And Drew found his own gun shoved at his temple. “That’s not the way this works,” Carl snapped. One of Carl’s hands still held the phone. The other held the gun.
“Tell your sisters that you love them, Stone, and then they can walk away.”
Kim and Heather were behind Paige. They looked scared, but unharmed.
“Drew?” Paige whispered as more tears slid down her cheeks. “What’s happening?” Pretty little Paige. She looked just like their mother. That long, blond hair. The big, blue eyes.
Drew looked like their father. A constant reminder of the man who’d left them. Who’d let them all down.
“You’re going to be safe.” His voice was cold and flat. The rage was buried as deep inside as it could go. “Just walk out through the front door, go past that fence and you’ll be fine.”
But Paige shook her head. “You’re coming, too?”
No. He wasn’t leaving. Not yet.
“The agent doesn’t go, honey,” Carl cut in. “Not yet.”
“I’m not leaving you—” Paige began.
“Then you can die.” Carl motioned toward one of his men. The man lifted his gun.
“No!” Tina screamed. “That wasn’t the deal. You can’t kill them!” She’d rushed toward Drew’s sisters. And she put herself right in front of the gun. “Let them go. Let them walk out of here.”
Her chest was heaving. Her voice trembling. Fear brightened her eyes and flushed her cheeks.
She was the most beautiful thing Drew had ever seen.
Carl smiled. “Right. You’re the one we want...” He waved toward the door. “Go,” he said to Paige and the others. “Before you’re dead on the floor.”
Kim and Heather dragged Paige toward the door. When they crossed the threshold, when they were clear outside, Drew exhaled slowly.
Alive.
He knew that Dylan, Gunner and Logan would make sure they stayed that way.
The door closed behind them.
“Now it’s your turn,” Carl said. He took a step back from Drew. What? The better to aim?
Drew kept his muscles loose. His legs were braced apart, his hands at his sides. He’d attack as soon as the moment was right.
Carl backed up. One step. Another. Then he had his gun at Tina’s head.
“All right, boss,” Carl said into the phone. “Are you ready for me to pull the trigger?”
* * *
ANTON STARED INTO Mercer’s eyes. How long had he waited for this moment? And it was everything that he’d hoped it would be.
“Tell your man to stand down,” Mercer ordered him.
As if Mercer had the power to give him orders.
“Is the agent still there?” Anton asked softly. “Can he see Tina Jamison very clearly?” Because the agent would need a good, up-close view of what was coming.
“Yes,” Carl replied.
Carl. Such a useful man. They both shared a love of pain. This would be a wonderful moment. “Don’t pull the trigger, Carl.”