Page 80 of Raging Inferno

Presley closed her eyes. She didn’t want him near this mess. It was bad enough that Gia was caught up in it. Presley’s focus would be split, worrying about him and Gia.

A few minutes later, through her ear, Dominic said, “Presley, I’m here.”

“I gave him a comm,” Kayne unnecessarily explained.

“Kayne, keep him away. I mean it. Shoot him in the foot if you must, but let me do this.”

“Roger that.”

Dominic scoffed. “Seriously? You told him to shoot me? I don’t think so.”

“Dominic,” Presley warned, “Kayne knows about a hundred ways to render you incapacitated in a second flat. Don’t test him.”

“Two hundred,” Kayne interjected.

“That’s my daughter in there,” Dominic bit out.

“And she’s fine. She’ll stay that way if you let me handle this.”

When there was no other protest, she drove to the warehouse.

“We’re in,” Kayne told her. “The situation has changed. Smith is now holding Gia in front of him like a shield. I can’t risk a shot. However, if it looks like he’s going to shoot you, I will take him out.”

He’d been a Navy SEAL sharpshooter. There was no one she trusted more than him to watch her back. “Roger that.”

Presley ensured her vest was in place and slid out of the vehicle. She made a show of glancing around the area. She spotted a truck parked behind a rusted brown dumpster. Reggie had told her Eddie drove a green Dodge Ram. That was it. Instead of walking a straight line, she weaved, making it harder for him to shoot her. She trusted Kayne, but all it took was infinitesimal pressure on the trigger, and, bang, she’d be dead. She wasn’t afraid for herself. Her only concern was getting Gia out of there safely.

When Presley reached the entry, she called out, “Hello? Eddie?”

“Come inside.”

Presley shoved the massive wood door aside and stepped into the warehouse. Light filtered into the building from windows high on the walls. Dust motes danced in the air, and the scent of mold, mildew, and sewer permeated the air. She knew from Queen Atta that Gia and Eddie were to her right.

“I’m here, Eddie.”

Eddie stepped out of the room holding Gia in front of him, his pistol pointed at her head. Presley swallowed hard and tried not to let her panic show. Gia’s tough attitude was gone as tears poured down her cheeks. Presley vowed right then she would kill him.

“Hold your hands where I can see them.”

Presley complied.

“How do you know my name?”

“I talked to your partner, the real Jed Flowers. He ratted you out.”

“Bastard. I should’ve known he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. So, Presley Parrish, you know who I am.”

“I do, Eddie. You got what you wanted. I’m here. Let the girl go.”

Eddie shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“She’s innocent, Eddie. She has no part in this.”

“I don’t relish killing kids, but you’ve driven me to this. You’re going to watch her die before I kill you.”

“How did I force you to become a sociopath? I don’t even know you.”

“You destroyed my family!”

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