Page 99 of Blackstone's Heart
"I've got a team on the way too." Cain added.
"That doesn't help Krista or Lance dammit! God knows what Ingram is doing to them right now." Ethan roared.
From the backseat, Gage reached out and squeezed his friend's shoulder. "I know you're worried Ethan, but you need to calm the fuck down. You won't be doing Krista or Lance any good if you go in there running on pure rage. That's when mistakes are made."
Ethan knew his friend was right but he was struggling to do that. He closed his eyes and took slow breaths and released them. All he could picture was walking into his home and finding his friend and his woman dead.
***
Krista froze as she heard the voice of the man holding her. She started struggling again and managed to finally break his hold on her. She spun around and faced her stalker. "D... Detective Ingram? No. We trusted you. Ethan trusted you."
Fury cloaked his face. In two steps he was in front of her. She never had a chance to react before his hand flew out and slapped her. Krista stumbled back, a suprised cry escaping her. She reached up and covered her right cheek staring wide eyed at him.
"That bastard Blackstone has tried to keep you from me Krista. You belong to me." Ingram hissed.
"You're married Detective. Why are you doing this? I don't understand." Krista said, her voice sounding surprisingly calm.
"There's no point in pretending anymore dear. I know you felt it too, that day we met. That day I took my wife to your book signing. Our eyes met and I saw then, that you felt the same spark I did." Ingram stated.
'This guy's fucking nuts.'She thought.'Okay girl, stay calm. Keep him talking. You need to buy time till Ethan and the others get here.'Krista took a step back, skirting Ethan's coffee table. "Detective, I'm sorry, but I think you're mistaken."
"No. No, it's you that are mistaken. Your father and Blackstone have been lying to you. You and I belong together Krista."
"If what you say is true, why go after Jerry then? Why him?"
Krista could feel anger starting to build inside her. This guy was the cause of all her pain, all her stress. He killed her best friend. Torched her home. Shot at her and the men of Blackout. Him. Detective Cutter Ingram was responsible for it all.
Ingram snorted. "You are too classy to be hanging with disgusting people like that."
"Disgusting people?"
"Yes. Those flamers and such. They have no place in decent society."
"So you're not only a killer but you're a cowardly racist and homophobe."
Krista screamed as pain raced through her arm and she crumpled to her knees. With a hissing breath she looked down and found a bullet wound in her upper left arm. Lifting her head, she glared up at Ingram who was holding his police issue.
"That was your fault Krista." He growled. "You're making me hurt you. I don't want to hurt you my love, but I will if you continue to defy me."
Grunting, Krista pressed a hand to her wound and stood. "Where is Lance, Ingram?"
***
Lance groaned quietly as he rolled onto his back. The left side of his torso screamed in protest at the movement. Yet he knew he had to move. The gunshot and Krista's scream had brought him to semi consciousness. He had to get to Krista. He knew Ethan and the guys would be on their way, but he had a job to do. Protect Krista. Struggling, he grabbed his gun that had fallen next to him and reaching up to use the counter for assistance, somehow managed to stand. Leaning heavily on the counter he moved toward the door. Each step was getting harder and he knew it was because of the blood loss. That fucker Ingram had managed to get a round off that hit right under his vest.
Catching his breath, Lance slowly moved toward the swinging door. He could hear Krista and Ingram’s voice in the living room. He had to get there. He could feel sweat beading on his forehead as he quietly moved from the kitchen. He silently eased open the door and made his way into the hall. He heard Krista ask where he was. She was stalling. Collecting himself he pushed on, needing to get to her.
***
"So that's the jarhead's name. He's no longer your concern. Now, it's time to go my dear." Ingram smiled twistedly.
"I'm not going anywhere with you, asshole." Krista challenged.
Movement behind Ingram caught her attention. She saw Lance leaning, practically hugging the door frame. He looked pale and sweat was beaded on his forehead. His left hand held his gun while his right hand was struggling to support himself against the doorway. She gave a subtle nod when he looked from his gun, to the floor, then back at her.
Turning her full attention back to Ingram, she quickly judged the distance between where she stood to where Lance had sunk to the floor. Between her and Lance's .45 was a coffee table and a very pissed off and armed Cutter Ingram. Steeling herself, she looked Ingram in the eye, she had to buy time to figure out the best way to get that damned gun.
“How did you get through Ethan’s security?” She demanded.
