Devour (Unbreakable Bonds 4)

“The cops are going to end the party, send everyone home. The paramedics reached Lucas through a door at the lower level. Once they get him out, they’re going to empty the place.”

“And the target will be able to slip out in the chaos,” Hollis growled beside Ian.

“I…fuck…I can’t reach Noah. I need you two to sweep through the north corridors, back to the ice age exhibit,” Rowe said uneasily. “I sent two men back in that direction five minutes ago. They’ve not reported in, but we had some problems with the earpieces in that part of the building. I want everyone pulled back to the rotunda when the police start clearing the place out.”

It made sense. Rowe had alarms set on all the doors leading out of the building except for the front and those being used by catering. The police were watching the catering crew, so Jagger’s best bet for escape would be through the massive crowd of people heading out the front of the building. He wasn’t so sure that Jagger would try to escape, not without making another attempt on one of them, but if the police were clearing Union Terminal out, then his window of opportunity had closed. He had to escape if he was going to remain free and go after them again.

“We got it,” Ian said, flashing Hollis a tense smile.

“We’ll be back in the rotunda in less than fifteen minutes,” Hollis murmured.

Ian stepped in front of Hollis, leading the way across the rotunda toward the doors on the north side of the building toward the Museum of Natural History and Science. He tried to smile and act as if nothing was wrong, but his hands were shaking. A part of him wanted to find Jagger, face the bastard down, and finally end this once and for all. But facing him could mean being hurt like Lucas or even possibly losing Hollis. There was safety in being surrounded by people in the grand, arching rotunda with its massive murals and art deco touches.

After stepping through the doors to the Natural History Museum, Hollis moved in front, taking the lead. He pulled his gun from under his tuxedo jacket but kept it lowered against his leg, half hidden should they come upon anyone who wasn’t in their party. There were a few people wandering through the exhibit, lightly chatting with a glass of champagne or wine in their hands. Red bows and bits of greenery were hung here and there, extending the feel of Christmas beyond the main party. The music was largely muted and now there was just the soft whisper of low conversation and the tap of dress shoes along the floor. A slight chill hung in the air compared to the surprising stuffiness of the rotunda as if they’d not bothered to turn on the heat in the rest of the museum.

Hollis stepped in front of a display of a forest scene labeled “Nature’s Trading Post,” trying to keep up the guise of being party revelers. A smile toyed with the corners of Hollis’s mouth before he looked over at Ian.

“So…not into camping?” Hollis drawled playfully and Ian couldn’t stop from rolling his eyes. He wasn’t sure if Hollis was teasing him over his struggles while they’d been in the woods, trying to track down Jagger’s hiding spot for the kids, or Rowe’s somewhat exaggerated stories regarding their camping trip over the summer.

“Roughing it in a tent, sleeping on the ground, no running water and nothing but a hole in the ground for a toilet? The possibility of bears? No, that’s not going to be my thing,” Ian admitted as he came to stand next to Hollis. It was hard to pull his eyes from the sexy man to stare forward at the fake trees and woodland creatures. “But a cabin in the woods? A cabin with a bed and a hot shower? A cabin with you, a bed, and a hot shower sounds like a great time.”

A low rumble came from Hollis and Ian could feel his body flush under the man’s heated gaze. Ian mentally shook himself. They needed to pay attention to the job at hand. Lucas was already hurt and they could be next if they didn’t keep their eyes open for Jagger or his goons.

“Let’s mosey,” Hollis murmured, grabbing Ian with his free left hand and pulling him forward through the winding corridor past the space exhibit dedicated to Neil Armstrong and the unique collection of moon rocks. The last of the partygoers had thinned out, so they were alone when they passed by the closed North Gallery. Hollis quietly tried the door to the gallery, but it was locked.

As they turned another corner, Hollis stopped, a frown digging deep lines into his face. “Why is there a cave in this museum?” he asked, earning a chuckle from Ian.