Blindsided by Katy Lee Page B

here and threw him a pair of shackles he would do the honors. Until then, fists would have to subdue the man. Ethan took a punch to his solar plexus that bent him over. He used his hunched body to propel him into Franco’s.
    As the two went stumbling back into the wooden sideboard, glasses crashed in a tinkling cascade of destruction. Franco grabbed the front of Ethan’s shirt and bent him back over the table’s edge. He took a swing at Ethan’s jaw, sending his head off to his right.
    And bringing Roni into his view.
    The sight of her stunned him, a response he tended to have since the first time he’d studied her picture in her case file. He had to admit, though, she was more than just a pretty face, but now was not the time to dissect those thoughts.
    The Boss stood above Roni, a gun trained on that stunning face.
    The fight with Franco would also have to wait. Getting to Roni before Lyle Ramsey’s bullet found her took precedence.
    Ethan lifted himself onto the sideboard in one jump. His legs tucked up and kicked out, sending Franco flying and landing on the long dining room table with momentum. The man’s head collided with platters and smashed a vase before groans of pain monopolized his attention.
    “Lyle Ramsey!” Ethan spoke loud and clear, choosing the most powerful words to stop the man from shooting.
    They worked beautifully.
    The Boss jerked his head to send Ethan a scathing look.
    Ethan ignored it and stepped closer. “Yes, I know who you are. And so does every federal agent storming this atrocity as we speak. I’m sure by now they have everything they need on you to take you out of here in cuffs.”
    Ramsey turned the gun on Ethan—just as he’d hoped. Ethan didn’t wait a beat, but swung to his right at the same time his left hand reached for Ramsey’s inner gun arm. The gun went off, but Ethan expected that, as well. A step to his right before he reached for the weapon cleared him of the shot, and as his hand slammed into Ramsey’s arm, the gun came loose and flew up right into Ethan’s waiting right hand.
    In less than a second, he had the gun turned on Ramsey and an elbow jammed up into the man’s throat, bulldozing him straight back into the wall.
    “Go, Roni!” Ethan yelled. He hoped she would follow his orders this time. At this point, Pace had to be inside. He would take Roni in, for sure, and Ethan flinched at the thought. He had wanted to be the one, to assure she was treated well until the record could be set straight about her. Pace tended to run a bit hotheaded.
    But letting go of Ramsey was out of the question. He pinned the man to the wall. From the corners of his eyes he sought out Roni to make sure she listened to him this time and left the room.
    He spotted her crawling across the floor, reaching for something.
    “I said, go!” he yelled again.
    This time she jumped to her feet and ran from the room into the hall, her scarf and whatever else she had been after in her hand.
    No matter, she wouldn’t get far. Whatever it was would be confiscated as soon as Pace intercepted her.
    Please, Pace, go easy on her. But would Ethan’s word be enough to clear her? Guerra and Ramsey were sure to be tight-lipped. The only people who knew the truth were them and God, and Ethan knew God wouldn’t be helping out either.
    Ethan jammed his elbow harder into the man’s neck. His lips curled as he leaned in and said, “If I were you I would spill everything you know about Roni Spencer and who set her up. It just might make things go a little smoother for you.”
    “Never,” the man replied, his words gurgled in his closed throat.
    Then he smiled the sickest smile Ethan had ever seen and Ethan didn’t doubt his word.
    * * *
    Roni raced for the door that led down to the garage. The guards had hightailed it somewhere to save themselves. The coast was clear, but she couldn’t go anywhere until she found Maddie. The girl had gone to great lengths to produce a car key for Roni to escape