Alexa nodded and threw off the blanket covering her. Brent was pleased to note she was fully dressed in her pink outfit except for her shoes.
While Rowan helped Alexa with her tennis shoes, Brent unzipped his pack and pulled out a stuffed rabbit, one with long floppy ears, the fur soft as a butterfly’s wings. As he’d hoped, Alexa’s eyes lit up. He smiled, handed her the rabbit. “Is it all right for my friend to carry you, Alexa? We need to move fast to get away from the bad men.”
Alexa eyed Eli a moment. “Aunt Ro?” She didn’t take her attention away from the SEAL who did his best to look non-threatening.
“He’s my friend, Lex. You can trust him.”
“But I want Brent.”
Shock rolled through Brent at her honest words. His heart turned over in his chest. “I need to protect your aunt, sweetheart.”
Another few seconds of staring at the SEAL and Alexa held up her arms for Eli to pick her up.
He lifted her into his arms and hugged her close. “I’ll take good care of you, Sweet Cheeks.”
The girl smiled at him, tugged the rabbit close, and laid her head on Eli’s shoulder. “You’ll keep Aunt Ro safe?” she asked Brent.
“No one will hurt her, Alexa. You have my word.”
“Brent, movement headed your direction,” Jon said.
“Copy.”
Eli’s expression turned grim.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Rowan whispered in Brent’s ear.
“Company. We have to go.” Into his mic, he said, “Adam?”
“Ready.”
Brent dropped a quick, hard kiss on Rowan’s mouth. “Follow my orders without question, babe.” He glanced at Eli without saying a word. His friend gave a subtle nod. No one would touch Alexa. Eli would do whatever was necessary to protect her.
Brent flattened himself against the wall and eased the door to the hall open a crack. Nothing so far, but his gut warned him trouble was closing in. He didn’t want to handle trouble in an enclosed room with one entrance and exit.
Weapon up and ready, he pressed Rowan against the wall and signaled for her to wait while he made sure it was safe for her and Alexa to leave the room. He stepped into the hall and motioned for Rowan. As soon as she cleared the threshold, Brent pulled her up against his back. Eli came next with Alexa. Brent signaled him to take Alexa to the stairwell.
The door to Garcia’s suite opened as well as doors on either side of the hall. Three men stepped out, all armed with weapons aimed at Brent. One of the three men wore an eye patch. Garcia.
“Not so fast, Maddox.” The cartel leader smiled. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
In the space of a heartbeat, Brent assessed his options. Not many. Eli shifted so his body would take the hit instead of Alexa’s if bullets flew their direction. “Garcia. Been a while.” Not long enough.
“You arrived sooner than I anticipated. But no matter.” Another chilling smile. “I have the upper hand anyway.”
“So it seems,” Brent said. Arrogance killed. Garcia should know that.
“Lower your weapon, Maddox.”
“Not going to happen.”
“Oh, but it will unless you want my men to shoot the girl.” His men shifted their aim to Alexa. Again, Eli adjusted his stance so even less of Alexa presented a target, which left the SEAL more vulnerable.
“You don’t want to do that, Garcia.” Brent reached back with one hand to make sure Rowan stayed behind him. He wouldn’t put it past her to leap into the line of fire to protect her niece. “She’s an innocent. You love children and go out of your way to protect them.”
“I’m flattered. You studied me.”
“As you researched me.”
“Indeed. I knew you’d come, that you wouldn’t leave one of your own behind, especially a woman with so personal a connection to you.” He was silent a moment. “What will you give me in exchange for the girl’s life?”
Only one thing Brent knew beyond doubt that Garcia wanted. “Me.”
Behind him, Rowan gasped and clutched the back of his shirt. “Brent, no,” she whispered. “You can’t.”
He squeezed her side, a silent plea for her trust.
“Not good enough. You and your woman in exchange for the girl. The woman is…special.” A sly smile curved his lips, one that sent a dark chill through Brent’s body. “She means much to you. Makes my revenge sweeter. I can’t think of a more fitting way to hurt you than by hurting your woman. Do you and your woman live or the girl? Choose now.”
“No shot,” Jon murmured in his ear. “Alex?”
“Negative.”
Brent turned his head slightly, flicked a glance at Eli. “Take Alexa to safety,” he murmured.
“Aunt Ro?”
Rowan turn slightly to look at her niece. “I’ll be fine, Lex. Go with my friend.”
Had to love a woman who protected Eli’s identity despite being so afraid she was trembling against Brent’s back.
“You promise you’ll be okay?”
“Alexa, remember my promise to you?” Brent asked the girl. The promise that he wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt Rowan. He’d keep that promise no matter what it cost him.
“I remember.”
“I never break a promise, sugar.” He tipped his chin at Eli, signaling him to get going. He wanted Alexa out of the line of fire before Garcia lost patience and opened fire on all of them.
Without a word, Eli moved toward the staircase. Brent shifted to cover Eli’s retreat, moving Rowan as well. Once the SEAL was out of sight, Brent asked Garcia, “How are we doing this?”
“Drop your weapon and get on your knees.”
“Safe passage for my operative and the child.” He wrapped his free hand around Rowan’s. “Then I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Sweet words, indeed. Done. See to it, Diego.”
The huge man pulled out a cell phone and issued orders that the girl wasn’t to be harmed.
“I have Diego,” Adam said in the ear piece.
That left the other two for Brent. Suited him.
“Enough stalling, Maddox. Drop the weapon.” Garcia gestured with his own weapon.
“Mr. Garcia, don’t you want the records?” Rowan asked. “If you kill him, you won’t find the information. I
