I wondered ifmy manmeant Callan or some degenerate she’s fucking who is helping her.
“I don’t know, angel. I’m thinking some blonde pussy will sweeten the deal.”
Bile swims up my throat.
“You’re getting the ransom money.” Gwen pushes herself in front of me. “And I’m getting my man back.”
She is actually insane because I can tell she believes it.
“I’m thinking I got the hard end of the bargain.” He swipes his fingers along her cheek, and not in a loving way.
While they’re distracted arguing, I remove my pods from my jacket pocket and pop them in Darcy’s ears. I lift one finger to my lips. I can’t play music without my cell, but at least it should muffle the conversation. I’m glad I bought the smallest ones on the market because they’re not noticeable unless you’re paying close attention, and Gwen is too drugged up to notice. “Daddy iscoming,” I whisper. “It will be okay. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“What did you say bitch?” Gwen yanks my head back, pressing her gun to my throat. “Daddyiscoming, but he’s not riding to the rescue if that’s what you think,” she snarls, pressing the muzzle into my neck. “Who do you think gave me the code to turn off the alarm?”
Smart, Callan. Very smart.It’s easier for him to creep up on Gwen when she’s not out in the open, and the interior cameras will fully capture the whole thing, meaning we have evidence to finally put her away for life.
“My baby called me the second he got my message,” Gwen prattles on, “and he can’t wait to see me again because he’s missed me so much. He’s at the bank getting Daddy’s money, and once you and that little bitch are dead, Callan will be all mine, just how it’s always meant to be.”
“Careful, angel.” Her dad pulls her away from me. “Don’t want that gun to go off before I’ve gotten my money.”
“You’d hurt your own daughter?” I ask to keep her talking.
“She stole him from me!”
“She was a baby, Gwen. An innocent little baby you used as a pawn.”
Darcy is still crying, but it’s quieter now, and she’s humming to herself and hopefully not hearing any of this conversation.
“Bet that kills you, doesn’t it?”
I can use this. “Yes. It hurts so much, but that was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”
76
ASTRID
Glee dances in her eyes as she sways on her feet. I might stand a chance of getting that gun away from her if I can free myself from the ropes. The tie on my left arm is loose, so I start trying to unravel it. Gwen is certifiably crazy and high, and I’m probably better waiting for Callan to show up, but I can’t do nothing. Not when his daughter’s life is on the line. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep us alive until he arrives.
“I saw him first, and he was always meant to be mine!” Mania replaces the delight on her face. She is legit insane. “I deserved him, not you! You got everything handed to you on a silver platter while I grew up with no parents, no money and a cripple for a grandmother.” She’s not disguising her hatred of me now. It literally oozes from her pores and shines clearly on her face. “Why the fuck didyouhave it so easy when life was such a struggle for me? And everyone thought you were sonice.So pretty. So kind.” She spits the words out like they’re poison. “Loaning the charity case your clothes and makeup. Looking down your nose at me.”
“I never did, Gwen. I helped you because you were my friend. Is that why you did it?”
“You had everything else. You weren’t taking him too.” She presses the gun into my chest. “The plan was always to steal him from you, and I thought of a way to ensure you two were over for good. It was worth the hell of being pregnant, but after you’re dead, she won’t serve a purpose any longer.” She swings the gun around, pressing it to the top of Darcy’s head, and my lungs constrict as fear washes over me.
Hurry, Callan. Please fucking hurry.
Darcy cries out, and the smell of ammonia fills the air as I work hard to increase the slack between my wrist and the rope, moving my wrist back and forth while trying not to move the rest of my body and give myself away.
“What the fuck?” Gwen stumbles back, staring at the trickle of urine seeping from under Darcy’s leggings. “The little bitch pissed herself.” She cackles, and rage thunders through me, but I lock it away because unleashing it could get us both killed.
I look at Darcy, and the need to protect her is riding me hard. Even if I don’t make it out of this, she has to. When she looks at me, her forlorn eyes wide with fear, I would do anything to keep her safe. A surge of love swells inside me, infusing me with determination.
Darcy is going to survive. I’ll take a bullet for her if I have to.
I try to reassure her with my eyes before I look away and focus all my energies on taking Gwen down with my words.
“He’s never gotten over you,” I lie, instantly reclaiming her attention. “I thought if I came back now, after all these years, he’d want me again, but he still wants you.”
