“I’ve been pulling your strings for longer than you can even imagine, Knox,” she snaps back. “And when they find out what you did to me, you’ll never see the sunlight again. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, assault—I wouldn’t count on it,” Jack says. “Get a tactical team over to Southeast Environmental Commission. Tear that building apart brick by brick if you have to, but find Tessa Lane.”
As soon as he hangs up, I turn to Bradyn. “Can we get there in time?” I ask, almost afraid to hear the answer.
“Pilot is fueled up and ready to go,” he replies.
Brenda laughs. “You’re going to be treated to one unforgettable show, Knox. I hope you enjoy it.”
Chapter 30
Tessa
The man pacing back and forth in front of me might as well be a deranged animal. He stares at the door with such anger, such frustration, that I can feel it even as his gaze is trained away from me.
My mouth is still duct-taped, my hands tied to the chair. But it’s not my bindings that have my heart racing or sweat beading along my skin.
It’s the vest strapped with explosives, weighing heavily on my chest.
I’m afraid to so much as take a deep breath but can do nothing except sit here and pray.
Pray for God to forgive me.
For Him to be with me.
For Him to save me.
And if that’s not His plan? I’ve made peace with it. But I do pray He saved Zane, Garrison, Weston, Ryker, and Sawyer. That they’re somehow not buried beneath tons of rubble or currently lying in a morgue.
“This is taking too long,” the man growls, then reaches into his pocket to withdraw his cell phone. After tapping on the screen, the phone begins to ring. The ringing stops…and it’s silence. “Where are you? You were supposed to be back over an hour ago. We need to get this moving.”
“Brenda can’t come to the phone right now,” a deep voice says. My heart leaps in my chest as the recognition is instant. Zane. He’s alive!
I try to make noises, but I don’t risk moving out of fear it’ll set off the bomb.
“Lieutenant Commander Zane Knox. Have to say, I expected you to sound a bit more muffled. Being buried under forty thousand tons of rubble and all that.”
“I should have known you were behind this, Martin,” he growls. “I’m honestly surprised to hear your voice, though. Since you should be living out the rest of your days in a windowless prison. Tell me, how’s the shoulder?”
“A lot better than your girlfriend’s is going to be when she’s blown to smithereens.”
Zane is quiet.
Tears stream down my cheeks.
“Let her go, and you’ll walk away from this a free man. I’ll see to it.”
“Now that’s quite a generous offer, Lieutenant Commander. Let me think on it. Ummm, no. Not interested.”
“You’re making a mistake,” Zane snarls through the phone. I can picture his expression, the anger…and the fear. Emotions I know are mirrored on my own.
Still, I close my eyes. Thank You, Lord. Thank You for saving him.
“No. You made the mistake. You never should have gotten involved. All of this could have been over six months ago. But, no, Zane Knox had to ride in as the White Knight prepared to save the innocent damsel. It would have been one life, and now it’ll be many. Their blood is on your hands. Tessa’s blood is on your hands.” He ends the call, then taps the screen again.
Seconds later, another voice comes on. “Markson.”
“Watch the perimeter. Zane Knox knows where we are. Brenda has been compromised.” The call ends, and he shoves his phone back into his pocket before turning toward me and withdrawing a knife. “Well, it looks like we’re going to have an audience for this one.” He grins, a sadistic smile that promises pain in the very near future. “It’s go time, Tessa Lane. I am sorry that you were dragged into this, but there really was no other way. Someone had to wear the vest, and given who you are to him, I figured it might as well be you.” He slices through my bindings, pockets the knife, then tugs me to my feet. I cry out, utterly terrified about what’s coming.
