“Emergency exit.” Ed gave the answer.
Connor ignored him. “Where else?”
Jocelyn liked his style. All of them, actually. She started thinking of them as her men. They came in, they took charge, they refused to back down and they were willing to die for women they didn’t even know. Even now Ben touched her back, giving her a lifeline and reassuring her of his presence.
“We checked.” Ed nodded in Joel’s direction. “Right? There’s nothing else up there.”
Connor exhaled, letting his displeasure flow over the room. “That’s not true, is it, Kent?”
“Keep in mind this is your last chance to come clean,” Ben said from behind her.
Kent started shaking his head and didn’t stop. “You can’t do anything worse to me.”
Joel took a step closer. “Worse than what?”
“Me.”
At the sound of the familiar male voice, Jocelyn felt a hand push her forward and heard Ben yell at her to move. She stumbled into the desk and looked around in time to see Gary press a gun to the back of Ben’s head.
Another man pointed one right at Connor’s face. The surprise visitors had them all shifting and all weapons up and aimed.
She still hadn’t processed all she was seeing when Kent stood up and his chair shot back. The men crowded closer to Ben’s side of the desk until the guy with Gary pulled a second weapon and aimed that one, too.
Everyone had moved but Ben. He had picked pushing her out of the way and getting her out of the direct attack line over getting a jump on his attacker. He’d traded his body for hers.
Seeing him now, hands raised and anger straining in every muscle of his face, had her fighting off a gasp. She would not give this Gary person the satisfaction of knowing he scared her, that terror stormed through every cell.
“Gary Taub.” The harsh tone ripped out of Connor.
“What are you doing here?” Ed asked as he took a step forward.
“Nuh-uh.” Gary made a tsk-tsking sound. “Everyone stays where they are. Guns on the floor or the NCIS hero gets a bullet through his brain.”
“No.” She jumped forward and only Connor and Ben putting out their arms to stop her kept her from running into the madman’s hands.
Gary laughed as he talked over her, acting as if her anguish bored him. “Although, I’m not sure how devastating Ben’s murder would be to anyone. His own father is disgusted and embarrassed by him, isn’t he, Ben?”
“Ask him.” Ben said the words through a locked jaw as his intense gaze drilled into Jocelyn.
She knew he wanted her to stand still. To not antagonize the lunatic with the gun. Despite the fear pumping through her, she had no intention of starting a battle that ended with bodies scattered all over the floor. But if Gary went for Ben, her control would never hold.
Connor stiffened his stance but his gun’s barrel never left the direct line to Gary’s head. “That’s enough.”
“Touching.” Gary spoke right into Ben’s ear. “Looks like I’m wrong. A woman who barely knows you thinks you’re worth saving. Maybe if she’d spent more time with you she’d know you’re not worth it.”
What was that...? Jocelyn blinked. She swore Connor and Joel closed in on Gary but she hadn’t seen them move and they hadn’t made a noise. She chalked it up to an optical illusion, maybe wishful thinking. With a second glance at the floor, she knew the sensation of shrinking space wasn’t in her head. Connor’s foot had inched in.
She glanced up for verification. Connor didn’t look at her but his head dipped in what she took for a nod.
“Let’s show her how wrong she is about you.” Gary pushed on Ben’s shoulder. “Get on your knees.”
“Not happening.”
“I said no moving.” Gary’s voice kicked up as he scanned the room. “You have one second to get those guns on the ground or Mr. NCIS will have a nasty accident.”
“We’re listening.” The anger left Connor’s voice. He sounded reasonable and calm, as if he wanted to have a nice chat over coffee. “You clearly want to tell us something. Do it.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have time.”
“He’s transferring money.” Kent said the words so fast they ran into one long word.
Gary barked right back. “Shut up.”
“He’s running out of time.” Kent swallowed and shifted his weight until he balanced his palms against his desk. “He has less than an hour.”
“Now is not the time to play the hero, Kent. You know what will happen if you do. I believe I’ve made that clear over the last few days.”