Page 124 of Legacy of Danger
Chapter 36
Despite the chill in the Brands' house, sweat prickled between Mariah's breasts. The thud of her pulse echoed Wyatt's footsteps as he paced, firearm in hand, in front of her chair. She held her breath.
Linc grinned from the couch. "This is great, huh?"
"Shut up," Wyatt growled.
The impact of the shotgun butt on the table made every nerve in Mariah's body jump.Stay calm. Don't give them anything to retaliate against.
She had really been kidnapped.
Again.
This time, though, she was getting out of here on the first try. And alive, by God.
Step one, negotiate. "Guys, let me go back to the hospital. I won't say anything about what happened. It was... a misunderstanding. Right?"
Linc did a suggestive swagger with his thumbs pointed at his chest, then licked his meaty lips, and Mariah threw up a little in her mouth. "No misunderstanding. I, for one, am glad you're here. We didn't get to spend much time together at the fight."
She concentrated on staying upright. The shaking had escalated from a tremor to a full body shudder. Everything about this situation was so wrong. The rough pine floor and wood paneling in this house generated flashbacks that battered her from all sides. When would the beatings start?
Breathe. Think. Do not give in to the panic.
"So what do we get to do with... her?" Linc pointed to Mariah.
Wyatt's slow grin contained zero happiness. Red glinted in his eyes. Not normal. Had to be possessed. "She's bait so we can screw those Taggarts over real good. It's part of the Great One's plan."
Mariah pushed to her feet. She couldn't take this insanity anymore. "That's it. I'm done here."
With a whip-like move, Wyatt's grip bit into her upper arm. The muzzle of the gun rested under her chin. "I don't think so."
Through a motionless jaw, she whispered, "You'll be arrested for this, Wyatt."
"Only if anyone says anything." He smacked his lips. "Or if there's any evidence left to find."
The edges of her visual field dimmed. Her heart beat too quickly. She couldn't breathe. The scent of moldy wood made her stomach cramp.
Tommy piped up, his irises flashing from blank to briefly red. A whiff of sharp scent, like a match strike, drifted past her. She was dealing with much more than a crime here. "Good news. The sheriff witnessed this scene. Nothing to see here."
She bit her lip. This could not be happening. But if they needed bait, maybe she could buy time.
She tucked her hands in the coat pockets and wrapped her fingers around the cell phone.
Maybe she could get a message out.
Wyatt dragged her toward the hallway. "Why don't you go check on our mom while you're here. Although, I'd say she's pretty relaxed right about now."
"What?"
"Once you're in her room, sit there and be quiet."
Mariah froze. Walk deeper into this house?
"Go!" he bellowed, his voice echoing in a strange reverberation that spiked jolts through her spine. "If you try to leave, we'll hurt our mom."
Linc snickered. "And I know how to find your brother, Doc. A bantamweight can't stand up against a heavyweight."
Mariah froze. It was Utah all over again. Sweat prickled her chest.
