SEVENTEEN
More than anything, Ryker wanted to protect Olivia. To keep her safe from harm. Yet here they were, being held at gunpoint by a cold-blooded killer. Ryker swallowed a lump of guilt, knowing he should have anticipated Blake-Moore would find them at the hospital.
So much for Seth Willis’s claim of not being involved with the mercenary group. Obviously, Willis must have been acting on orders from Harper Moore himself. Did that mean Kevin Blake knew about the money, too? Or had the partner of the firm been left in the dark? There was no way to know for certain.
“You can’t possibly remember all the bank-account numbers,” Moore said with a sneer. “You’re rattling off garbage. Send Olivia to me, and I’ll let you and your friend live.”
No way was he doing that. Moore would kill her and the baby without a second thought. He actually did know all the numbers. He’d memorized them just in case, but wasn’t sure how to convince Moore. He decided to try a different path. If he stalled long enough, maybe Duncan could get a shot at him. At the moment, he and Olivia were in Duncan’s way, and Ryker knew Duncan wouldn’t risk hitting Olivia. Or maybe Tony Seavers from the FBI would arrive to help. That phone call from his boss was rotten timing.
At this point, he’d welcome anyone, even someone from the hospital security team.
“Tell me, Harper, when did you learn Tim and Colin were skimming money from you and Kevin? I’m sure that made you furious.”
The question caught Moore off guard, but he didn’t hesitate to answer. “Seth told me what he knew. I offered to give him a finder’s fee if he brought me the bank-account information, but he got himself arrested instead.” The barrel of Moore’s gun never wavered. “Enough talking. We need to move. I want Olivia with me now!”
Ryker met Olivia’s frightened gaze and knew he needed to do something to get her out of this mess. He swept his gaze over the area in an attempt to formulate a plan. The gun he normally kept on him at all times was in the glove box, because the hospital had a no weapon rule. There had to be something he could do.
But there was absolutely nothing to use as a weapon. The wheelchair and garbage can were both too far away to be of any use.
He prayed for strength and wisdom, hoping God had a plan for them.
“Oh!” Olivia let out a loud groan, doubling over in pain. “Help me! The labor pains are back.”
What? Now? Ryker felt the blood draining from his face. Her labor must have restarted because of the stress.
“Hurry!” Moore’s tone was sharp. “I want the information before she drops that kid.”
“Don’t be stupid.” Ryker lifted his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “You don’t need her when you can have me.”
Olivia slowly blinked her eyes at him, and it took only a second for him to realize she was pretending. He decided to play along. “Olivia? How bad are they?”
“Bad.” Her voice was low and guttural. “If I don’t get inside, I’ll have this baby right here in the parking garage!”
“Take me.” Ryker drilled Harper Moore with his gaze. “She’ll be useless to you while she’s in labor. And I promise I have the bank-account numbers memorized. Don’t you see? She’s a liability to you. She needs a doctor!”
“Fine. I’ll take you. Stuff her into the SUV.” Moore gestured with the gun. “One false move and I’ll shoot.”
Ryker doubted the guy would shoot in a public place, even if they were in a rather isolated corner of the parking garage. But Ryker was more than willing to comply with his demand. Olivia was still bent over, pretending to be in pain, so he moved close. “Lean on me. I’ll get you into the SUV, okay? Duncan will get you out of here.”
“But what about the doctor?” Olivia sounded fearful and he hoped he hadn’t misunderstood her exaggerated blink. That she really wasn’t in labor.
“You’ll be fine.” He knew that his gun was in the glove box of the SUV. All he needed was the opportunity to grab it.
As it turned out, Duncan already had the glove box open. As if reading his mind, Olivia lurched forward toward the passenger seat, staying low to give Ryker access to the gun.
Ryker knew Duncan was armed, but seated as he was behind the wheel, his buddy couldn’t shoot without possibly hitting him or Olivia, considering Harper Moore was located behind them. Ryker knew he’d have to be the one to take the shot.
He pushed Olivia down toward the floor and reached for the weapon.
Several things happened at once. A loud, authoritative voice shouted, “Hey, what’s going on?” At the same time, Ryker spun around to shoot at Moore. Moore must have been momentarily distracted by the man approaching the scene, because he didn’t even get a shot off.
Blood spurted from Moore’s chest. He sagged against the concrete pillar, then slowly slid to the ground, a look of stunned surprise on his features.
Duncan hit the horn, the blare echoing loudly off the concrete surrounding them. The approaching security guard and other people arrived on the scene from various directions, including Tony Seavers from the FBI, looking guilty for not staying with them.
Ryker rushed over to check on Harper Moore, who was pale and bleeding, but still alive. “Where is Kevin Blake?”
Moore struggled to speak. “Dea...”
Dead? “Come on, tell me where Kevin Blake is.” Ryker pressed his hand against the wound, hoping to stem the bleeding. “We need an ambulance now!”
“I’ll call,” the security guard offered.
“You’re not going to die, Harper, but you will spend the rest of your life in jail.” Ryker leaned his weight on the wound, peering down into Harper’s eyes, willing the guy to respond. “Do you really want Kevin Blake to get away with all the cash?”
“He’s dead...”
