Page 94 of Rescued Faith

The voices all mumbled together. There was a group of them, though. That much Bryce could tell.

“Are you sure he doesn’t know anything about the Nobles?”

That was Sosa.

“He has no clue where they were moved to. Now tell me, why didn’t you stick to the plan?” Woods sounded furious.

Bryce stilled his ragged breath, trying to hear Sosa’s response.

“Youwant to tellmewhat to do? Let’s remember our deal. I provide the weapons and the explosives. We get you into office. You need me so you don’t get your little hands dirty!”

Jason was in on this for his own political career? The creep.

“If you would’ve stuck to the plan, we would’ve been fine. You were supposed to wait on the kidnapping until yesterday. You made no mention of the bomb at the hotel. If you hadn’t given me the heads-up, I would’ve been there. Caught in the blast. You?—”

Bomb? But Penny was at the hotel! Bryce pulled against his restraints. He had to get out of here.

“You’re lucky I gave you any warning. You told me the man would fold and have Emma released. You lied. There are consequences. And the governor needs to pay. He needs to know I’m serious.”

“He will pay. If you would?—”

“He has no intention of releasing Emma, or he would’ve done so already. I held up my end of the bargain. Our deal is off, and apparently, I have to take matters into my own hands.” A pause. “Don’t worry. If he didn’t die in the blast, he’ll be dead by tomorrow and the office will be yours. But so you know just how serious I am?—”

A gunshot sounded, followed by a thump, like a body falling to the floor.

“Reynolds!” Woods screamed. “That’s my friend!”

“Wasyour friend. You’re lucky it wasn’t you.”

Their voices faded away and were lost in a shuffle of noise.

Bryce leaned against the pole. A bomb at the hotel. That maniac Sosa walking free. His body didn’t hurt nearly as much as not knowing if Penny was okay.

Lord, please let her be okay. Keep her far away from here.

THIRTY-ONE

Penny rushed toward the hotel entrance, Tony behind her. Sirens screamed as emergency vehicles pulled into the parking lot. Firefighters already on scene scrambled to set up hoses. Police officers tried to move people away from the danger. But nowhere in the crowd was the governor or any of his staff.

And they couldn’t push through the raging stream of people pouring out of the building.

“Back entrance!” Penny yelled over to Tony.

They turned and ran around the other side of the hotel—the side that wasn’t engulfed in flames. More people trickled out of the exits, but not as many as at the front of the building. Penny slipped through the doorway. Water showered down from the sprinkler system, immediately dousing them. Alarms blared. Emergency lighting was limited to dim red glows from the exit signs and small lights on the ceiling.

Penny grabbed the first police officer she saw, a cut on his chin bleeding. “Did you see the governor?”

He shook his head as he held the door and ushered people out. “This way! Carefully!” He tried to contain the crowd of people rushing toward the door. Penny and Tony fought againstthe flow and made it to the banquet hall. The chandelier in the middle of the room had crashed to the floor. Tables and chairs were toppled. People were everywhere. Still no Governor Noble.

“Where is he?” She searched the people as they streamed toward the exit in the corner of the room. “I don’t see his closest security team either.”

“He would’ve been on his way out. What exit would he have used?” Tony yelled over the alarms and panicked cries around them.

“The one closest to the meeting room.”

They ran for the hallway. Broken sections of ceiling and a collapsed wall blocked the way to the lobby, but they could pick their way around rubble in the other direction, going deeper into the building. Tony offered a hand and helped her climb over a chunk of plaster and wood. “Almost there.”

They reached what had been the meeting room. The door had fallen away completely, the chairs knocked over. Reba and one of the security guards were sprawled on the floor against the wall. Penny ran and checked their pulses. Both began to rouse.

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