Page 45 of The Hottest Daddy
Sunday gave a little gasp. “That was you?” She gave asnort of derisive laughter. “You know you were known as the Library Creep? That’s what we all called you.”
A satisfying flash of anger came into his eyes. “No doubt some of the girls I killed also called me that. They weren’t laughing when they died, I assure you.”
Her blood ran cold. She had to get Berry away from this psycho. “What is it you want, Scanlan? To kill me?”
“Not unless I have to, Marley.”
“My name is Sunday.”
“Whatever.” He gave a short mocking laugh. “Sunday Scanlan sounds good to me.”
“Is that what it will take for you to let Berry go? Me marrying you?”
“Among other things.”
God. “Where are you taking us?”
“Somewhere we can talk. Somewhere you can show me what you’re willing to do to save the little girl’s life—and your own.”
Sunday knew she would rather die than let him touch her. “You’d better drive to Vegas,” she said, hoping her bravado would hold. “Because I’m not doing anything until you let Berry go.”
“Then Vegas is where we’re headed,” he said calmly, calling her bluff. “Our wedding night will be spectacular.” His eyes met hers in the rearview mirror. Sunday held his gaze for as long as she could before looking away and she hated that he laughed when she did. “Good girl. Now, shut the kid up. We have a long drive ahead of us.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
River felt an icy calm settle on him as the police and his security team told him what had happened. “Where are they now?”
“Heading out of state, we think. We’re checking CCTV and the police helicopter is trying to track them down. They can’t have got far.”
“I need to be involved,” he said, “You have to let me come with you.”
“Sir …”
“It’s my daughter and my …” he got choked up. “My Sunday. My girls. If you don’t let me come with you, I’ll hire my own helicopter pilot.”
Eventually he persuaded him to let him ride in the helicopter. An hour later, they got the news there had been a sighting along the I-70. “We think they’re in a black SUV. He’s driving very carefully, under the speed limit, trying not to be seen.”
River tried not to let his panic show. He just cursed himself that he hadn’t seen Scanlan for who he was. What kind of coincidence would lead both of their tormentors to join forces? Had Angelina known who Scanlan was when she came to Colorado? River would bet on it. Not that it had done her any good—she was now in custody, charged with abduction and assault with a deadly weapon.
Angelina was refusing to talk, however, but River suspected that would change when she was threatened with a life sentence. As he traveled with the police, he was frustrated that they didn’t seem to be trying to stop the car, however.
“Mr. Giotto, it’s a hostage situation. We can’t risk him driving the car off the road or hurting one of them in an effort to escape. We know he’s armed. Let’s figure out where they are going. As soon as he runs out of gas, we’ll have him.”
It seemed hours before they told him. “We’ve located them. We think they’re going to Vegas.”
Sunday sat holding Berry, who had finally fallen asleep in her arms. Sunday felt belligerent, ignoring Scanlan when he tried to talk to her. He simply shrugged and they drove in silence for hours. She had heard the helicopters flying overhead and knew they were being tracked and it gave her hope. She ran through every situation where she could attack him, and had she been alone with him, she would have tried, but she could not risk Berry’s life. The whole kidnapping seemed shoddily planned—had he been forced into rushing it by Angelina? And how? He could have just killed her. None of it made sense.
All that mattered now was making sure Berry was safe. She pressed her lips to the sleeping girl’s forehead and knew that even if Berry was her own child, she could not love her more. “I won’t let him hurt you, BerBer.”
Scanlan met her gaze in the rearview mirror. “Do what I say and the girl will be safe. The moment you say I do, Sunday, I’ll let her go.”
Sunday said nothing. She guessed why the police were hanging back but wondered how Scanlan would imagine they would let him get away with her. Maybe he was counting on her telling them she had gone with him voluntarily. He wasinsane.
Of course, he’s insane, stupid,she told herself.For one thing, he waited for years. Insane and delusional. Capable of anything.
“Were you the one who shot Cory? Shot me?”
Scanlan shook his head. “No. He was only supposed to take Cory out of the equation.”
