Page 181 of State of Retribution

Avery glanced at George, who was monitoring the progress with him.The situation was too volatile to send in EMTs to assist the people who’d been shot, which only added to his anxiety.

“Fucking hell,” George said.“This is going sideways fast.”

“Get the girlfriend.”

They’d waited for her to arrive before sending in their people.

Savannah was about five feet three inches, curvy, young and beautiful, with light brown hair, brown eyes and a flawless complexion.

George escorted her into the command vehicle.

“We need you to talk to him, Savannah,” Avery said.“Call the number he used to contact you.Ask him to surrender.”

She made the call and put the phone on speaker.

It rang eight times before he picked up.

“I’m busy.”

“Dylan, honey, please… I’m so scared for you.”

“You ought to be scared forthem.”

“I thought you said you loved me,” she said between sobs.

“I do love you.I’m doing this for us so we’ll have a future.”

Avery glanced at George, raising a brow.In what world did he think he had a future with anything other than a cell on death row?

George shook his head in disbelief.

“What about your kids?You said you love them, too.If you come out now, they might let you see them—and me.”

“She’ll never let me see them.”

Over the receiver in his ear, Avery heard one of his guys say, “Keep her talking to him.We can hear him.”

Avery waved his hand to encourage her to continue the conversation with Dylan.

“The kids will want to see you.She’ll honor their wishes.I’ll make sure you see them, and me, too.I’ll never give up on you, Dylan.Please… If you keep fighting, they’ll kill you.I don’t want to lose you.”

“I don’t want to lose you either,” he said, sounding tearful, “but they’re never going to let me out of here alive.”

Avery wrote quickly on a piece of paper.Tell him that’s not true.We don’t want anyone to die.But he must surrender.

Savannah repeated the message.“Dylan?Did you hear me?”

“Yeah, I heard you.”

“Will you surrender?Please?Do it for me and your kids… We need you.”

“I don’t know.I need to think.”

“Drop your weapon and put your hands up!”

“Dylan!Do what they tell you to!Please!”

“Put down your weapon!You’re surrounded on all sides!”

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