He turned cold eyes on her. “The sister. How nice to finally meet you face-to-face. But you’re mistaken, of course. I wasn’t threatened by a peon, low-level nobody who sold drugs on street corners.” He paused. “Nor am I bothered by a girl who couldn’t even make it through cop school.”
Gideon edged a few inches in front of Mackenzie. “Yes, you are. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble to take Aaron out and then try the same on Mackenzie. You wouldn’t expend that kind of energy unless you felt threatened.”
“Everything I do is to ensure the well-being of my daughter and Katie. I will not let anyone or anything impact them negatively.” Frank’s gaze riveted on Mackenzie. “You and your brother have been nothing but a stain on our lives. If I had been able to foresee the damage you’vecaused, I would have had your brother shot well before he set foot in Oakleaf and saved us all the aggravation.”
Mackenzie jerked forward, but Gideon clamped onto her wrist. The gunman clenched his weapon. Tension crackled the air. They needed to stall until he figured out what to do. Frank likely wouldn’t have them killed in front of his daughter and granddaughter. Like Cordelia said, he left the dirty work to other people.
Gideon flicked a glance to the rear hallway, the stairwell, the foyer leading to the front door, the French doors. Was there a way out? He had to find one.
“Stop it.” Cordelia’s body was rigid as she held her daughter. “I don’t want to hear any more. I’m taking Katie and we’re getting out of here.”
Frank morphed back into the cajoling father. “Honey, listen to reason. Oakleaf is on the brink of cataclysm. The roads are flooded, the dam’s partially failed, and the only way out is by helicopter.” He pointed to the roof. “Jake’s not going to disobey my orders again. I know where his wife is, and I included that information in the earlier message. He isn’t taking you anywhere unless we’re all three going together.” His tone was almost jolly.
The perfect family of three. Father, daughter, granddaughter.
Gideon’s brain churned up plan after plan. If they could reach it, would the front door be unlocked? If not, how long would it take him to get through it? The French doors would be easy to breach, but he couldn’t be certain they wouldn’t find themselves trapped in an enclosed patio or courtyard.
Keep him talking.
“You’re going to fly off with Cordelia and Katie,” Gideon said. “Where does that leave us?”
Frank gave him a disinterested look. “You know where. I warned you what would happen if you stayed. You stubbornly refused to save yourselves. Again, what happens to you isn’t my choice. It was yours. You should have chosen better.” He gestured to the red-haired man. “Cy, dispose of them after we take off. Take the boat on the landing and dump them somewhere. Doesn’t much matter where. The dam is going to collapse and the floodwaters will carry them away from the property. You’re free to leave from there.”
“No, Daddy.” Cordelia’s voice was barely a whisper. Katie began to whimper. “You can’t do that.”
“I’ll take care of everything, honey.” He held out his arms to Cordelia. “Let me carry the angel. You look so tired. We’ll go someplace warm. Wherever you want. This will all be over soon.”
Cordelia’s sob was swallowed up by a low boom that shook the floor.
“The dam!” the redheaded man shouted. “It’s busted.”
Gideon’s heart plummeted. Their time had run out and there was nowhere to hide from the destruction that was coming.
Eighteen
It feltas if the entire buildinghad been struck by an invisible explosion. A glass sculpture fell off its pedestal and thudded to the hardwood, splitting into three pieces.
Gideon spun to urge Cordelia and Mackenzie toward the stairs.Up!was all his brain could think. They had to get to the highest point possible.
Cy moved tentatively to stop them, but a roar filled the room, shaking the foundation with even more violence.
“Go!” Gideon shouted. “To the roof.”
“Cy ...” Frank started, but a barrage of water shattered the floor-to-ceiling windows and cascaded into the room. The surge took their feet out from under them.
Freezing water pummeled Gideon as he coughed out a mouthful of water and righted himself.
Zero hour. The dam had finally failed completely. They had minutes, maybe less. Mackenzie was already regaining her balance behind him. Cordelia lurched toward the stairs with a screaming Katie.
Frank’s henchman stood up with his gun in hand, watching in shock as the water rushed over his shins.
Seizing the moment, Gideon lunged. Cy’s gun went flying. Cy immediately sprang up again and readied his fist, but terror filled his expression. He didn’t want to die any more than they did.
Gideon jerked his chin at Cy. “You know there isn’t room in the chopper for everyone. Think your boss is going to let you aboard? No way. Are you so loyal that you’ll drown here so he can fly away to another of his mansions?”
Cy shot a look at Frank, who was clinging to the edge of a chair.
“You know what happens to people who defy me,” Frank thundered at Cy.
