“I’m here,” Gerard repeated. “Let me talk to my son.”
“Uh-uh-uh. Not until I get the money.”
Brantley glanced at Reese, wondering if they’d already discussed an amount and they simply weren’t privy to it.
“How much do you want?”
Well, that answeredthatquestion.
“I think one million will be good.”
Gerard looked up at him and Brantley mouthed, “Proof of life.”
“I need to speak to Dante first. I’ll get your money,” he tacked on quickly, “but I need to know Dante’s alive.”
“Oh, he’s alive. In a little bit of pain, but he’s alive.” Another demonic laugh.
Katrina sobbed in response and Corinne held her mother tighter.
“Let me talk to him.”
“I don’t think you’re in any position to make demands,” the caller countered.
Gerard’s eyes were pleading when he looked up at Brantley this time. He mouthed the words again. They had to have proof of life before they could agree to any demands.
“How do I know you haven’t”—Gerard swallowed hard, his eyes slamming closed as he spit out the rest of the words—“killed him yet?”
“Fine.”
There was some rustling, and a second later, Dante’s pained voice came on the phone.
“Mom? Dad?” His words were slurred, and Brantley didn’t think it was all for show.
“Dante!” Katrina cried out.
“Are you all right?” Gerard asked, keeping his cool. “Have they hurt you?”
“I’m okay, Dad.”
“That’s enough!” the original caller shouted, clearly having taken the phone back. “Now you’ve got two hours to get me the money.”
Brantley shook his head, then mouthed for him to ask for more time.
“I…” Gerard inhaled. “It’ll take me longer to get that much money together. It’s a holiday. The banks are all closed.”
“Good point.”
Brantley shot a look at Reese. Seriously? The guy sounded sincerely baffled, as though hadn’t considered today was a holiday. Who the fuck was this idiot?
“I’ll get it, I swear to you,” Gerard added in a rush. “I just need a little time.”
“So you can get it today?”
Brantley was dumbfounded by this true moron. How the fuck did he get through the day on his own? Clearly not a criminal mastermind.
“I can, yes,” Gerard blurted.
Brantley closed his eyes so the governor couldn’t see him rolling them. They could’ve bought time until tomorrow if he hadn’t said that.
