Maybe he’d have felt this way if it was any other innocent in there at the mercy of a dangerous man with a gun. But Kira was under his skin. Without him realizing, he’d fallen for her.
He wanted her in his life. Wanted to take her to dinner, to a movie—all those things he’d said to her. But not just so they could be dating.
He wanted more.
He wanted it all.
Lord, I need her back. You’re the one who needs to rescue her. If not me, then someone else You use. But use me, Lord. Help me bring justice to this situation. Your justice.
His thoughts rambled through some more of the prayer, and he let it keep going. Circling around thoughts and ideas, interceding on her behalf with the One who had the power to resolve this situation without any more bloodshed.
That was the key here, wasn’t it?
No one else had to die.
Luca cleared his throat. “Stuart has information.”
Mike and Rutherford both glanced at him.
He continued, “He was probably paid, or he made a deal, and that’s the reason he tried to kill Jenkins before. He’s doing this now for the same reason. So he can finish the job. We need him alive so he can tell us who it is that hired him or forced him to do this.”
Rutherford frowned. “We have no idea how this is going to go down. You can’t make demands on how it shakes out.”
“But you’re going to do your utmost to keep Kira safe.”
The guy’s eyes flared, reacting to how Luca used her name. “Of course.”
“Then at least try and do the same with Stuart,” he said. “That’s all I’m asking.”
A couple of officers in SWAT gear came through the scanner. It flashed, but the audible alarm didn’t sound. “Ready, Lieutenant.”
Mike said to him, “We’ll do what we can.”
Luca nodded, not wanting to talk about this anymore when they were about to breach. He prayed silently while they made their way down the hall, and tagged on the end of the group. No one needed to worry about him. He still wasn’t armed.
He just wanted to be there when they brought out Kira.
Up at the front of the line, one of the SWAT guys nodded to another. They hammered once over the handle, the blow taking out a chunk of the door that included the lock. The officer tossed a canister into the room.
A deafening bang and the brightest light Luca had seen exploded in the space. The line of cops rushed into the room, yelling over the ringing in Luca’s ears.
He thought he heard a gunshot, but wasn’t sure.
Luca followed them and saw Stuart get thrown to the ground and subdued. His brother had his hands on his head, his fingers laced together.
The officer pushed the back of his knees, and Amir went down to a kneeling position.
Kira stood with her back to the wall, her face far too pale and her eyes dark and wide. She glanced around, her gaze not quite settling on anything. Shock suffused her features.
Luca went to her, gathering her up in his arms.
She didn’t resist. Her arms snaked around his waist. Luca held her close and looked at Amir, watching as his brother was cuffed. Stuart yelled at them, resisting, so that it took multiple officers to hold him down.
Amir nodded. He’d been here, and he knew Kira meant something to Luca. He knew and he’d come into the infirmary to protect her. Luca returned the nod, mouthing Thank you to his brother. The officer saw it, but still Mike took over handling Amir’s arrest.
“Come on.” Luca led Kira to the door and out into the hall. “Let’s get out of here.”
He held on to her, one arm around her waist and the other holding her arm.