Silence.
“You make me sick, Lavonne,” Seth shouted, “selling out like this.”
Seth knew the man? Confusion hit him, but he continued to creep along behind the bar, desperate to be sure that Lily was unharmed.
A gruff laugh came from beyond the window and then a muffled cry. Lily?
That sound fuelled him. He glanced at Seth. He was pinching his forehead, teeth gritted. Anger and regret poured out of him, and inside a heartbeat Adrian knew that his guardian was in love with her too.
“Give me Walsh,” a voice shouted from beyond, “in exchange for the woman.”
“Do it,” Adrian hissed. “I’ll go.”
Seth shot him the blackest look he had ever seen, shaking his head. “Even if I could let you do that, it wouldn’t help. Lily can identify him, as can I.”
Adrian’s hands fisted at his sides.
“Now why on earth would you do that?” Seth shouted back through the open doorway.
He’d managed to sound much more self-assured than he looked, Adrian noticed.
“All I needed is to keep the witness under my protection,” the man outside responded, “until after the trial. You know it makes sense.”
Seth’s head went back against the wall. Adrian watched, wondering how he would respond. Adrian didn’t even know the guy, and he didn’t believe him. It was pretty obvious Seth didn’t believe it, either.
Rising up, Adrian took a chance, lifted the curtain and peaked out the casement window. He caught sight of them immediately. They were behind the largest of the nearby trees, some ten feet away from the open glass doors where Seth was standing. The man who’d been on the fire escape outside his office had Lily crushed against the tree, one hand over her mouth. The other held a gun to her head. She was alive, but who knew for how long? The bloke holding her looked as if he wanted to blow her away and then walk over here and shoot the lot of them. He was merely using her as a shield, and if he got brave, he wouldn’t need that shield anymore.
Adrian had to swallow down the bile that rose in his throat. Forcing himself to take another glance, it occurred to him that if he had the gun, and knew how to use it, he could shoot the guy. From this angle, the bastard was pretty much totally exposed, while Lily was partly-obscured between his body and the tree.
Taking a deep steadying breath, he stepped back along the bar.
Waving frantically, he attracted Seth’s attention. When Seth looked his way, he pointed at the edge of the curtain and beyond to where the tree was.
Seth’s eyes flickered, and then he nodded. “You’re scum, Lavonne,” he called out. “Why would I even begin to believe in you and your so-called deal, tell me that?” After he’d shouted the question out through the open doors he darted across the room and levered himself over the bar.
Adrian stood close by as Seth moved into the position he’d vacated.
“Because you have no choice,” came the response. “Carlisle’s men are following me, you either do as I say, or you will all die.”
Adrian’s blood ran cold. More of them? He exchanged a glance with Seth.
Seth’s jaw turned to granite. Then he was at the curtain, his gun easing into the gap.
Unease swamped Adrian. Would he be able to get a shot off without injuring Lily? It might take time, and meanwhile that guy out there was waiting for a response. Bracing himself, Adrian headed across the room and took up the position Seth had left. Adopting Seth’s voice, he shouted out, “You’re scum, Lavonne,” repeating Seth’s earlier remark.
“Fuck you, Jones,” came the bitter response.
“Nice work.” It was Seth, and Adrian caught the comment in the split-second before he heard the sound of shattering glass and a single shot rang out.
Please let her be safe. Please.
The sound of a woman’s scream took away any last vestige of responsibility he had, and he darted out onto the patio, just in time to see the man’s body slump away from the tree, blood staining his forehead. Lily was running in his direction, and he opened his arms and held her.
Her entire body was shaking and cold, her forehead damp with sweat, her face scratched. She stared up at him, eyes wild, confusion and fear filling them.
“You’re safe, he’s gone.” Hushing her, soothing her, and holding her close, he thanked God. Seth pushed past and jogged over to check the body, removing the gun as he did so.
Seconds later they heard the distant noise of sirens, and a loud thrumming sound.