Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
“I’m coming out,” Tris said forcefully, raising his hands as he walked by Zach. “I can’t let them hurt Carys, and we don’t know who else they have.”
There were three “ladies” in the hotel tonight, and Aidan. His gut churned. Could they have killed Aidan? They would have to have found a way to drug Kala or she would fight until she killed them or they killed her.
How had it gone so wrong?
Because chaos was always the point. They’d played Huisman the way they would have played anyone else. Like he had things that mattered to him. Like he had things he loved and wouldn’t want to lose.
But what if chaos was all he cared about? Chaos and some revenge no sane person could understand.
Zach cursed behind him, and when Tris glanced back, he’d put the SIG on the counter and held his hands up. “We’re both coming out, and neither of us is armed.”
Tris went out the door first, though Zach tried to move in front of him. He couldn’t trust anyone. He was immediately faced with five men dressed all in black, each carrying a weapon. Two of them held handcuffs.
“Dr. Huisman requests the pleasure of your company.” The man in the middle seemed to be their leader. He was tall and lanky, his eyes predatory.
“Where is my fiancée?” Tris asked. “Let her go and I’ll tell you everything.”
A chuckle went through the group, and the leader shook his head. “You will tell Dr. Huisman everything anyway.” He glanced over to his left. “Prenez-les.”
Take them.
Before his fight instincts could take over there was a hissing sound and a sharp pain in his thigh. He heard Zach curse and realized two of the men carried tranquilizer guns. He recognized them because he’d recently been hit with one very similar. These assholes shopped at the same stores as his dad.
Tris felt the world go hazy and prayed he would be able to see them again.
* * * *
“I want someone to kill.” Big Tag paced like a tiger.
“I know, babe. Believe me, I know, but all Tasha could find were low-level employees who didn’t know anything.” Charlotte was trying to calm him down. “They worked fast. I think the manager has likely skipped town, but we’ll find him eventually.”
Carys and Kala had been gone by the time Aidan and Tasha had finally gotten through the entrance to the speakeasy. It had been completely shut down and locked up when they’d gotten there. The big bouncer who’d dressed like a twenties gangster had been absent from his post, and no one they asked knew anything beyond the bar closed at eleven. An hour or so before they’d entered it the first time.
Had Kala walked in when it was open, and they’d decided to use the opportunity? Then Carys had shown up like a lamb to slaughter.
Aidan felt useless. Lost. How could they be gone?
When they’d realized what had happened, they’d tried to call Tris and Zach, but cell service had been out and by the time they’d climbed the stairs to the suite—the elevator had mysteriously stopped working—all they’d been left with was luggage.
Someone had jammed service at precisely the right time. Tasha had to drive a mile and a half away before she’d managed to get her father on the phone to activate the trackers he had implanted in all of what he called his “puppies.” Tris, Kala, and Zach should have been trackable.
They’d gotten nothing.
“They must have pulled their trackers,” Lou said.
“Or they’re in range of a jammer.” Adam Miles had been on his laptop when they’d returned to the safe house. He had barely looked up. “They shut off CCTVs around the hotel, too. They just came back on.”
“Likely because Huisman has them wherever he wants them.” Kenzie paced, too, mirroring her father in so many ways. She’d been tense and shut down, none of her natural ebullience in evidence since she’d learned someone had kidnapped her twin and cousin.
Her father turned to her, his jaw tight. “You need to get upstairs. Parker could be here any minute. He knows Kara’s been taken. Won’t he be surprised when he sees you here?”
Kenzie’s chin came up in stubborn defiance. “Let him. I don’t care. My sister is in trouble. My cousin is in trouble. Hell, I’m worried about Tris and Zach because what’s going to happen when they realize Tris knows nothing and Zach is barely involved? They’ll kill Zach, but they’ll likely torture Tris.”
“Or torture Carys so Tris will talk.” It was the scenario playing through Aidan’s head. Carys being hurt over and over again for a secret Tris didn’t possess. “He’ll try to make up something, but they’ll figure out he’s lying.”
“It’ll take them time to verify whatever he tells them,” Big Tag said. “Tris is smart. He’ll come up with something. He’ll buy us some time.”