Chapter Thirty-Four
“Don’t move.”
The old farmhouse was eerily quiet.
Aasia grabbed Phoebe’s hand, feeling the trembling.
“It’ll be okay,” Aasia whispered. She wished she believed her own words.
When she and Phoebe came home, they had no idea someone was lurking inside, waiting.
Aasia had always disliked Bentley’s campaign manager, Fitsgerald.
Now she knew why he made her skin crawl.
She took a step-in front of Phoebe.
“You never did listen. I said don’t move.” His tone was sharp and low.
The pistol in his hand looked steady, like he’d done this before.
“Why are you here? What do you want?” Aasia asked, although she could already guess.
Fitsgerald didn’t answer.
Her heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears. Her entire body ached. She tried to fight the panic, but it consumed her. Not as much for herself but for her sister.
Thunder boomed above the farmhouse, making her jump.
“Please let my sister go. I’ll do whatever you ask,” Aasia pleaded.
“Shut up and listen.”
The man’s face appeared cold and harsh. He’d been in the rain because his clothes were dripping wet. Mud covered his boots. His eyes were restless as they flicked from Aasia to Phoebe as if he hadn’t any idea there would be two sisters.
Aasia took a deep breath.
Pedora was at church.
Aasia hadn’t been in contact with Bear in days.
And Phoebe had been ignoring messages from Grimes.
They were screwed.
Don’t panic. Don’t scream. Be smart.
“Tell me what you want.” Oddly, Aasia managed to sound in control.
His gaze snapped to her. “I ask the questions.”
She heard Phoebe’s whimper.
When she was a kid Aasia always took care of her. But this wasn’t a scraped knee or a breakup with a boy. They were being held at gunpoint.
The gun shifted. “Where’s the aunt?”
“She’s at church.”
He stared at her as if he was debating whether he could trust her.
“Don’t lie to me. There are consequences for lying.”
Aasia’s blood ran cold. “I’m not. You can read the note for yourself. It’s on the desk.” She jutted her chin.
Fitsgerald took a step back and searched the top of the desk. He read the note, satisfied.
Maybe not satisfied, but relieved.
“Does Bentley know you’re here?” She needed to know the truth.
“Shut up!” he barked.
“No, I won’t! I demand that you tell me why you’re here and if Bentley is part of this.”
“Aasia!” Phoebe whispered.
“I’m cleaning up his mess because he doesn’t have the balls to do it himself.
I’ve spent the last five years creating a political figure in Fletcher.
I will not see him miss his opportunity.
If I go down to save him then I will. He is only a small piece of the plan.
” He stepped over to the window and pulled back the curtain.
He a step toward Aasia, waving the gun. “Where is the information from the lab?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She dared play dumb.
“I’m about done with this,” he seethed. “Where is the data?”
The rain grew louder and then hail pelted the tin roof. The wind became so strong it rattled the windows.
Aasia’s chest rose and fell. “I’ll tell you if you let my sister go.”
He snickered. “Do you not see the gun? I’m the one who makes the rules.”
“Leave her out of this.”
“I’m not leaving you,” Phoebe said. “I’ll show you where they are.”
Aasia stiffened. Phoebe didn’t have a clue what information Fitsgerald wanted. This was a dangerous game. “Stop, Phoebe.”
For one second, he almost looked amused.
Aasia’s phone vibrated from the coffee table. She wasn’t close enough to see who called.
A loud crack sounded outside followed by everything going dark.
The electric had gone out.
Aasia knew they needed to act fast.
She pulled Phoebe along as they ran for the kitchen and the back door. She heard the heavy thudding of Fitsgerald’s steps coming in their direction at a fast pace.
The lights flickered.
Oh no.
The electric was trying to come back on.
She felt a beefy hand clamp around her wrist then he twisted her arm behind her back.
“Run,” Aasia yelled. “Think of the baby. You must go!” Aasia resisted against Fitsgerald’s hold but it was useless.
Rustling sounded. Feet thudded. Then the screech of the door sounded just as the lights restored. Phoebe was gone.
Thank God!
Blood drained from Aasia’s body when she was thrown hard against the table. She tried to escape, but he was faster. He had her in his grip before she made it to the door.
Her pulse thundered.
“You don’t want to do this. Take whatever you came for then go.” She wished her voice didn’t give away how frightened she was.
“Give me the MedLabOne information or I’ll blow your brains out right here.” His grip tightened.
“Hey, asshole!”
Aasia almost choked on her saliva at the sound of Phoebe’s voice.
Fitsgerald loosened his grip but only slightly as he lifted his chin. Phoebe brought the sharp edge of the fire poker down onto his hand, sending the pistol skidding across the floor. He was strong and grabbed the poker, pulling it from her grip.
Aasia wouldn’t let anything happen to her sister.
She picked up the heavy vase from the table, spilling the flowers and water, as she hit Fitsgerald over the head. He looked at her in a haze and then he fell face first on the floor.
“Run!” Aasia screamed.
They bolted for the front door.
Phoebe threw open the front door...
She ran into a pair of awaiting arms. Grimes was on the porch, his gun drawn. Echo and Sin were moving around the back, their guns drawn too. Sharp raced upon the porch. “Is everyone okay?”
“I’m fine,” Aasia said. “Now.”
She searched for Bear and didn’t see him.
“Are you okay?” Grimes searched Phoebe with a concerned expression.
“The man…he’s inside. He has a gun,” Phoebe said through pants of breath.
“You two jump in my truck. The keys are in it. Drive to Sharp and CaDee’s and wait there.” Grimes headed into the house behind Sharp.
“Come on.” Aasia grabbed Phoebe’s hand pulling her into the wet grass.
“But Grimes is in danger.” She looked back.
“He can handle this. He has Echo and Sin to help. We’re leaving. You have to think of you and the baby.”
Once they were in the truck, Aasia could feel her adrenaline start to relax.
“I think I love him,” Phoebe whispered.
“Grimes?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?” Aasia turned on the wipers on high as they pulled onto the dark road.
“Yes. You love Bear, don’t you?”
“Oh shoot. My phone. It’s at the farmhouse,” Aasia said
“Are you dodging my question?”
“This isn’t the time to discuss this.”
“It’s the best time to discuss it. We were just almost killed.” Phoebe’s voice shook.
“Are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?” Aasia glanced over at Phoebe who had her face buried in her palms. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“No, no.” Phoebe lifted her head. “I’m okay. I’m pregnant.”
“Yes, we’ve established this.” Aasia was starting to worry.
“When I saw that man’s gun, all I could think was how do I save my baby. That’s all that mattered, and you. I can’t lose either of you. And Grimes. He’s a good guy. He really is. Life has a way of surprising us with things we never knew we needed.”
Aasia reached over and took Phoebe’s hand. “You wont lose me. Or the baby. It sounds to me like you know what you want, and I’m so happy for you.”