“Please, don’t cry.It won’t matter as long as we’re together,” he says.
“You’re not serious.”I shake my head, biting my lower lip to hold back tears.
Have all his words been recorded?My pulse spikes, but I keep my face still, afraid he’ll notice.His wide eyes stare into mine, and the grip on my arm makes me shudder.
“I’m serious.After this, we go far away and take all that money.Filthy rich, untouchable by law.I know some people who have already prepared everything.We’ll split it with them.”His enthusiasm is sharp, almost manic.
I’m stunned.Had he planned this all along?Even before he proposed?
“Let me be clear.You’ve been planning all this for a long time?If I accept your proposal, you’ll take all that illegal money and run away with me?”My voice catches, still holding back tears.
“Yes, baby.Relax.After this, we’ll have hundreds of millions.Peter won’t know the companies or money have been moved to my account.”
Alan laughs quietly, then goes back to the cupboard he had left.He searches for the items and hums.Eventually, he takes out a car key.
“Here you go.Come on.Get in the car now.”He snaps, pressing the remote.
I stand frozen, staring at him.My heart is racing.This is the moment I stop.They’ve all got the confession they need.My mission is complete.Time to pull the trigger.
“No, Clark.I should have rejected you outright back atWhitehill Academy.”Safe word.I hope Laird hears it and comes to rescue me from the monster in front of me.
“What do you mean, honey?”He stammers at the mention of his old name.
“If I’d known you’d become a psychopath this obsessed with me, willing to go to any lengths, even illegal ones like this, I would have never given you any mercy.”I shake my head.
“Baby, please don’t talk like that.We have to leave now.”He moves to grab my hand, but I back away, hopping and limping to avoid him.
“No.Get away from me.”I pull my hand free.
“But—”
The door behind me bursts open.I turn, hoping to see a hero in shining armor, Laird.My chest leaps.
“Alan, step away or I’ll shoot her,” a voice says.
No.The voice is wrong, not Laird’s cadence, not his accent.Before I can move, a rough hand clamps my throat and something cold presses to my temple.My breath stops.The world narrows to a metallic tang and an overwhelming perfume that stings my nose.
31
Under Arrest
Laird
Ipound on the door of the van where we all are sitting.How can we all relax inside the car while Amy is hurting Fenella?Her heavy breathing and Amy’s roar crackle through the receiver, convincing me she’s in trouble.This has gone way too far.
“Amy already confessed, right?What the fuck are you waiting for?Arrest them now.”My voice growls at Golden.
“Fenella is still holding on, Laird.We wait until she says the safe word.She knows her own limits.”The old man lifts a hand to calm me.
“If you don’t help her now, I’m going in.”My eyes narrow, my voice dropping into a real threat.
“Laird, if you go in now, you ruin everything we’ve built.Fenella is fighting in there.All you need to do is stand back and wait for her to say that safe word.”His voice is tight with pressure.
I groan in frustration.My hands squeeze the back of my neck to keep myself together.All I want right now is to sprint inside and save Fenella from Amy.
Amy used to bully her, and it’s happening again.There’s no way I can stop it.Fenella is in pain, so why won’t she say the safe word?What the hell is she waiting for?Why is she so stubborn about enduring this?
“Alan just entered the room,” the FBI commander says.
