big. Like the size of a small shed. And pretty scary. Did I mention that?”
Tension rolled across his shoulders and cramped the nerve at the back of his neck. “Did they threaten you?”
“Didn’t say a word. Didn’t really have to. These guys are imposing. I’m thinking any woman alone and without a gun or a massive boyfriend would run.”
Aaron’s muscles unclenched but not much. He still had to hope the two she described were the same two guys he’d been following and not a second muscle team. “I need to get you out of here.”
“There’s a stairwell.”
Her skin had paled to the hue of crisp white sheets. Every few seconds a fine tremble moved through her body and vibrated under his hand. He knew she had to be terrified, but she didn’t curl into a ball or so much as whimper. He found that strength more attractive than her long legs and sexy smile, though those sure were impressive.
The twinge of guilt over not calling her back as promised, as he had intended to do before work kicked up and pounded him, turned into a crashing wave. Any man would be lucky to get another date with her and he’d blown the chance. The least he could do was get her out of the building while he figured out the threat level.
“Stay here.” He eased away from her and slipped across the floor in soundless steps. “Royal?”
When Aaron didn’t get a reply, he tapped on the earpiece. He’d just reached the door when it slammed open and into him. The force shoved him back against the wall. His gun jerked from his fingers and clanked against the tile floor by his feet.
The doorknob jabbed into his midsection as he bit back a curse. One of the men he’d seen from the elevator shoved his weight against the door, banging on his thick body until Aaron thought his chest would cave in. The move stole his breath, trapping his hands in front of him and pinning his back to the wall.
He shifted and shoved, trying to get traction and a better grip, but the metal door crushed his gut, and his strength proved useless. Blackness raged through his veins as his gaze bounced between the vulnerable woman frozen in place in the middle of the room and the muscle trying to knock him unconscious with a door.
The sudden roar of Royal’s voice echoed in Aaron’s ears, but he couldn’t make out the words. All Aaron heard was the rush of his own breath as it moved through him. His brain scrambled for a backup plan.
“Double up.” It was their code for assistance, but Aaron wasn’t even sure he said the words out loud. The doorknob connected with his gut once again and knocked the air right out of his lungs.
The attacker’s friend moved into the room, his shoes quiet against the floor but his shoulders knocking against the door frame. Risa hadn’t exaggerated. He had a thick neck and biceps that kept his arms from lying close to his side. From this distance, it was clear the guy engaged in some serious training. The type that included flipping tractor tires. This guy obviously was in charge.
The man didn’t even spare Aaron a glance. He aimed the gun directly at Risa’s head. “Enough.”
Aaron blinked, knowing he was the intended recipient of that message. “What do you want?”
“Her.”
“Me?” Risa squealed the question, her voice bouncing off the walls.
The attacker held out a beefy hand in Risa’s direction. “Time to go, Angie.”
Risa’s fingers tightened on the edge of the stall door until her knuckles turned white. “I don’t—”
Her gaze raced to Aaron’s face. He nodded, letting her know she could answer. The longer they dragged this out, the better chance Royal could burst in with reinforcements.
Risa swallowed hard enough for her throat to move. “Who’s Angie?”
The leader shook his head as he took a step in her direction. “We’re not doing this.”
“You have the wrong woman.”
“And you’ve wasted enough of my time.”
Risa shook her head, her bewilderment obvious in every part of her body and in her voice. “What is happening here?”
“You don’t get to ask questions.” The leader pointed at Risa before sparing Aaron a glance. “Who are you?”
“I work at Craft. The lady and I met at the party downstairs and came up here for some privacy.” Aaron went for a guy-to-guy moment but knew he’d misfired when a feral smile spread across the leader’s face.
The guy took his time on a visual tour of Risa’s body. “Nice.”
The attacker crowded against the door barked out a laugh as Risa’s face morphed from white to gray. These two made quite a team. The type that reinforced Aaron’s belief in women’s self-defense classes.
“Come here.” The leader reached for her as he made his demand.
Just as fast, Risa stepped back. Her heels clicked against the floor as she scooted her body deeper into the stall.
“Stop.” The leader lunged and grabbed her elbow. With one tug, he had her back in the middle of the room and within inches of the gun in his other hand.
“You have the wrong person.” Her words rushed out.
“Let’s all step back and relax for a second.” Aaron shifted his weight as he spoke. He eased one foot out from behind the door.
“Shut up,” the attacker who was crushing him shouted.
Risa shook her head. “We didn’t do anything.”
“You are on this floor, right where you’re supposed to be.” When the attacker pulled on her arm, she stumbled. “Move again without permission and I’ll put a bullet in your boyfriend.”
The man made the threat, but both men’s guns never wavered. Both pointed at Risa, which gave Aaron the advantage he needed.
With as little movement as possible, he slid his hand into his inside jacket pocket, fumbling with the fabric until his fingers connected with the metal from one of his extra weapons.
Using all his weight, he crashed his body against the door and knocked the backup attacker off balance. His head snapped back when the door connected with his face. Blood spurted from his nose, and his hands went to his face as his attention slipped from the attack.
“Risa, get down!” Aaron barely got the words out before the leader turned toward him.
She dropped to her knees as the room broke into chaos. Aaron got off two quick rounds that boomed through the shouting. One shot exploded through the door, catching the backup attacker in the side and sending him falling back into the hallway on a howl of pain.
Aaron’s second shot slammed into the leader’s shoulder and spun him around and straight into Risa. He stumbled over her, then fell to the floor over her back.
Despite Royal’s yelling in his ear and Risa’s screaming in the small room, Aaron
