Page 98 of Risk

Gary presses the screen on his dash. Taps the Phone app and then selects a number to call. I immediately know it’s Kaden’s.

“Not a fucking word from you, girl.” Gary waves the gun in my direction.

“Yes,” Kaden answers, his voice sounding stressed. He already knows I’m gone.

“It’s your father.” Gary sounds smug when he says the words.

“Where the fuck is she?” Kaden snaps on the phone.

“She’s with me, and she’s fine. And she’ll stay fine if you bring me the money I fucking deserve.”

“You sick motherfucker.”

“You don’t speak to me like that, you ungrateful little bastard!” Gary yells at him. His face is red and mottled with anger.

My hands curl around the edge of the car seat, gripping on tight to keep the panic contained inside of me. Freaking out nowisn’t going to do me any good. I have to remain calm for the sake of the babies.

“I want to know if she’s okay,” Kaden rages, but I can hear the fear in his voice.

“You get to command nothing, boy. You’re gonna do as I say, and you’re gonna bring me five hundred thousand dollars. I want it in hundreds, nothing smaller. And you’re gonna bring it to me by five p.m.”

“That’s only two and a half hours. I can’t lay my hands on that type of cash in such a short amount of time.”

“Bullshit, boy! I know you’ve got the fucking money, and you’re gonna do whatever you need to do to get it, or I’m gonna put a bullet in your pretty little girl’s head. And then one in her stomach for good measure.”

A bead of sweat runs down the back of my nape.

I’m going to be okay. My babies are going to be okay. Kaden will get the money and bring it to him, and we’ll all get to go home safely.

“I will fucking kill you if you even lay a finger on her,” Kaden sneers.

“You’ll do nothing. Just like you didn’t when I killed your bitch of a mother. Now, you get that fucking money. The clock is ticking, boy. And if you call the pigs and I get a hint of them anywhere, looking for me, I’ll kill her, and you’ll never catch a scent of me again. Until I come and put a bullet in your head when you least expect it.”

“You’re gonna die a painful death one day, old man, and I’m gonna stand there, smiling, while it fucking happens.”

“Bring me the fucking money!” he snaps. “I’ll message you the meeting spot. And no fucking tricks—you hear me?”

“Just let me hear her voice, please.”

Gary’s angry, bloodshot eyes snap my way. Then, he nods.

I moisten my dry mouth and lips with my tongue. “Kaden.”

“Missy.” He exhales a breath. “I’m gonna come get you soon, baby. I promise.”

“I know. I’m okay. Don’t worry.”

“I love you,” he tells me.

It’s the first time he’s ever said it to me. Not exactly the way I wanted to hear it, but it seeps inside my chest, and my heart locks the words up tight inside me.

“I love you,” I tell him.

“Touching. Now, go get my fucking money and stop wasting my fucking time.” Gary presses the End Call button.

Kaden is gone, and I’m left alone with a madman who is pointing a gun at me.

THIRTY-FIVE

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