Page 31 of Raider Unleashed

What the fuck was going on?

Her heart rate accelerated, making it difficult to catch a breath. Was help not coming?

Raider stopped in the middle of the great room and turned around. He looked at her and she gave a tiny shake of her head. Wells and Baker both looked at her as well. She didn’t know what to tell them. She had no answers and that was terrifying.

“If you’re looking at her to find out where the guys are who are going to swoop in and arrest us, then I’m afraid you’re out of luck.” Kasinski grinned. “No one is coming.”

Piper’s knees damn near gave out at his statement. She was trying to remain calm, but adrenaline hit her bloodstream like a wave and she was having a hard time keeping her hands from shaking.

“Yeah, we know all about little Miss ATF. Why the hell did you think you were here? A driver? We didn’t need a driver.” He stared at her. “But we do need you dead. You could identify me and we can’t have that.”

“Who is it?” Raider asked.

Kasinski turned the gun on him. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Who’s what?” Baker demanded. “What in the hell is going on?”

Piper kept her gaze on Kasinski. “Who is the crooked ATF agent? The only way any of this works is if someone with power is crooked. Someone who calls the shots. Fielding. It’s got to beFielding. He was at the warehouse which wouldn’t be his normal routine and he’s here. Also not normal. You work for Fielding.”

Kasinski’s smile bordered on demonic. “Never mind who I work for.”

Denlo frowned. “Let’s just shoot them now and go.”

Wells’s eyes grew large. He looked at Baker and the two of them backed up.

“Stop moving!” Denlo bellowed. His face was deep red and it wasn’t from sunburn. “I’m done with these idiots.” He straightened his arm to shoot but Kasinski held up a hand.

“We can’t shoot them just yet. He hasn’t called.” Kasinski quickly checked his phone. “We can’t do anything until he calls.”

“Why? Just shoot them and be done with this. I’m tired of this shit and my stomach is killing me. I had to eat gluten and I’m in pain.”

Kasinski laughed. “I don’t give a fuck about your eating habits. We kill them when he says. That’s how it works. Tie them up. There’s rope in the van.”

Denlo cursed a blue streak as he stormed outside toward the van.

Piper glanced at Raider. Any ideas he might have had, he was keeping to himself. They needed a way out. A plan. She couldn’t seem to focus though. The idea that Fielding was dirty was too mind-blowing. She took a few deep breaths and tried to center herself.

Denlo was back but he had no rope, only duct tape. “The rope is back at the bank.”

Kasinski shook his head. “Whatever.”

Denlo made them all sit down and tried to tape Baker’s wrists together behind his back but it was impossible. He just couldn’t get his wrists close enough to tape them. “Fucking fat pig,” Denlo growled.

He taped them together in front of Baker and then taped his ankles. He taped Wells’ hands behind his back and did his ankles as well. He had the two men lined up by the sofa.

“You,” he said pointing at Piper. “You sit here in the middle of the room.”

She did as she was told. Kasinski said nothing but he looked puzzled. When he caught her looking at him, he switched to looking bored.

“You,” he pointed at Raider. “Sit with your back to her.”

Raider did as he was told and then Denlo taped their hands together in one big mess. Then he taped their legs as well. He stood up and threw the tape across the room. “I’m going to the can,” he snarled as he stomped off.

Kasinski stashed his gun in his waistband. “If anyone starts talking, I’ll come in and tape your mouths shut.” He walked back to the kitchen out of sight.

Piper struggled against the tape but it was no use. Her wrists had been thoroughly immobilized.

“Raider,” she whispered. She and Raider were sideways in the middle of the room allowing her to keep watch on the corner by the kitchen for any signs of Kasinski. “Can you move at all?”

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