Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Hoodie silenced him with a glare.
“Do you need to piss or something?” he asked me.
“Yes,” I lied. “And I also wanted to tell you that whatever you’re getting paid, my brother will pay you a lot more.”
He shook his head as he unwrapped the wire binding my wrists.
“He’s a multimillionaire,” I said, my wrists burning. “Nate is just a small-time local insurance agent. Sawyer can pay you guys money that will change your lives.”
“I think we should listen to her,” Mustache said.
Hoodie ignored him, freeing my hands and ankles. I cringed as I saw the damage to the skin around my wrists.
“You assholes wrapped her too tight,” Hoodie said.
“I didn’t want her to get away,” someone said.
Two guns were pointed at me as Hoodie led me over to a large machine.
“Go behind there and piss,” he said. “Try to run and we’ll shoot you.”
“So you have no interest in more money?” I asked him. “I could call my brother now and it could be in your account within an hour.”
I could tell he was considering it. I didn’t want to spend Sawyer’s money, but if this worked, I knew he’d be okay with it.
Since I didn’t really have to pee, I went behind the massive machine that looked like an old printing press and took a few deep breaths. There had to be a way out of this. Or at least a way to buy time.
“You about done?” Hoodie asked.
“Yes.” I went back to where he stood. “Thanks for letting me pee. I can tell you’re a reasonable man.”
He scowled. “Don’t try to butter me up, lady.”
I sighed, feeling defeated. “Can you at least not put the wires back on? I’ll sit down and you guys can point your guns at me.”
“Yeah, whatever.” He gestured with his gun in the direction of my other captors.
I sat down in the dirt, grateful I at least still had my AirTag. It was starting to get darker, which meant it was probably close to five in the evening or so. Surely Sawyer would call the police and tell them where I was?
That was the smart play, but I had a bad feeling he’d show up here himself, with Kon. And knowing what I did about Kon’s past, I was afraid he’d come in here with guns—or fists—blazing. That was too risky. They needed to leave that part to the police.
We’d been sitting in silence for a few minutes when the sound of voices made all of us turn. I held my breath, hoping it was the police but doubting cops would carry on a conversation in a situation like this.
When the two men appeared, the knot in my stomach doubled in size. It was Nate and his brother, Eric.
“Hey, Lucy,” Nate said, grinning. “Fancy seeing you here.”
Asshole. I didn’t even look at him. His brother was a police officer who was risking his career to help his crooked sibling. I just hoped all of this would eventually catch up with both of them.
“We’ve got a big problem,” Nate said. “But I guess you already know that.”
I pressed my lips together, forcing away my urge to tell him what I was really thinking. I had to be smart. Maybe if I could make him think I was cooperating, he’d finally leave me alone.
“I’ll return the papers,” I offered. “Will that end all of this?”
He laughed and looked at his brother. “She’ll return the papers. Then everything will be fine, won’t it?”
Nate’s fist connected with my jaw before I even realized it was coming. I found myself flat on the ground with dirt in my mouth, my face throbbing with pain.
“Hey, man,” Mustache said. “You know who her brother is, right?”
“I don’t give a fuck about her brother,” Nate snarled.
“We’re going to need to renegotiate,” Hoodie said. “You didn’t tell us who her brother was. This job was a lot higher risk than we thought.”
“Talk to Max about that,” Eric said. “Our deal is with him.”
“Yeah, well Max isn’t here, is he?” Hoodie shot back.
“You want to go all hot shit on us, copper?” someone yelled. “We’ve got a hell of a lot more guns than you do.”
“Hey, take it easy,” Nate said. “I’ll double whatever Max promised you.”
“Double?” Hoodie laughed. “I’d rather take the hockey player’s money and let you two rot.”
Movement by some tarp-covered machinery nearby made me move the hair from my face so I could get a better view.
I squinted, trying to make out what I was seeing in the dim light of the warehouse. My heart raced when I made out the face crouched down next to a machine.
It was Kon. He was dressed in such dark clothing that I could only make out his face. He brought a finger to his lips, telling me to keep quiet.
Which, obviously, I would. I got back into a sitting position and nodded.