Catch A Tiger By The Tail (THIRDS 6)

Riviera nodded and got to work bringing up the footage of Ruiz’s appearance. Ash stepped up beside Sloane. “If Ruiz makes it out of that lobby and into the hospital, we’re talking hundreds of rooms, multiple exits. If he’s not alone, we have an even bigger problem. We’re going to need as many agents on this as possible.”

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nbsp; “Here.” Riviera brought up several camera feeds of Ruiz entering through Emergency before he grabbed the nearest security officer and removed his firearm, shouting at the citizens in the lobby and firing a warning shot.

“What about exterior footage?” Sloane asked.

Riviera brought up footage from the parking garage and outside the hospital. A taxi dropped Ruiz off.

“Looks like he’s alone.” Sloane turned to the team. “Dex, get ahold of the sarge and tell him where we are. Meet him at the side entrance. I want as many agents as possible securing the entrances and exits. Put an agent on every floor. Cael, Nina, keep an eye on the security feeds. I want to know about anything or anyone that looks out of place. Rosa, stand by for possible medical assistance. Letty, Ash, Rafe, you’re backup. I’m going to go talk to him. Cal, you know what to do.”

It was what he feared. Calvin faced Sloane. “Let me talk to him.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Cal. This guy’s trying to kill you. If we—”

Ruiz’s voice came in through the security office speakers. “I know you’re listening, Summers! If you don’t get out here, I’m going to start shooting!”

“It’s me he wants, Sloane. I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me. Let me try to talk him down,” Calvin pleaded. The last thing he wanted was to put a bullet in another Ruiz family member. He needed to give Hector a chance to do the right thing. “He’s angry, and he’s hurting.”

“And he put Hudson in the hospital,” Ash argued heatedly. “He could have fucking killed someone! He could have killed you. He tried to kill you.”

“I know that, but does that mean we take the easy route and take him out? If I have to, I will, but I want to make damn sure I’ve given him every opportunity to turn himself in.”

“Or an opportunity to shoot you,” Ash scoffed.

“That won’t happen.” Calvin turned to Riviera. “Do you have any equipment?”

Riviera nodded and motioned to the far wall and the large weapons locker secured shut. “Vests and firearms.”

“Okay, good.” Calvin turned to Sloane. “Please, you have to let me do this.”

Sloane seemed to think about it for a moment before giving him a nod. “All right. Suit up and head out. Letty, Ash, and Rafe will be on the sidelines and out of sight in case this goes south.”

“Got it.” Calvin turned to Ethan as Riviera went to the weapons locker to get him the equipment he needed. “I have to do this,” he told Ethan.

Ethan pulled him close and gave his lips a quick, gentle kiss. He nodded his understanding. Calvin strapped himself into the tactical vest Riviera handed him before taking one of the Glocks and checking the magazine. With a full clip and one in the chamber, he headed for the lobby with Letty, Ash, and Rafe. They made sure to stay tucked away as Calvin approached the swinging doors leading to the lobby. He nudged one side open.

“Hector, I’m coming out. Don’t shoot. I want to talk.”

“Well, let’s go, then,” Hector called out. “Let’s talk.”

Calvin held the Glock in his hand and raised his arms at his sides as he slipped out. Hector tensed at the sight of the gun, but he remained where he was, jerking the security officer in front of him and using him as a shield. Letty, Ash, and Rafe were concealed to Calvin’s sides, waiting in the shadows.

“You wanna talk, but you bring a gun?” Hector growled. “Typical THIRDS pig.”

“It’s for my protection, Hector. You tried to shoot me tonight, remember?” Calvin slowly lowered his arms, his gaze never moving from Hector. The guy was sweating and fidgeting. He looked to be in his early twenties. Something told Calvin Hector wasn’t as self-assured as he made himself out to be.

“I ain’t saying nothing.”

“You put one of my friends in the hospital,” Calvin said, his voice calm. “A really good guy who does a lot for this city. I know you saw an opportunity. A room full of THIRDS agents, me being one of them. But they’re more than that, Hector. They have families like you. You had a room full of Humans and Therians who fight to keep this city safe.”

“Like you kept my uncle safe?”

“He left me no choice, Hector. He killed someone and injured two others. Yes, he had every right to be upset for what they did to him, but that didn’t give him the right to take someone’s life. We tried to get through to him. We did. But he was too distraught to listen. He was going to shoot someone. I couldn’t let that happen. I don’t want to shoot you, Hector. Please, you have to believe that.”

Hector let out a scoff. “What makes you think I won’t shoot him or you first?”

“Because this is what I do. It’s what I’m trained for. You’ll never see it coming. You’ll be dead before you get a shot off. Is that what you want, Hector? Do you really want to put your aunt through that after all she’s suffered?” Hector was unsure. Whatever had happened at Dekatria, Calvin was certain Hector had help, someone to push him into the decision, perhaps from his friends. It was easier to set something into motion when you had your friends backing you up. The THIRDS would get to the bottom of it. Right now Calvin would do his best to give Hector a second chance.