Page 71 of A Captive Situation

Blood drained from Graham’s face.

Oliver fell back against the wall, clutching his chest.

Clara’s eyes narrowed, getting that look she got before she was about to rip into whatever mess was ahead of her. It always reminded me of when a bull lowered his head before charging. Clara just needed to huff out some steam and the image would be complete.

“None of you know what the fuck you’re doing. You call the cops, that forces us to run. If we don’t, if we get taken in, we’re dead.”Jake didn’t raise his gun, but his hand gripped it tight. He swung his dark gaze over everyone, pinning everyone in place. “Do you hear me? No. Cops.”

“What do you mean?” Clara’s voice was low, but calm. Strong. She jutted out her chin. “You’re saying someone could get to my niece if she goes to a police station? What if they come here and question her?”

He fixed her with an impenetrable stare. “Samefuckingthing. A case gets opened. That gives these killers more ways to get to her. This shit won’t get fixed by them, not in fucking time to save our asses. Mine and your girl’s.” He motioned to me with the gun.

Bess sagged farther into the couch.

I winced from the movement.

Seeing that, Jake cursed again, but shoved the gun back in his holster. He focused on me, anger and his tightly wound control on edge. “Are you going to run again?”

I swung my gaze up, starting to get pissed.

He ignored that look from me. “Cut it out. I have to ask. Are you in this with me or not? There’s a price on your head too, princess.”

“Don’t fucking call me that name.”

“Are you with me or not, Lunatic?”

I relaxed, a slight grin curling at my mouth.

Clara growled. “You don’t call her that either.”

He ignored her, only talking to me. “I’ve already explained to you what’s going on, so I’m going to step out and call in a crew to help with the cleanup. While I do that, educate your posse here. It’s up to you what you want to say, but just so you and me are copacetic, youwillbe leaving with me. These peoplewill notsay one word of this to anyone.” He raised an eyebrow. His next words were a warning. “They do, they will be dead within the week. We clear?”

Every word he said felt like a slap across my face.

He was right, but I didn’t like how it was delivered. “Crystal.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sawyer

I lied.

I made up a story about how I was being robbed, how Jake happened to be there and stepped in to save me, and how the guy who was trying to rob us was now sending people after us.

It made no sense, but my family did not live a life where they saw crime happening in front of them.

They bought it.

Clara was grumbling, “You need to find the name of this fucker and we can do a background search. I’ve got friends who are online detectives. We call ourselves Cyber Sleuths. You might’ve heard about us. We’ve been featured in documentaries. I bet we could unearth all his dark secrets and blackmail him, get him off your backs that way.”

Graham was still frowning, sitting on the edge of a chair with Oliver. “Whycan’t we call the police? That doesn’t make sense to me. Robbers don’t get all vengeance like this.”

So they weren’t totally buying it.

I said quickly, “Uh, it wasn’t just the robber guy. It was his family. They sent two other guys after us. When Jake stepped in, he really messed him up.”

Bess mumbled, “That sounds like the O’Malleys in Bridger. If one gets crossed, they’re all crossed.”

Clara was nodding. “Your friend must’ve put him in the hospital or a coma for them to still be sending people after you.” She breathed in almost awe. “That sounds like some Mafia shit. Didn’t he say a price was on your head? Thatislike the Mafia.”

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