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That was his one and only concern—her safety—because if anything happened to her, he’d never forgive himself, since he’d been the one to start this particular war Once he’d ensured her freedo situation, then all hell could and would break loose Reinforceood fifteen- the calls that would ensure he’d have backup, but Maddux kne careful and judicious a SWAT teae situation, and he wasn’t in the otiation that probably wouldn’t happen anyway

Arriving at the address, he parked his car in the driveway, got out of his vehicle, and made his way to the front door The entire front of the house was pitch-dark, and the curtains were drawn across all the hich made it look as if no one was home He rapped his knuckles three times on the door

“It’s Maddux,” he said, and a few seconds later, a direeting hiun pointed at his chest

It took every ounce of control that Maddux possessed not to bu linebacker—there was no doubt in his hed hi what the situation was inside the house, and with Gavin holding a deadly weapon, Maddux needed to be set himself and Arabella out of this alive

“Nice to know that chivalry isn’t dead,” Gavin mocked, a twisted smile on his lips “Now lift your shirt and turn around so I canany kind of weapon Then pull up your pant legs, too”

At least he was being thorough, Maddux thought, as he showed the other man what he wanted to see He’d expected the search and had brought nothing with hith Gavin was no match for

Once Gavin was satisfied that Maddux was clean, he opened the door wider andhis pistol trained on Maddux froht and relocked the front door

“Madduxno,” Arabella said, drawing his attention to the adjoining living room, where she and her father sat on two chairs with their hands and feet secured “You shouldn’t have co you and us”

The sound of Arabella’s choked voice gripped Maddux, along with the fact that she’d been willing to risk her own life to save his with her warning that this was a trap It took effort not to react to that fear and anguish in her voice, to reassure her that everything was going to be just fine Right now, he needed every single bit of his concentration on Gavin and finding the right opportunity to take him down

“I can’t say that Arabella is wrong Unfortunately, none of you are walking out of here alive tonight” Gavin nodded tohere Arabella and Theodore were tied up “Come on over here, where I can keep a better eye on all of you until I decide whose life I want to end first”

And shockingly, one of those lives he wanted to cut short included Theodore, and Maddux couldn’t help but wonder how the olderend of Gavin’s h, the hows and whys didn’t matter

Crossing to the living room, Maddux deliberately positioned himself a few feet away fro himself to look at her, because he knew if he looked into her eyes and witnessed her terror and despair for hiut him, and he couldn’t afford the distraction He saw a bottle of whiskey on a nearby table, a quarter of its contents gone, and hoped Gavin had stupidly consumed the alcohol, which would make his reflexes not as sharp or precise

“I’ his gaze trained on Gavin and wanting the other man’s attention solely on hio”

Gavin laughed, though the sound lacked any huo Theodore and Arabella are nothingto die, because with you no longer poking your nose where it doesn’t belong, Addingwell Financial will remain as it is”

Maddux arched a sardonic brow “A front for organized crime?”