Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“No, wait! You have to believe me! I didn’t try to steal your money!” The guard tugged him over to where Tallie had been hanging and secured his hands over his head. “It’s all right there. You can see it in black and white.”
Once Rooks was secured, Sergei stepped in front of him. His face was completely void of expression as he looked directly at Rooks. But he wasn’t actually looking at Rooks. He was looking into the glasses.
Damn.
The fucker knew.
Hell, he’d known all along.
Sergei tilted his head slightly, a ghost of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “You can transfer the girl out front.”
Sergei’s face was filling most of the screen, but I could see the guard who was holding Tallie. Her body sprawled across his arms like a broken doll. He gave Sergei a nod, then started for the door.
I was still watching the guard when Sergei said, “I want my driver and my guard back. You have until midnight.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before adding, “Or there will be consequences.”
Then, before any of us could react, he reached up and pulled the glasses from Rooks’ face. The screen jolted, and you could hear Rooks call out, “Wait! Don’t!”
A sickening crunch echoed through the speakers, and then, the video feed went black. The only thing left was Rooks’ muffled voice, pleading, begging to be let go before the line went dead.
Silence.
I was still staring at the blank screen when Shep announced, “He’s coming out with Tallie.”
I looked up at the front door, and I held my breath as I watched the guard step outside with Tallie cradled in his arms. Her head was leaning back on his shoulder, and she was still out cold. Without saying a word to the others, I threw the truck into drive and gunned it toward the gate.
As soon as it opened, I punched the gas, barreling through before they could think twice. The guard barely had time to react before I was on him. I slammed the truck into park, threw the door open, and jumped out, closing the distance between us in seconds.
He hesitated for a second. Then, without a word, he carefully placed her in my arms. I exhaled sharply, adjusting her weight against me. She was warm, and her breathing was soft but steady. Whatever they had given her was still running through her system and keeping her under.
Grim got out, and I didn’t argue when he ordered, “Get in the back with her.”
I climbed into the truck and held Tallie against my chest. He was about to close the door when the guard stepped over and handed me a wad of letters and a set of car keys. “She’ll want these.”
“Where’s the car?”
“Around back.”
“I’ll get it.”
Shep got out and grabbed the keys, then rushed around back.
Grim got behind the wheel and slammed his door. Knowing he and Shep had things under control, I turned my complete attention to Tallie. I brushed a strand of hair from her face, checking for any sign that she was waking up, but nothing. She might’ve been out cold, but my girl was in my arms, and she was okay. That’s all that mattered.
Shep’s voice came from the front seat. “What are we gonna do about Rooks?”
At first, there was nothing but silence. Then, Grim shook his head and answered, “It’s too late for him. He made his own bed, and now, he’s gotta lay in it.”
Nothing else was said, so Shep tore out of there, leaving nothing but darkness and death in our wake.
22
TALLIE
Iwas floating, or at least, it felt like I was floating. My body felt completely weightless. I tried to fight it, but I was lost in a haze that kept pulling me under. Everything around me was a blur. Shadows were moving in and out, and voices were muffled like they were coming from underwater.
But then I heard him.
Holt.
His voice was raw, thick with something that felt like desperation and anger all wrapped into one. “What is this? What the fuck did they do to her?”
Someone said something, but I couldn’t make out of the words.
I could feel Holt’s arms around me. He was holding me against his chest, and I could feel his warmth seeping in, easing the cold emptiness that had taken me over. I wanted to reach for him and tell him I was okay. I wasn’t sure that was true.
I couldn’t tell.
Not that it mattered anyway.
Even if I wanted to reach for him, I couldn’t. My limbs wouldn’t cooperate. My tongue was heavy, and my thoughts were too slow to string together the words. I felt like I was swimming in complete darkness when I heard Holt whisper, “Damn it, Tallie. You scared the hell out of me.”