I stared at the frozen frame of her looking up at the camera.I knew exactly what she thought --If I leave, he’ll let them live.I also knew she was wrong.
My hand already had my phone before the thought fully formed.
“Ace --” General snapped.
I put in Mercer’s number and hit dial.
Shouts erupted.Atilla moved toward me to take the phone.Spade swore.Rebel cursed my sanity.I turned away from all of them and put the call to my ear.
Mercer answered, every inch of his voice smug.
“You want me,” I said.“Not her.”
He didn’t speak at first.I let that silence stretch because I knew men like him.Power for them wasn’t the kill -- it was making somebody crawl.
“I trade myself for Marci,” I continued.“Set the place.Set the rules.She walks.”
He laughed.Long.Pleased.Then cut the laugh short.“You think noble sacrifices impress me?”
“No,” I said, steady.“You want a statement.Breaking me means more than breaking her.You already knew that.”
Quiet breathing.Consideration.Interest.
“Where?”I pushed.
“Old quarry off Highway Twelve,” he said.“You know it.”
“I know it.”
“Warehouses right across from it.Midnight.You come alone.No phone.No backup.No toys from your hacker.She waits there before you show.You take her place and we finish this.One sign of a lie, she pays.”
“I’ll be there.”
He hung up.
I lowered the phone.Silence hit harder than noise.
“You will not go alone,” Atilla said.
“I will.”
“Bullshit,” General snapped.“Mercer most likely set a trap and expects you to walk in.”
“If that’s the cost,” I said, “I pay it.She walks.”
Voices rose around me -- arguments, strategy, curses.I barely heard any of it.My mind already stood in the vicinity of the quarry, gravel under my boots, moon above my head, pistol to my temple or knife to my throat, whatever he wanted.
I didn’t care.
Marci walked into that car thinking she could save all of us.I refused to let her die in the belief that she was alone.
Midnight waited.
She’d come home, even if I didn’t.
Chapter Ten
Ace
