but the jag’s presence moved sluggishly.
Patricia gave a little laugh accompanied by a deeper chuckle from Torne. “Threatening me? No, dear, why would he do that?” She reached out and stroked the back of her fingers along the angle of Torne’s jaw. “We’re partners.” She turned back to KT. “We’ll talk later. You look a little sleepy. Why don’t you relax and enjoy the ride?”
The strong scent of the air conditioning caught KT’s attention, and her hands curled into fists. Salison! Vaporized and pumped into the passenger compartment! Her nose crinkled as her vision darkened on the edges. Salison and some kind of sedative.
KT fought hard, trying to keep her metabolism ramped up to throw off the heaviness that weighed her limbs and eyelids. She could burn off any normal sedative in moments, but she suspected whatever they were pushing into the rear of the limo was more than just any sedative. The addition of salison to the cocktail further dampened her defenses.
Desperate, she pounded on the windows, knowing that the smoked glass would make it nearly impossible for anyone to see her. As the sedative worked its way through her system, her blows made less and less sound. Her hands dropped and she tilted sideways onto the cushions of the deep back seat, her vision blurring.
A tiny part of KT’s mind wondered why the fumes weren’t having any effect on Patricia or Torne. Then she noticed the thick black border around the edges of the glass separating the two compartments. Of course. They put something around it to seal the compartment.
KT fought to remain conscious, straining to follow Patricia and Torne’s conversation through the speakers but the words refused to form clearly, sounds swirling into a senseless din until the darkness closed around her completely and she was lost.
****
The sharp double tap of gunshots yanked Peyton out of a light doze. He sat up to stare at the window of his room, listening intently. The shrill squeal of rubber accompanied by blaring horns echoed off the walls of the buildings around the hospital, making it hard for him to determine direction.
Trouble! Max’s anxiety bristled against the skin at the back of Peyton’s neck.
Peyton glanced at the clock on the wall. Had it been enough time for KT to get to street level?
A rapid muttering outside the door of his hospital room preceded Agent Winston’s entrance. The dark-suited Alliance man had introduced himself right after KT left. The man’s gaze swept the room and settled on Peyton. “Captain Allers is secure.”
KT!
Peyton’s pulse spiked, making the machine beside his bed squawk in objection. A growl rumbled through his chest. He yanked the IV needle from the back of his hand and tossed it aside. When he pulled the sensors from his chest, another machine went into hysterics.
“Sir! Captain Allers. Calm down.” Agent Winston stepped forward and tried to stop Peyton from climbing out of the bed.
Mistake.
Peyton surged to his feet and landed a solid right that snapped the other man’s head back. To his credit, Agent Winston shook off the blow and caught Peyton’s fist before he could go for a second punch. With a hard, fast twist, he pulled Peyton’s arm around behind his back.
“Calm down, captain. They’re already gone.”
Peyton snarled. He braced his bare feet on the cold linoleum and tried to ease the man’s hold, but failed to gain any ground.
Max roiled under Peyton’s skin, furious . Hunt! Our female is in danger.
Peyton took a deep breath and growled at the agent. “Tell me what the hell’s going on.”
The man did not loosen his grip. “Someone hijacked the Marant limo and took off, with KT Marant inside.”
Peyton struggled to rein in his reaction. Hard to do when all he and Max wanted to do was tear out of the hospital and find KT.
Control! He snapped at Max. The jag settled with a snarl.
Peyton took a breath and tried to speak reasonably. “Release me, agent.”
“Not until
Patricia gave a little laugh accompanied by a deeper chuckle from Torne. “Threatening me? No, dear, why would he do that?” She reached out and stroked the back of her fingers along the angle of Torne’s jaw. “We’re partners.” She turned back to KT. “We’ll talk later. You look a little sleepy. Why don’t you relax and enjoy the ride?”
The strong scent of the air conditioning caught KT’s attention, and her hands curled into fists. Salison! Vaporized and pumped into the passenger compartment! Her nose crinkled as her vision darkened on the edges. Salison and some kind of sedative.
KT fought hard, trying to keep her metabolism ramped up to throw off the heaviness that weighed her limbs and eyelids. She could burn off any normal sedative in moments, but she suspected whatever they were pushing into the rear of the limo was more than just any sedative. The addition of salison to the cocktail further dampened her defenses.
Desperate, she pounded on the windows, knowing that the smoked glass would make it nearly impossible for anyone to see her. As the sedative worked its way through her system, her blows made less and less sound. Her hands dropped and she tilted sideways onto the cushions of the deep back seat, her vision blurring.
A tiny part of KT’s mind wondered why the fumes weren’t having any effect on Patricia or Torne. Then she noticed the thick black border around the edges of the glass separating the two compartments. Of course. They put something around it to seal the compartment.
KT fought to remain conscious, straining to follow Patricia and Torne’s conversation through the speakers but the words refused to form clearly, sounds swirling into a senseless din until the darkness closed around her completely and she was lost.
****
The sharp double tap of gunshots yanked Peyton out of a light doze. He sat up to stare at the window of his room, listening intently. The shrill squeal of rubber accompanied by blaring horns echoed off the walls of the buildings around the hospital, making it hard for him to determine direction.
Trouble! Max’s anxiety bristled against the skin at the back of Peyton’s neck.
Peyton glanced at the clock on the wall. Had it been enough time for KT to get to street level?
A rapid muttering outside the door of his hospital room preceded Agent Winston’s entrance. The dark-suited Alliance man had introduced himself right after KT left. The man’s gaze swept the room and settled on Peyton. “Captain Allers is secure.”
KT!
Peyton’s pulse spiked, making the machine beside his bed squawk in objection. A growl rumbled through his chest. He yanked the IV needle from the back of his hand and tossed it aside. When he pulled the sensors from his chest, another machine went into hysterics.
“Sir! Captain Allers. Calm down.” Agent Winston stepped forward and tried to stop Peyton from climbing out of the bed.
Mistake.
Peyton surged to his feet and landed a solid right that snapped the other man’s head back. To his credit, Agent Winston shook off the blow and caught Peyton’s fist before he could go for a second punch. With a hard, fast twist, he pulled Peyton’s arm around behind his back.
“Calm down, captain. They’re already gone.”
Peyton snarled. He braced his bare feet on the cold linoleum and tried to ease the man’s hold, but failed to gain any ground.
Max roiled under Peyton’s skin, furious . Hunt! Our female is in danger.
Peyton took a deep breath and growled at the agent. “Tell me what the hell’s going on.”
The man did not loosen his grip. “Someone hijacked the Marant limo and took off, with KT Marant inside.”
Peyton struggled to rein in his reaction. Hard to do when all he and Max wanted to do was tear out of the hospital and find KT.
Control! He snapped at Max. The jag settled with a snarl.
Peyton took a breath and tried to speak reasonably. “Release me, agent.”
“Not until
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