Page 85 of Sinner’s Game

But I want to survive even more. So all I do is stand there, helpless, and hope that he’ll let me take him on this wild goose chase, praying all the while that Ronan will catch up and save me before it’s too late.

Chapter Thirty

The sight of Cara curled up in a corner, huddled and shivering and terrified, stuck with Ronan as he and Seagrave’s three men hurried through the expo hall. The poor girl had only been able to point in the direction that they’d taken Brandy.

He wished there was time to wait for a team from Saint’s Angels to arrive, but there wasn't. They were coming, sure, but he was certain they’d arrive too late.

He had only one shot, and thank God Seagrave’s most sacred rule was that his men and their vehicles always be fully equipped.

Now, Ronan clutched the briefcase they’d provided him. A bluff, yes, but maybe it would be enough. It had to be, because there was no way he was going to lose Brandy. No way in hell.

He raced down the hall, the SOC men right at his heels. They pounded down the stairs to the parking structure, slamming through the doors at every level, hoping to see a sign of where Cartwright and his men had gone with Brandy. Hoping that they would find her alive.

Of course she was alive, he told himself. Cartwright wouldn’t kill her. Not yet. Not until he was sure that she didn’t know where the money was.

God, he hoped he was right.

When they reached sub-level four, he jolted to a stop right before slamming through the door. Brandy!

He held his breath, listening. “Please,” she said, her voice heavy with fear as it filtered through the door. “Please, it’s not me you want.”

He winced, hoping Cartwright didn’t believe her. If he did, Brandy was dead, because what possible use would the prick have for her then?

Squaring his shoulders, he looked at the men. “Stay here unless I give the signal.” And then, without waiting for acknowledgment, he clutched the handle of the briefcase, pushed open the parking garage door, and said, “Cartwright. I have what you want.”

As he’d hoped, the man turned around to face him. He’d never seen Sheldon Cartwright in person before, and the pictures that he’d managed to wrangle throughout his years of chasing this ghost were always too dark to distinguish features. There was a reason that the man had survived so long in the underworld. He knew how to hide.

But ghost or not, somehow, Ronan was going to kill him.

“Who the hell are you?” Cartwright said.

“I’m the man with your money.” He lifted the briefcase and saw Cartwright’s eyes dip quickly before lifting his face back to his enemy.

In his peripheral vision, Ronan saw Brandy. Her eyes were wide, full of shock and confusion. And hope.

He forced himself not to look directly at her. Cartwright couldn’t know that she meant something to him. Once he knew that, the prick would have even more leverage than he already did.

Instead, he looked directly at the man, noting the six others behind him. A quick glance around suggested that there was nobody else. He hoped he was right about that.

“Bearer bonds," he said. "All of them. All I want is the girl.”

“Well, isn’t that sweet?”

The situation was fucked, and he knew it. One against seven. Doable, but the odds were terrible.

Worst of all, Brandy stood beside Cartwright, her body rigid with fear. He couldn’t risk accidentally shooting her. Cartwright might use her as a shield. There might be a moment before he fell when he’d take Brandy down with him.

But Ronan didn’t have another choice. He had to try. Because the next thing that would happen was that Cartwright’s men would shoot him or Brandy.

Not acceptable. He stepped forward, holding out the case. “Take it,” he said “Take it. Check it, then give me the girl. On your honor.”

Cartwright’s brows rose. “My honor?”

“Surely you have some?”

The man cocked his head to the side, and Ronan wanted to smash his face in. Honor. The hell he did. But if playing games was what it took, then Ronan would play them. “Three steps forward,” Cartwright said. “Put the case down, three steps back.”

Ronan nodded, then did as he was told, setting the case down, then backing up. Cartwright nodded at one of the men behind him. “You. Go check the case. Make sure it’s not rigged.”