Page 34 of Innocent Target

“Why did they come here?” James looked at the two men before turning to Nick, who was on his phone once more.

“Imari said the others are still outside. She’ll tell us if there’s movement.”

It was all good, but James didn’t believe the men were just checking their surroundings. And they hadn’t gone to the offices first, which meant that wasn’t their focus. His eyes went to the refrigerator block once more. He didn’t want to think it, but an idea snaked through his mind and made him move.

With an ear against the metal door, he listened and didn’t hear anything. With his fist, he banged twice—still nothing.

Nick came to his side. “You don’t think…”

“We need to get the padlock off.” James looked around for any kind of tool, but not before seeing the look of horror on his friend’s face.

Nick raced to the two men and searched their pockets. He found two sets of keys, checking them in the dim light.

All James wanted to do was shout Mercy’s name, but doing so would bring too much attention. Instead, he pressed his palms on the cold metal, praying he was wrong.

Just as despair started to seize his chest, Nick found the key, and they opened the door. It appeared empty, but when their eyes adjusted to the blackness, they saw a still form huddled in the corner. James had no memory of entering, only Mercy in his arms, cold as ice, her eyes closed.

Tears blurred his vision as he cupped her cheeks. A slight frost was melting from her lashes, and his hand went to her throat as Nick worked on releasing the bindings on her legs and searched for the key to the handcuffs.

A thump vibrated against his fingers, followed by a slow inhale. She was alive.

“Mercy? Baby? Can you hear me?”

Nick finally got her free. “We need to get her out of here. She’s hypothermic and barely breathing. We need to get her warmed up.”

James had difficulty breathing himself and looked around. “We can’t go out the way we came in. And we’re too far from the car.”

Nick opened his mouth but closed it as Imari spoke. “A car just arrived. They’ll be at your location in a few minutes.”

James picked up Mercy’s unconscious form and signaled for Nick. “The side exit before the dock. We can get out there.”

Nick sprinted, gun out, as he was the only one capable of protecting the three of them. Luckily, the door unlocked from the inside and Nick made sure the coast was clear and held the door open for James.

Once outside they had the choice of delivery trucks or trailers. The men didn’t have to speak, they had the same idea and went for a delivery truck.

James tightened his hold on Mercy, willing her to open her eyes and give him hell for taking his time in finding her, but she remained still. His only comfort was that she was still breathing.

Nick unlocked the truck and helped James inside. It was only a two-seater, so he had to keep Mercy on his lap, not that he minded. Honestly, he didn’t know if he’d be able to let her go beyond the reach of his arms ever again.

Lying under the dashboard, Nick cursed profusely, working on jump starting the car. James rearranged Mercy to reach his gun, eyes trained on the door, waiting for the men to discover their hostage was no longer there.

The moment the engine roared to life, two men came out and fired in their direction. James fired back as Nick sped away as fast as the truck could go. If they could get out of there, and back to civilization, they’d be safe.

It took some doing, Nick using every trailer he could as cover until they went around the building, and then he pushed the truck to full speed. The men must have been inside by then, and there was nobody at the gate to block their way.

Back on the road, eyes fixed on the mirrors, they saw cars coming at them from a distance. Nick didn’t slow down and took the next turn. They only needed a minute more, and they’d be on the main boulevard, and at this time of the day, it would be full of vehicles finishing work.

Holding his breath, Mercy tight against him, James sighed with relief as they merged into the flow of traffic. Nick slowed a little, not wanting to bring unwanted attention to themselves. The vehicles following did the same but stuck close, only abandoning the chase when they spotted a patrol car.

“Whoa, man, that was close.” Nick leaned against the driver’s seat. “Way too close if you want my opinion.”

James had to agree on that and was about to thank his friend when Mercy started to shake. “Mercy, baby?”

Nick didn’t say a word and blasted the heater in the cabin. “It’s her body fighting to regulate her temperature. It’s a good sign, man.”

Holding her shaking body close, James rubbed her back and legs, whispering sweet nonsense in her ear, coaxing her back to him, teasing her to gain a reaction.

As the adrenaline dissolved in his system, he realized how close he’d been to losing her, of never being able to bury his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair. What they had between them was new, but it now solidified into something so tangible, it was part of him. Mercy Broussard was part of his soul, and he’d make her see it too, as there was no question in his mind he’d ever let her go.