Rich (Benson Security 5)

The bullet skimmed the side of Samantha’s head, leaving a line of red across her temple. Stunned, she staggered back, her hand lifting to the wound. The look of absolute horror on her face when her fingers came away bloody might have been comical under other circumstances. But nothing about this situation was funny.

With pure stubbornness to drive her, Rachel dragged herself across the tile toward her cousin. And while Samantha stood there in bewildered shock, Rachel kicked at her knee.

It was weak. But it was effective.

Samantha’s legs buckled, and she staggered backward. With a scream, she hit the gnome, and together they tumbled into the pool.

Rachel didn’t wait around for her to surface again. She had to get somewhere safe to wait for Harvard. He would come for her. She knew it.

Half crawling, half dragging herself across the floor, Rachel made it through the open doorway and down the few steps to the hall. There was no way she could stand; her strength was gone, and she was close to losing consciousness. All she could do was pray she managed to stay awake until she made it somewhere that Samantha couldn’t get to her.

The stairs down to the bedroom level were harder to negotiate and Rachel bumped and slid her way down them, landing in a heap at the bottom. She moaned with pain but didn’t stop moving. There was no time to lose. Crawling, she made her way along the hall to the door that led out of her apartment. The emergency door with the small hallway between it and the outside exit. With trembling fingers, she tapped in the code to open it. It took three attempts but, at last, the door gave way. She toppled through, and the door slammed behind her, locking automatically.

And that’s when Rachel crumpled, letting the darkness at the edge of her consciousness claim her. All the while, hoping Harvard would find her.

Rachel’s apartment was eerily silent as Harvard slipped inside. He signaled to Lake and Callum, and the three of them spread out to cover the room. They checked the kitchen and dining area, keeping their weapons up in front of them, missing nothing.

There was no sign that Rachel had even been there. Only the fact the concierge had seen her arrive with her cousin and hadn’t seen them leave made Harvard believe they were still inside.

“Garage is clear,” Ryan said through his earpiece. “Joe’s stationed at the front door. So far, no sign of Rachel or her cousin.”

“Stay in position,” Harvard whispered.

Lake cleared the room, and the men moved down the hall, checking off each room as they went. Soon, the only area left was the pool. As they flattened themselves against the walls on either side of the door, Harvard lifted his fingers and counted them down. On three, they moved.

They were through the door in seconds. Spreading out in standard formation, the men covered all angles and each other’s backs. There was no one in the room, but the tiles around the pool were soaked with water.

Lake made a low clicking sound and motioned at something lying on the floor. Cautiously, they crept forward to get a better look. Harvard’s heart slammed in his chest—it was Rachel’s handbag, its contents scattered over the tiles.

They spread out around the room, checking each area.

“Clear,” Callum whispered through their comm as he pointed to the changing room.

“Clear,” Lake murmured, indicating the bathroom.

Harvard moved silently, keeping his gun up as he checked behind the bar. Nothing. “Clear,” he reported. They had to be downstairs.

He turned toward the other men and started to signal for them to head out and downstairs when he caught sight of something in the pool.

No. Not something.

Someone.

With a roar, he lunged for the water. Only to be held back by Lake.

“It isn’t her.”

Harvard tried to shove him aside, but Callum appeared beside his partner, and both of them barred his way.

“It isn’t her,” Callum snapped. “It’s Samantha.”

Harvard took a deep breath as their words registered. “I’m okay,” he gritted out.

After taking a moment to make sure, they stepped aside. Harvard gazed over the edge of the pool, staying calm, as he was trained to do. Her blonde hair drifting around her, a woman lay face down, pinned to the glass bottom. They couldn’t make out what kept her from floating, but it was clear she was alone in the pool.

Blonde hair.

Yellow dress.