Page 125 of Five Mountain Daddies

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Amelia’s house is still,but her car’s in the driveway. Vernon looks at me with a frown on his face. “You sure aboutthis?”

“I’m sure,” I say. “Did you findRoy?”

He nods. “He’s in the van with Ryan andPetey.”

“Good.” I take a breath. “Bring him in a few minutes after I go in,okay?”

“Gotit.”

“And make sure the guys know what to do. I don’t want any fuck-ups. No fucking violence. No guns going off.Okay?”

“Got it,” he says, sighing. “Right now, I sure do miss the fuckingmine.”

I grin at him and pat him on the shoulder. “Your job’s gonna get easier after this, Ipromise.”

“I hopeso.”

I grin at him one more time before getting out of his van and walking across thestreet.

My hearts being fast. I’m unarmed, with nothing in my pockets except for my phone. Vernon and the others all know the plan, and I catch sight of a few of them as they spreadout.

I head up the driveway alone. I walk up to the front door, up to possibly death, but I’m not thinking about that. The only thing on my mind is Amelia, and how I’m going to help get her out ofthis.

I hate Ingram with a burning passion that almost hurts me physically. The fact that he’d take Amelia like this and put her through more heartache just drives me insane. I don’t know what he’s doing to her in there, if he’s just holding her hostage or what, but I can’t think about it. I just get even more and more angry, until it threatens to spill overcompletely.

I take a deep breath when I reach the front door and I knock. A second later, the door swings open to reveal two guys in black suits, both of themarmed.

“You alone?” the one guy grunts. I don’t recognize him, but I do recognize TomSloan.

“I’m alone, Tom,” Isay.

Tom flinches. “Get the fuck in here,” hesays.

The guys pull me inside. They pat me down, but they don’t bother to take my phone, which is good. They push me back down the hallway, toward thekitchen.

“Look what we got,” Tom callsout.

Ingram stands next to Amelia, a big smile on his face. Amelia looks okay, like she hasn’t been hurt, but I can’t be sure. She has a cloth bag over her head and she’s making noises like she has a gag in her mouth. Her wrists are tied and her ankles are bound and she’s sitting on achair.

Ingram laughs. “You walked right in here, huh, Samuel?” He shakes his head. “You’re not toosmart.

“What are you doing, Ingram?” I ask him. “Why are you taking it sofar?”

He laughs again, eyes wide. “Taking it far? I should have gone further. But it’s not toolate.”

“Not too late? The board has the contract. We’re signing it and finishingthis.”

“No,” he says, nearly shouting the word. Some of the other guys flinch. “We’re going to negotiate a new contract right now. Or I’ll cut her pretty littlethroat.”

He whips the cloth bag off her head. She looks at me, wide-eyed with fear, but otherwise unhurt. I have to control myself, really rein in my anger, to keep from lashing out and hurtingsomeone.

“What do you think’s gonna happen now?” I askIngram.

“We’ll sit, we’ll talk. If you give me what I want, I’ll let Amelia gofree.”

I shake my head. “No. I think you’ll let her go free rightnow.”

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