Page 122 of Critical Mass
One chance to save Natalie before this whole operation imploded.
Hudson checked his weapon one more time, said a quick prayer, and waited for the explosion that would set everything in motion.
CHAPTER
SIXTY-EIGHT
Natalie’s world slowed.The gun barrel looked enormous, impossibly dark.
Her father’s face went white.
“Don’t,” her father whispered. “Please. She has nothing to do with this.”
“Then authorize the shipment.”
A flash of movement caught Natalie’s eye—between two containers about thirty yards away. Dark clothing, careful movement. For just a fraction of a second, she saw his face.
Hudson.
Her heart lurched with simultaneous hope and terror.
He was here. He’d come for her.
But there were at least a dozen armed men on this pier. How would he get to her to help?
She forced herself to look back at Brass. She couldn’t give Hudson’s presence away.
But her mind raced.
Hudson needed a distraction. Needed time to get closer, to do whatever he was planning.
“Wait,” Natalie heard herself say. “I’ll authorize it.”
Everyone turned to look at her.
Her father looked horrified. “Natalie, no?—”
“I’m his daughter. I have access to his accounts, his systems. I’m on the board of Ravenscroft International.” She lifted her chin, trying to look confident instead of terrified. “If you want this to look legitimate, it should come from both of us. Father and daughter approving a shipment together. It’ll be harder to dispute.”
She wasn’t sure exactly what she was doing—only that she needed to buy time.
Brass studied her, calculation in his cold eyes. “You’re smarter than you look.”
“Don’t hurt my father. I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t hurt him.”
“Natalie, don’t,” her father pleaded. “Don’t do this for me.”
But she was already moving toward Brass, toward the tablet, giving Hudson precious seconds to get closer. Her hands trembled as she reached for the device. She was all too aware of the gun trained on her.
Brass pulled up a document. “Press your fingerprint here.”
Natalie looked at the screen—an official shipping manifest for Ravenscroft International.
She’d be signing off, giving the okay for these chemicals to be delivered.
She prayed this didn’t backfire.
Before she could do anything, an explosion sounded and rocked everything around them.
