“I was so sure Maggie would sell.She was ancient and should have been relieved for me to make her such a generous offer for her land so she could retire in peace.”
Chelsea struggled not to show her scorn.She swallowed and said, “Aunt Maggie loved her place.”
“I promised my bosses it was in the bag.For the past year I’ve been pretending the company owns the land.All the designs are done and we’ve already sold a dozen properties.”
He really was in deep.
“I thought your mother would be glad to get rid of it, but no, she had to send you here.”
Chelsea shifted a little further away from him.“Do your bosses know what you’ve done now?”
He shook his head.“They can’t.If the authorities find out and bring attention to their legitimate business, I’m dead.”
It made sense if the construction company was owned by organised crime.
Johann turned to her, eyes begging.“Please, you have to sign it.You have to save me and my family.”
She kept her voice low, sympathetic.“I can’t sign it.Lilydale belongs to my mother.”Didn’t he realise the contract would never stand up in court if he coerced her signature?
“Ezra told me she’d transferred the property to you,” Johann growled, raising the knife.
Chelsea shrank back.“She might have.She was going to, but I didn’t think it would go through so quickly.”Her eyes didn’t stray from the knife, but she wanted one question answered.“How is Ezra involved?”
“I met him at a conference.When I discovered his connection with Lilydale, I thought he’d be able to convince your mother to sell.”
“Did he say she would?”
Johann shook his head.“Said it wasn’t up to him.”His disgust was clear.
A sliver of relief filled Chelsea.She would have hated to discover Ezra was more involved.It would have devastated her mother.
“Don’t put a date on it.That way if she hasn’t signed it over, we can put the correct date on later.”
Right.He wouldn’t let a little technicality like that stop him.She picked up the contract.“May I read it?”
“No!”he yelled.“You will sign it.You’ve caused me enough trouble as it is.”
Chelsea shrank back as he towered over her, fear making it hard to breathe.She needed space from him.“Could I have a pen?”She gestured to the one on a desk across the room.“And another glass of water?My head is spinning.”
If she spilled water on the contract, he’d have to print another copy.
And maybe give Ethan an opportunity to get to her.
Because she didn’t know what Johann would do to her after the contract was signed.
***
Ethan jogged the kilometre from the car to the development with his team and they split into two groups.One would go through the front door, and the other would monitor the back in case Johann somehow fled.
Ethan would like to see him try.
Heath crouched at the corner of the building and gestured for them to move into position.Dobby was watching the bush side, and Ethan was following Rhys and Noah into the building.It galled him not to go in first, but Rhys had argued if he went in last, he’d have the job of securing the hostage, which meant he would get to Chelsea first.
He agreed.
He crept under the nearest window and used his mirror to peer inside.Chelsea sat at a table on the opposite side of the building to him and Johann stood over her, brandishing a knife.
He wished he had a gun.Johann was too close, and no matter how fast they were, Chelsea would be in a vulnerable position if they burst in now.
