Page 60 of Desperate Vows

“Got it.”

“By the time they reach the top of the stairs, they’ll have an army to contend with.” Dimitris smiled.

We stepped inside, guns drawn.

Sure enough, an army poured through the back door and overtook the two guys who emerged from the basement. One I recognized as Jason’s guy waved at one of mine, and they took a left. They were taking care of the rest of the guys waiting to ambush us.

“I need to find Franklin.”

One of the guys being held laughed. “Franklin ain’t here.”

Clearly this fella didn’t understand loose lips and sunken ships. “Is that so?”

He realized his mistake, and his lips curled in. I nodded at the guy holding him, and the idiot was hauled to his feet.

Crossing the room, I holstered my weapon. This man was about two inches shorter than me and a bit bulkier. “Let me guess, you’re not talking.”

The guy smirked.

“It’s a little late to decide you’re not going to talk, don’t you think?”

He glared at me.

Dimitris sidled up next to me. “I mean, if he’s not going to talk, he’s got no need for a tongue.” He unsheathed a long knife tied to his thigh. “I’m sure he’s too tough to get scared of a little knife, though, right?”

Thea walked in. “We got the girls.” There was murder in her eyes. She reached me, looked at the guy, and smiled. “I’ve met men like you before. Everything’s big to compensate for the one thing that’s not.” My sister moved faster than I'd ever seen her move. I couldn’t have stopped her even if I wanted to. She whipped out a knife from somewhere around her chest region and buried it in the very appendage that she’d alluded to.

The blood-curdling scream silenced the room. He hit his knees and gasped for air. She grabbed him by the hair and wrenched his head back. “Where is Franklin?”

He was close to passing out. “Son…Son-in-law’s”

Thea looked at me with wide eyes. “Claire.”

It wasn’t just a firing squad. It was a distraction.

Franklin was at the condo. I knew there were guards and a security alarm.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and my heart sank to the floor.

“Jammers. They’ve got jammers. I have to go now.”

If I was too late…

The thought made it hard to breathe.

“Hold on, babe, I’m coming.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

CLAIRE

The kitchen island was between Franklin and me. The front door was wide open. All I needed was one chance.

“You thought your mother was miserable. Just wait until you’re chained in the basement.” He stopped a few feet away. “Poor Marco, he was so looking forward to playtime with Claire, but given his proclivities to being a little too rough, I can’t give him the opportunity to kill you.”

The blood drained into my toes.

“Which is too bad because all I want to do right now is choke the life from you.” He snarled. “I told my friends to make sure they keep Lucas alive. That’s my only comfort. I can take out all my anger on him. I think I’ll start with his eyes, then his lips, then his tongue, and,” he said, raking his eyes over me, “any other parts that have touched you. I’ll consider it a cleansing before I release him from this world.”

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