Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
There was only one problem with the scenario. “They don’t want you as a hostage, love. They want you dead so you can’t testify against their boss. So no, we’re not exchanging you.”
“I can be very charming,” she replied, her shoulders straightening like she was actually getting ready to walk right into danger and expect to come out on the other side. Because she was charming.
Keeping her alive was going to be a full-time job.
“You are, my darlin. You are the most charming woman alive besides your sainted mother, but I think in this case, we should try to take the fuckers out before they lay hands on you.” Her father was suddenly the voice of reason.
“Da, we can’t let them take Devi.” Daisy’s voice wavered.
“Her mother is already on her way, and Boomer happened to be in the club tonight so he’s got a high-powered rifle, and I assure you he only needs one shot,” Liam explained. “However, we’re going to have to start the timer or I worry they might kill her and try again later. I can’t imagine Devi’s being charming right now. She’s probably proving she’s Erin Taggart’s daughter and giving them hell.”
“She fought hard,” Brody said over the line. “They roughed her up but good. However, she was alive when they put her in the van. Oh, wow, we’ve got incoming. Erin’s moving around the back. She’s clinging to the shadows. I don’t think they can see her. She’s in.”
Erin Taggart strode into the room wearing an overcoat that absolutely did not fit her. She’d been playing at Sanctum so there was probably some fet wear under the men’s jacket. She’d tugged on a pair of sneakers, too. “Li, where’s my girl?”
“Brody’s got eyes on a van across the street. They took her in there,” Liam explained.
Erin simply nodded. “We need to get her out of the van. It’s too close quarters to start a fight there. Have they contacted you?”
“They’re trying to call right now,” Daisy said, holding up her phone.
“Damn it.” Erin’s jaw tightened. “We need a couple of minutes to put people in place. Theo’s having to move around the long way so they don’t see him. Ian’s with him. Brody, contact Big Tag and let him know they need to be behind the van.”
“On it,” his father said over the cell.
Nate could see the battlefield in his mind. One of the first things he’d done when he and Daisy had moved in was study the area around them. When her uncles came to visit, he would take a jog. Those long sessions were more about becoming acquainted with the area than actual exercise.
He was getting plenty of workouts because his Daisy was insatiable.
“So Theo and Big Tag come in from behind.” He could see them moving into position. “We need the targets in the courtyard.”
Erin nodded. “Boomer told me the courtyard would be perfect. He has an unobstructed view from the west side of Sanctum if they’re in the courtyard.”
“Li, I think you and Erin should ease out the front and stay in the shadows around the parking lot,” his father explained. “Nate and I can use the west side exit to come around on either side of the building, and then they would be in a nice trap. Even if Boomer can’t take them, they would be facing six of us, and there won’t be any place to run.”
His gut tightened. “How would we get them into place?”
He knew what was coming.
Daisy’s eyes lit up. “Me. I’m bait.” She actually smiled. “I think I can be good at this.”
Her cell trilled again.
“You’re going to have to answer them, sweetie,” Erin said, her voice tight. “If you can hold them off even for a few minutes, it will be so helpful.”
“So answer them but don’t answer them.” Daisy nodded and then slid her finger across the screen to answer the call. “Hello? Excuse me, who is this?” She giggled. “Sure, Hunter. Try again. Like you don’t try to scare me all the time. I’m not some ditz who falls for it.” She hung up. “That should buy us a minute or two. And I promise I can word salad them for a long time.”
“Excellent, then maybe you won’t have to be bait,” Nate pointed out.
“Daisy, I know I shouldn’t ask this of you, but they’re going to have guns on Devi,” Erin began.
Liam puffed up a little. “Now, Erin…”
“We can handle it without risking Daisy,” Nate assured them.
“But this is all about me,” Daisy argued.
“I’m worried about how close they’ll keep Devi to them. If Boomer can’t get a shot or if we end up in a standoff…” Erin began.
“Devi could get killed.” Daisy shook her head. “I’m not letting anything happen to Devi.”
“You’re not allowing anything at all, girl,” her father announced.