Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kylie
I’d won yesterday’s round, but I wouldn’t say it was a victory. Refusing that offer of a shower had sent Martin into a tailspin, but he’d come back refreshed and armed with something far more enticing than water.
“One of my associates is in Coyote Ridge today,” he said casually, as though he was talking about the weather.
Martin leaned against the door, his gaze on me. I wasn’t sure how he could stand to be in this room. The stench was unbearable even to me and I’d been living in it.
“He’s waiting for me to tell him who to grab.”
I swallowed hard, praying he was bluffing.
“Just tell me where she is, and I’ll call him up and tell him to move on.”
I stared at him.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and stared at the screen. I waited to see what he was going to do. I didn’t have to wait long.
Martin smiled, then turned the phone in my direction. I couldn’t make out what was on it, but I could tell it was a picture.
“All those kids on the playground,” he said, looking at the phone again. He studied it for a second, then pointed at the screen. “Right there. That’s Kate. She’s…” He brought the phone closer to his face. “It looks like she’s laughing and playing with another little girl.”
I forced a swallow as fear shot down my spine.
“Ah, there it is,” Martin said with a gleam in his eyes. “Why didn’t I think about this sooner? My threats didn’t seem to work, but apparently, sending someone to Coyote Ridge was a good idea.”
I glared, unwilling to voice the question hovering on the tip of my tongue. I was sure he would tell me anyway.
“Have I mentioned he’s really good at what he does? He’s from your small town. Did you know that?” he cackled. “God. If Travis only knew his own family was stabbing him in the back. What do you think he’d say?”
I thought back to the man who’d been with Allison. He’d looked familiar, but I’d never been able to place him. Unfortunately, my brain was too foggy to get a clear image.
“All he would need to do is go into that school, tell them there’s been a family emergency, and he will walk right out with Kate.”
A rough growl sounded in the space and I almost looked around to see what it was, but I realized it was coming from me.
Martin’s grin was feral. “Yes. Poor little Kate. She’s already endured one kidnapping. I wonder how she’ll handle the next one.”
“You leave my kids alone,” I hissed, my voice rough and broken from lack of use.
“You’d prefer I take Gage?” He peered around as though admiring the accommodations. “I wonder how long he would last chained up in a room like this.”
I growled again.
“Or perhaps Jessie? Although I’m not sure your sister’s as strong as you are. I doubt she’d last very long.”
“Leave. Them. Alone.”
“Then you’ll give me what I want?”
I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t know where my mother is.”
“I think you might know more than you realize.”
Well, I think you’re delusional. I kept that to myself and simply stared at him. “What do you want from me?”
“Answers.”
“To what?”
“My questions.”
“What questions? You know more about my mother than I do.”
“Then I guess you’re of no use to me anymore,” he said, standing up straight and turning for the door.
I bit the inside of my cheek, refusing to speak. I wanted him to promise to leave my family alone, but he knew he’d finally found the one tool that might work in his favor.
As though he knew what was going through my mind, he peered back over his shoulder. “Perhaps your sister or your father will have some information I can use.”
“No!” I tried to get up, but I was too weak. “You leave them alone!”
He flashed a sinister smile, but then walked out the door.
“I’ll talk!” I shouted, though my voice didn’t carry much. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know!”
Not that I had much to give him, but I would talk.
And if he wasn’t impressed with my answers, I could tell him off-the-wall, nonsensical stories.
After all, there were already points when my brain wandered so far off track that I felt as though the hallucinations were real. Surely I could convince him.
I didn’t like the bastard, but I loved my family, and I would do what was necessary to ensure their safety.
Unfortunately, Martin did not come back.