an army of men out here even if they manage to find us. We’ll simply gun them down.”
I checked my watch, noting that only five minutes had actually elapsed when the woman’s taunts suddenly turned to shouts.
Several men yelled and then there was a barrage of gunfire.
I leapt at Mars who dropped the wires, wrapping me up in his arms. His body thrummed with energy.
“Candy?” I asked, using his name for the first time.
Mars kissed the top of my head, tightening his arms. “Ya right, luv. It ‘as to be.”
More gunfire followed along with the screams of dying men. It sounded like a warzone beneath the elevator. When the gunfire abruptly stopped, I heard the pounding of heavily booted feet and then…
“Mars! You in the elevator?”
Mars let go of me and put his mouth to the elevator door. “Up ‘ere. We’re stopped between floors.”
“Sit rep?”
“Both fine, boss, but they ‘ave my weapon. Long story. Everyone okay down there?”
“We’re all good, Clifford. Lots of bad guys down. Alain has a bullet graze on his cheek, but we’re all alive and kicking. Can you get out of there?”
“I severed the wires for the lift so they couldn’t get to us,” Mars called down.
“I’ll call out a Rescue unit. We’ll have you out soon.”
“Righto.” Mars smiled at me, wrapping me up in his arms.
I sank against his chest, blowing out a sigh of relief.
He’d saved my life once again. Mars was the bravest man I’d ever met, so brave it boosted my own courage.
Even though our situation had been dire only minutes ago, he’d kept his cool, and gotten a message out to someone.
Right now, though, I relaxed against his strong chest, knowing we’d get out of this whole and hearty thanks to his efforts.
I could only hope I’d be able to say goodbye to him once it was all over… without a broken heart.
When we were finally able to get clear of the elevator, Mars’ teammates cheered, and we were welcomed into a sea of smiling faces.