Page 39 of Cornered

Helen Bolin stood just inside the front door, her eyes wild, gun clutched in her right hand. The gun rested against Steph’s temple. Officers had closed in behind the woman, blocking her, but she had the upper hand at the moment.

Cole looked at Tate. “You heard all the commotion?”

“Yep. So did she.”

Cherry stepped forward, stopping only when Tate wouldn’t let her go any farther. “Please,” she whispered.

“You think you can talk her down?” James asked, a muscle jumping in his jaw.

“I don’t know. All I know is I have to try. You have to let me try.”

They didn’t let family negotiate with family except in extremely special situations. This might qualify.

“Cherry!”

Cole nodded to her.

“I’m here, Mom!”

At the sound of her daughter’s voice, the woman froze. Steph stayed perfectly still, her eyes searching. Finally, her gaze landed on Tate and almost instantly, the fear in her eyes lessened. He suppressed a shudder. She trusted him to get her out of this. Her family, James, was right there. Tate couldn’t let him watch his sister die. Live with the grief, the regrets, the what-ifs.Oh, God, help me...

He could hear Benji banging on his door. The father was quiet.

“Mom, please, don’t do this,” Cherry said. “You know Steph. Please.”

“Where are Gage and Benji?”

“They’re here. They’re just answering a few questions.”

“Don’t lie to me! Where are they? Get them out here.”

“They’re in the rooms here. Just answering some questions.”

Tate had to admit he was impressed with Cherry’s composure. He wouldn’t have thought she had it in her after the breakdown with Steph. Her gaze clung to his and her pulse thrummed visibly in her throat.

“I saw them get arrested,” Helen said. “I want them released! Now! Or I’m going to start shooting people. Starting with this one!”

Steph closed her eyes and Tate’s breath hitched.

“No, Mom! She’s my friend!”

Cherry broke away from Tate and rushed toward the lobby.

“Stop!” Tate yelled.

She stopped several feet from her mother and Steph. Tate and the nearby officers held their fire. The officers at the glass doors behind Helen and Steph wouldn’t shoot for fear of the bullet going through Helen and into Steph. A head shot from a sniper could cause her to jerk her finger in reflex and send a bullet into Steph’s brain.

Panic swirled. How could he help resolve this?

Steph’s eyes were open and locked on Cherry.

Cherry walked forward. “Mom, I need you to put the weapon down.”

“Cherry...”

She ignored James’s tone full of warning. This was about the worst situation Tate could imagine playing out. Nothing was going according to the rules. Well, it didn’t matter at the moment. Right now, they had to get Steph away from the woman—and Cherry might be their best chance of making that happen.

Cherry’s mother hesitated. “What are you doing? Stop right there! I’m your mother. You do as I say!”

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