“The shot won’t kill her,” McClain said, “but it will encourage her to see things my way. It’s simple. When she signs the papers, she gets the second dose which counteracts the first.” Sarah stirred and McClain raised a brow. “I need her signature and I need it ASAP, but we’re going to have to take care of that in the plane.”

Sarah groaned and Donna jabbed her with the needle. Gavin hollered, ignored the weapon aimed at Sarah and lunged, catching the man in the stomach. The gun tumbled from his fingers and hit the concrete.

They stumbled backward while Donna screeched at them to stop. Gavin drew his fist back, pausing when the weapon fired again. The bullet whizzed past his face so close to his nose, he could almost smell it. He jerked back.

“Stop! I’ll kill her! Do you understand? I’ll kill her and you and everyone in here! Stop! Stop now!” Donna’s hysterical screams registered, and he stilled, his eyes going to Sarah. Awake, she met his gaze, confusion and fear mingled with sheer fury. She tried to roll to her feet and staggered. Fell on her backside.

McClain scooted backward, breathing hard and shooting black looks at him. He scrambled to his feet and snagged the gun from Donna. “Get up.” He gestured to Sarah, who simply looked at him. Her gaze shifted to Gavin, then finally landed on her father and her eyes flickered. She shook her head and narrowed her eyes. “General,” she whispered. She reached out a hand and moved, trying to get to her father.

“Pick her up,” McClain said. “We need to get out of here now.”

“What about the general?” Gavin asked, glancing at the wounded man. He lay still, eyes closed, but his chest rose and fell.

“Regrettable, but he’ll be staying here. Go. Out the door. And just in case you’re tempted to try something like that again, keep in mind that I’m the only one who can reverse the drug. Neutralize it, so to speak.”

Gavin lifted Sarah into his arms. She gave a whimper of protest and wiggled, her gaze fixed on her father.

He’d said something about a “cure” a few moments ago. “What are you talking about?” Gavin tightened his grip. “Hold on, Sarah, please.”

“T-64. The drug she was just injected with. I’m the only one who can offer an antidote.”

It had a name. T-64. The drug that had killed Sarah’s brother and so many others.

Gavin’s heart thudded, not with the effort of holding Sarah, but with the knowledge that she was going to soon suffer the effects of the drug. “There’s a cure?”

“Of course. Now go!”

Gavin could no longer stall. He stepped out of the room, sparing a backward glance at the general. The man lay still, bleeding, but still breathing.