Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
“No,” Zach practically shouted. “I’ll do it. I’ll get my mother here. Let Devi go with my brother. I’ll call her as soon as Devi’s gone.”
He looked to his brother. “I’m not leaving Kala here.”
The guard turned to Huisman. “You want me to stick my fingers in her eyes?”
While Huisman stared at his guard, Zach winked his way, and his hand came up to his waist as though highlighting the detonator he had there.
It was almost time. He wasn’t going to leave Kala, but a fight between them would be a distraction.
“And I’m not letting them blind my girlfriend,” Zach said. “You take her out of here. I’ll deal with Kala.”
“I think you should send Kala away,” Lena argued. “If you send her out, Taggart might stop looking. We need to regroup. I don’t like the fact that McKay is here. I think Taggart is here, too. He’s hiding.”
A crack bounced through the room, and Cooper realized it had been the sound of Huisman’s hand hitting Lena’s face. The psychologist put a palm to her cheek.
“I don’t need your voice, woman,” Huisman snarled, every word a dark threat. “As for you, you will do what I asked or I’ll be the one taking your eyes. Am I clear?”
The guard nodded and started to walk away.
“Follow him,” Huisman ordered another guard. “If he doesn’t do it, kill him.”
Now they were down to four guards. But they were running out of time.
Zach seemed ready to panic. “If you hurt her, all bets are off.”
“But she’ll be alive,” Huisman argued, pouring himself a glass of what looked like whiskey or bourbon. “Isn’t that the important thing? The poor girl. She’ll be upset to find out your love only extends to her eyes. However, it’s probably a better way to go. She’ll be utterly useless, like most women.”
“How dare you.” Lena had been frozen, but she started to move now. “After everything I did for you. You know what? Let’s see how you feel when I put that bitch out of her misery.”
She started after the guards.
Now he needed to get moving.
Huisman waved it all off. “The guards won’t let her. They have strict instructions to keep Kala Taggart alive. They’ll take care of Lena. I won’t call her a doctor. The amount of people trying to aggrandize themselves shocks me. Shall we have a drink while we wait for our prize?”
Zach looked Cooper’s way and nodded. His hand went to his waist. “Or I can show you what my mother can do.”
He pushed against his torso and the world started to explode. Light and heat blasted from behind them, the windows shattering in the rooms around them. He heard one of the guards scream, but Huisman stood there, glass in hand, perfectly comfortable with the chaos.
And the fucker smiled as though this all amused him.
“Get the women,” Zach yelled his way. “I’ll take care of this guy.”
Huisman reached into his pocket. “Oh, Captain Reed, did you think I wouldn’t have a backup plan? Though this was spectacular. I thank you. I assume now that this is to distract me while Taggart rides in. What a fun way to end this day.” He pressed down. “I have just begun a fire in the basement. Good luck getting them out. Or you can try to take me in. What will you choose?”
They didn’t have guns and there were still guards moving around. He had seconds, and he already knew what his choice was.
Cooper ran for the kitchen and hoped he got there in time.
* * * *
Every inch of her body ached as the guard slammed the door shut behind her.
At least the lights were on and she’d gotten a halfway decent look at the locking mechanism. It was one she’d dealt with before, and if she had the right tools and enough time, she might be able to get them out of here.
“Kala, I’m so sorry.” Devi knelt to help her up.
The guard stood on the other side of the door, staring down at them, a bank of monitors behind him. The security system had gotten an upgrade.
“You should behave now,” the guard said. “I’m taking a leak. Make yourselves comfy, ladies. You’re going to be here for a while.”
Not if Kala could help it. Of course, she had to get her arms functioning first. “You’re sorry? What are you sorry for, Devi? For ignoring my very reasonable advice and ditching the guard who could have avoided this for you? For probably getting Landon fired? For getting Eve shot? How about getting me tortured?”
Devi’s eyes closed briefly. “You do not hold back, cousin.”
“I never have.” Her teeth chattered, and she forced her jaw to close. She flexed her hands.
“I’m sorry for all of it,” Devi whispered. “Let me help you up.”
She shook her head. “I need a minute, and that’s probably all we have. Although I noticed he didn’t use the bathroom down here.”