Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ethan let Han set the pace as they walked out of the hospital. He felt the gaze of a guard on his back and resisted the urge to break into a run.
If Han had never been a translator before, he was an excellent actor. Ethan had a feeling Han had embellished Ethan’s complaints to keep the sketch going longer. Now, the older man looked as casual as could be.
“You did well,” Han said, voice low. “They will be glad to see us go.”
Ethan nodded but spoke to Michael, keeping his voice low. “Is she safe?”
Michael didn’t answer.
“Michael, is she safe?”
Still nothing.
Ethan’s heart raced. “Han, something’s wrong.”
“Just keep walking.”
Mei Lin was still in there. Every step farther from the hospital was a step away from her.
The sedan waited where they’d left it, the driver in the front seat scrolling on his phone. They’d almost reached it when Michael shouted in his ear.
“Mei Lin’s in trouble, headed toward the door on the west side.”
Fear pummeled him like a blow to the back.
He broke into a run, reached the car, and yanked the rear door. Han rounded to get in on the other side.
The driver’s head jerked up.
“Drive around,” Ethan ordered. “She’s in trouble!”
Han translated fast in Mandarin.
Chin blinked, mouth opening.
Han pulled a pistol from inside his jacket and repeated the words.
The driver’s eyes widened, but he shifted. The sedan lurched forward, then turned the corner, tires squealing. The hospital’s west face slid past the window. Ethan twisted in the seat, scanning for an entrance.
Just past two dumpsters was a narrow door.
“Is this it?” he said. “Michael, where is she?”
“That’s it. Sit tight.”
“Stop here,” Ethan said.
Han translated, and the car lurched to a stop.
Ethan reached for the handle.
“Don’t,” Han said. “Let me get her.”
“No chance.” He shoved the door open but didn’t break into a run, instead moving toward the door at what he hoped looked like a normal pace. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself. He was still twenty feet away when it slammed open.
Mei Lin burst out at a sprint. Her eyes found his and went wide.
Movement from the front of the building caught his attention—two men, coming fast.
She wasn’t going to make it.
Han bolted past Ethan in a blur and tackled the first man in the ribs. They went down hard on the concrete.
The second man pivoted toward his partner.
Ethan sprinted toward his wife.
Another guard pushed out the door behind her. He was closing in.
But Ethan reached her first. He spun, got an arm around her waist, and propelled her forward.
The guard was closing in.
Ethan looked over his shoulder, planted his feet, and kicked back, catching the guard square in the gut. The man folded.
All his years of martial arts when he was a kid had finally come in handy.
Ethan scooped Mei Lin up, one arm under her knees, and ran.
He didn’t pause to see how Han was faring. When he got Mei Lin to the car, he’d go back for him. Assuming Han was still alive.
Lord, help!
The driver’s door was open, the driver gone. Ethan half-threw, half-set Mei Lin into the back seat and turned to help Han.
“Get in!” Michael shouted in his ear. “Go!”
“But Han—”
“I’ll take care of him. Go!”
Ethan scrambled into the driver’s seat. The driver had run, but at least he’d left the keys. Ethan started the engine and hit the gas.
He checked the rearview mirror. Han was face-down, a guard hovering over him.
The other guards watched Ethan and Mei Lin’s retreat, but nobody was running for a vehicle.
Ethan turned the corner of the hospital, wheels squealing, and headed for the four-lane road they’d come in on, driving as fast as possible, considering the traffic. “Mei Lin, are you hurt?”
“No, no. I’m all right, just…”
In his ear, Michael said, “Are you two safe?”
“We’re moving, but what about Han?” Ethan hated that the other man had been caught. “How can you take care of him?”
“He’ll claim he was hired security, just doing his job. It should be all right.”
“Should be? You said—”
“If you hadn’t left, all three of you would be in custody. I’ll do everything I can for Han. Right now, you need to focus on taking care of yourself and Mei Lin. Are you being followed?”
He checked the rearview again, but how could he differentiate between afternoon traffic and hospital guards and cops? “I don’t think so.”
But sirens in the distance told him this wasn’t even close to over.