Page 23 of The Norcross Rescue

“P-please, no,” the woman whispered.

Jesus. Brynn’s brain whirred. A bullet wound to the stomach would either kill the woman outright or she’d bleed out before help could arrive.

Wolf was enjoying this. He was drinking in the woman’s fear. He was drunk on power.

“No? Such a shame. I was sure a cop would protect and serve.” He pressed the gun harder against the woman’s stomach, and she cried out.

Brynn shot to her feet. “I’m the cop.”

All eyes turned her way.

Brynn met his gaze. “Please, don’t hurt her. I’m SFPD. It’s me.”

Wolf cocked his head, glaring at her.

“No, it’s me.” Kristine stood, her voice shaky. “I’m the cop.”

“I’m the cop.” An older man raised his hand.

A younger man stepped forward. “No, it’s me.”

“Darlings, if anyone’s a cop, it’s me.” An older, elegant woman draped in a mink stole fluttered a hand.

Brynn felt a burst of pride. These people were strangers, they were terrified, but they’d stepped forward to help, to do the right thing.

Wolf made a low, annoyed sound and shoved the redhead away. She stumbled and two men caught her.

“Fine. You can all be heroes…for fifteen more minutes. You won’t be so happy when the first body drops.”

Brynn let out a shuddering breath.

A shrieking screech filled the air as the fire alarm started blaring.

Everyone jolted.

“What now?” Wolf gritted out.

Pig raced to the doorway and arched his head to look through. “Fuck! I see flames down by the elevators.”

Wolf dragged in a deep breath. “Bear, turn that alarm off! You and you.” He stabbed a finger toward Pig and Rabbit. “Go and put it out. And watch out for that motherfucker. Stay together. It’ll be two against one, so he can’t take you.”

Not likely. Brynn wanted to smile. Vander could handle two of these idiots with his hands tied behind his back.

Be careful, Vander, but take them down. Hard.

CHAPTER FIVE

They were trying to be stealthy, but Vander still heard them coming. Someone had shut off the blare of the fire alarm.

“Fuck.” Stomping noises echoed down the hall as the two men put out the fire he’d started in a small bin by the elevators.

“He can’t be far away,” the second voice murmured.

“Let’s find him.”

They moved into the hall. Vander stood at the far end of the table in a conference room. He moved, letting them see him.

“There!”