She didn’t see a way out now without some kind of miracle. The old saying came to mind: Never bring a knife to a gun fight.
But if she could get close enough to him, she could disarm him again. Would he fall for that again? The blood dripping down his nose told her no.
Payton set the knife on the desk and slid it toward him. He’d think she was pushing it away, but it was just going to bring it closer to her when she was in front of him. “How did you know about it?” she asked, taking baby steps around the desk to face him.
He smiled at her without humor. “I know a lot of people. This isn’t that big of a base that secrets can stay hidden.”
“Just the important ones.” She couldn’t help the dig, but it was true. Her father was the master at keeping secrets hidden.
The corner of Simon’s eye twitched. That was the only indication her dig had struck. “Tell me what I want to know or you die.”
Payton remained silent. He should know her better than that. She’d never tell him anything. She’d take her secrets to the grave, just like her father.
Simon nodded in understanding. “So be it. I’ll get the information off the drive myself.”
Shit. The drive. It was two feet away from them in the USB port on Duke’s computer. The file was open for the world to see. Payton’s gaze fell on the monitor and then the tower the drive was plugged into. She couldn’t let him get it. She had to destroy it. Her father would understand. The information was better destroyed then in the hands of the enemy.
Payton had managed to make it close enough to Simon without him noticing. It gave her unobstructed access to charge Simon and keep him away from the computer.
Payton’s body tightened and braced like a snake coiled up ready to strike. She’d have to be just as fast as a snake strike. She probably couldn’t get out of being shot, but maybe she could take him down before he killed her.
Her knife was just to her right. If she could disarm him, she could get to her knife and subdue him. She didn’t want to kill him. Only if it came to life or death. The cop in her wanted him to pay for his crimes. Simon had a lot of blood on his hands. Her father deserved that justice.
Payton sprang forward just as a dark shadow came out of the darkness and knocked into the side of her, taking her down to the ground just as there was a flash of light and the shot of the gun.
Chapter 32
“Duke’s not answering his phone,” Colin called from behind him.
That wasn’t good. “Payton’s in trouble.” Alex all but ran down the hall to get back to Payton. The knot forming in his stomach had grown and felt as heavy as lead.
“I’ll call security.” Alex barely paid him any mind. Why was this hallway so fucking long? He felt like Payton was still miles away.
“Alex, wait,” Colin called after him but Alex refused. “Running in there without a plan or eyes on the situation isn’t going to help her. It’s going to get you killed.”
Alex knew that, but right now he was following his heart not his head. And his heart was telling him to pick up the pace and cursing his stupidity for leaving her side. Wessex was somewhere in the building. Whether he was one of the goons or the boss himself.
“Alex.” Colin tugged on his bicep to slow him down.
Alex didn’t want to, but he stopped and faced him. “What?” he snapped.
Colin didn’t cower in the face of Alex’s wrath. He was used to people yelling and snarling. “I know you’re worried. So am I, but you need to stop and take a breath. We need a plan. Charging in there like the Hulk isn’t a good plan.”
Alex wanted to say fuck a plan and go in guns blazing, but he knew that was a surefire way to get shot. He didn’t want to go in blind and get turned into Swiss cheese. Another thing, he didn’t know if Wessex was alone.
“You’re right.” It galled him to admit, but he needed to buckle down and get his shit together.
“I know. It’s a fault I’ve always had.” Colin grinned from ear to ear.
Smart ass.
“Wessex is likely already in the building and heading straight for Payton—if not already to her—and there’s only one way into that room.”
Colin nodded. “There are five rows of desks. Duke’s is the closest. There are no windows, only the door.”
“Are there any security cameras watching that room?” It would be nice to have eyes on the room.
“No, due to the high level of security information on those computers, there are no cameras.”