Someone in Sotillo’s organization wanted Kata dead. But why? To crush Hunter by killing his wife? If so, why not wait until he was out of the country, where he couldn’t protect Kata? Whatever the motivation, Hunter knew that if Barnes was on the take and the Sotillo organization planned to make a move on her now, this was going to get ugly.
Chapter Twenty
AS soon as Hunter asked Jack and Deke to come for backup, they ended the call; then he sent a text to Tyler not to let Kata out of his sight. Tyler didn’t answer, but he’d called earlier to say they were en route to Kata’s apartment. That probably meant they were still driving.
Briefly, he considered calling someone above Barnes’ head, but the chances of reaching anyone willing to set aside politics and make a quick decision was about nil. Besides, this was going to go down too fast. He’d ask for forgiveness later. Fuck permission.
Formulating a plan, Hunter took stock of his surroundings. Nothing suspicious, just kids playing in the park ahead, people starting their weekend errands, and joggers atoning for the week’s laziness. Rush to Kata’s place and secure it or wait here and see if he could head the assassin off at the pass?
Hunter no sooner thought the question when Tyler pulled up and parked his black truck at the curb across the street, in front of her apartment complex. Hunter watched through the tinted windshield of the Colonel’s Jeep as Tyler climbed out, his gaze crawling all over their surroundings, then came around to help Kata with her suitcase. She’d showered, dressed, and looked so lush. His heart twisted in his chest.
Hunter wanted to rush out of the vehicle and warn them, but in case the assassin had them in his sights, he stayed put. He didn’t want to give up the element of surprise unless forced. Instead, he watched.
Tyler set his hand at the small of her back and helped her into the atrium-style complex. Hunter wished the guy would get his paw off Kata, but if Tyler protected her, Hunter would let it go.
Soon, they disappeared down a shaded path between a cluster of buildings. Still, he didn’t see anyone following them.
It was now or never. From the seat beside him, Hunter grabbed his SIG and tucked it into his waistband, then shoved an extra round of cartridges in his pocket. He slammed out of the vehicle, dodging traffic as he crossed the busy public street, and followed the others at a discreet distance, ducking behind trees and bushes for cover.
Still, Hunter didn’t see anyone or anything that looked out of place, and that made the hair at the back of his neck prickle. He had a bad feeling that this was all going to go down—quickly.
Tyler followed Kata down the path paved in river rock as she fished the keys from her purse and headed for the stairs. They rounded a corner, then disappeared from sight. Hunter cursed and grabbed the gun from his waistband, ready for anything. He hated to potentially involve any civilian who might trek this path, but if they saw him and got out of the way or, even better—called the police—Hunter was all for it.
Watching for danger and innocent bystanders, he followed the signs affixed to the sides of the buildings that denoted the apartments in any given building. From reading Kata’s driver’s license last weekend, he remembered that she lived in unit 251D. He wished he could get ahead of her and secure the perimeter, but they’d reach the apartment way before him. Fuck.
Creeping behind a tree nearly choked by Spanish moss, he caught sight of the two again, this time climbing a set of stairs to her unit, Tyler carrying the suitcase in one meaty hand as Kata reached the door and unlocked it.
Hunter held his breath as he began creeping up the stairs until he could just see above the next rise. Kata opened the door, pushed her way in. Tyler followed.
Suddenly, gunfire erupted. Tyler shouted. Glass shattered. Then Kata let loose a bloodcurdling scream.
Adrenaline spiking, Hunter ran for the door as quietly as he could. He didn’t want to spook her or tip off the assassin to his presence. But he had to get up there and fight to keep her safe.
During a mission, he could block out his anxiety and simply focus on the tasks at hand. This wasn’t a mission, though. This was his wife. His heart drummed so loudly in his chest that he couldn’t hear whether his feet slapping the pavement were too loud . . . or whether Kata was begging for her life.
He’d likely have seconds to kill this motherfucker before he killed Kata—if he hadn’t already. Shoving the thought aside, Hunter forced himself to focus. If he started thinking she was already dead, he’d fall apart.
The door hung wide-open. As he reached the top, he saw blood. The sun streaming through the jagged shards of a broken picture window along the back wall blinded him for a moment. As he hit the door in a crouch, shielded his eyes, and stepped inside, Tyler was nowhere in sight. What Hunter could see made his heart stop.
Víctor Sotillo stood in the open doorway, his back to the enormous shattered window, using Kata as a shield. He held a gun to her temple. She shivered, her body shuddering with wide-eyed terror. Hunter wished like hell that he could comfort her. But he had to get her away from Sotillo, save her, first.
Hunter wondered how this was possible. Was he seeing a fucking ghost?
“Drop your gun,” the drug lord demanded.
If he did, everything would be over. The man had no mercy and wouldn’t hesitate to kill Kata—or incapacitate him and make him watch. Hunter had to come up with plan B.
Hunter could only imagine that Sotillo had shot Tyler and the blast had propelled him out the window, to his death. He shoved down the regret and dread.
“How are you still alive?” Hunter didn’t really give a shit, but if it bought him time until Jack and Deke showed up, maybe he and Kata would make it out alive. “I shot you in the chest.”
Sotillo’s mustache curved up, along with his thin lips. “Modern medicine, it is a miracle, yes? I . . . how do you say, flatlined on the way to the hospital. But the very talented doctors revived me, so here I am.” Then his face darkened. “They were unable to save my brother after your bullet lodged right in his chest.”
Damn, he’d shot the wrong brother. That mistake might cost him everything. “I’m sorry, Víctor. From what I hear, Adan was a much better human being.”
Rage gripped Sotillo, and he jammed the gun harder against Kata’s head. “Adan was a good man. It is your fault he’s gone. You and your team attacked us as we were leaving my abuelita’s house. You killed him.”
His grandmother’s house? Bullshit. If he’d gone to visit an old lady, why were there so many armed thugs and little baggies stuffed with white powder strewn all around the place?