I’m not an exceptionally violent person. Never have been.
I don’t believe in the death penalty. I cried when hunters killed Cecil the Lion, for god’s sake. But in this moment, right here, with my brother’s life on the line and my dog lying motionless and the man I love in jeopardy…
I could do it.
I know I could.
“Let go of my brother or I’ll kill him.” My words are flat, emotionless.
I’ve been spending too much time around Nate.
Cormack’s smile twitches wider. “I like you like this, Phoebe. You’re much feistier than I gave you credit for, in the beginning. I used to think you were just a dumb heiress.” His eyes narrow. “Now, I think you’re a dumb heiress with no sense of self-preservation.”
“Let him go,” I repeat.
“You wanna kill Petey? Go ahead.” Cormack shakes his head, amused. “He’s useless, anyway.”
Frack.
There goes my only bargaining chip.
Petey grunts and starts to shift. I press my heel down tighter and he goes still.
“This isn’t gonna go your way, Phoebe.” Cormack stares me down. “It only ends one way.” He sidles closer to Parker and I see my brother flinch when the gun digs into his skin. “You’ve got ten seconds to decide. Do I blow his brains out right here? Or are you going to move that heel?”
Frack. Frack. Frack.
Out of options. Out of time. My eyes cut to Parker for a fraction of a second.
“Phoebe, run!” His voice is pleading. “Don’t worry about me, just get the fuck out of here.”
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you.” Cormack adjusts his grip on the gun, pressing it more firmly against my brother’s temple. My heart skips a beat. “He’ll be dead before you make it two steps.”
“Go, Sweet P.” Parker’s voice breaks. “Don’t give this fucker what he wants.”
I ignore him, staring straight at Cormack.
“Take me,” I say, voice empty.
“No!” Parker yells instantly. “Fuck no, Phoebe.”
I don’t look at Parker. I can’t. If I look at him right now, I’ll fall apart.
“He’s injured. He won’t be a good hostage if he bleeds out before you get your ransom.” I swallow. “Take me instead.”
Cormack stares at me. “Maybe I’ll take you both. Or maybe I’ll put a bullet in your pretty little head instead, and leave you here for your boyfriend to find.”
I go completely still.
Cormack’s smile widens. “He’s been making life difficult for me. Asking lots of questions, digging into my past, talking to the FBI about me. Maybe I should make things difficult for him, too.”
My mind reels. “You don’t want to do that. My father won’t give Mac his cut if you kill either of us.”
“Maybe.” Cormack shrugs, as though he couldn’t care less either way. “Maybe not.”
“You’ll let my brother and Nate live. If I go with you, you’ll let them live.” The words are almost steady as they pass my lips. Almost. “I won’t fight you.”
“No!” Parker yells.
“Deal,” Cormack agrees, smiling at me. “Now step away from him and put your hands up.”
I look at my brother for a long moment before I comply.
“I love you,” I tell him, tears blurring my eyes. “Tell Nate….” I search for the right words as I listen to the guns firing fifty feet away and wonder if he’s even still alive. “Tell him…”
Tell him he’s the love of my life.
Parker’s eyes flash with something I have trouble deciphering.
“Tell him I’m sorry,” I finish lamely, trying not to let the tears escape.
“Phoebe, don’t do this!” Parker’s voice is anguished. “Sweet P!”
I close my eyes, take a deep breath, pull my heel from Petey’s temple, and lift my hands into the air.
***
No dank basements or rope-burn this time — that’s a positive, right?
Not that there are a lot of positives to being kidnapped. By the mob. For the second time in a week. But I’m trying to look on the bright side.