Page 77 of Salvation

“Why does he have to be so smart? I was going to kill him. I was going to shoot him in the back and make it look like a gang hit… But then, I thought… what would be worse than that? What would be worse than death?”

He strokes her face again. “She would. Taking her away would be perfect.

“I could take her from both of you. If she’s gone… you both would die. Neither of you could bear to live without this bitch, this whore, this siren, in your life.

“That would be the perfect revenge for ruining everything.

“Hell, I’d be doing you both a favor. She’s got you both panting after her… sharing her… she’s made fools of you… of you both…

“Yet, both of you are willing to do anything for her.

“So yes, I’m going to use that. Use that against you both to get what I want!

“I win. You lose. The perfect, prized Detective and the untouchable Gabrial DeLucca, the crime lord…

“I bested you both! But I’m not done yet.”

He will not kill Hope. He will not.

I ask, “Is she dead?”

He looks confused for a minute. “Dead? No, she’s not dead.” He looks down at her with creepy, adoration on his face. He stalked her. Stalked us all. He’s panting as he says, “She’s just sleeping. Like Sleeping Beauty. She can be awakened by true love’s kiss.” Again, he says it with fervor, feeling.

She’s not dead?

What the fuck is this lunatic talking about?

Does he think HE’S her true love?

I have to get her away from him.

I nod. “Okay. So, about your money…

“If I wire your money, you’ll let her go?”

Detective Rodgers starts shaking as he rocks Hope in his arms, back and forth. His eyes are crazed as he jumps back. His head swivels around as if he hears something and he starts screaming. “No! No! You can’t have her! Neither of you can have her. She’s mine! She’s meant to be with me! You can’t have her!” He’s still cradling her, rocking her. I take a step toward him to try to distract him so he will hopefully let Hope go.

Suddenly, I hear it, too. Someone is outside. Detective Rodgers’s eyes widen, and he presses the gun harder into her side, digging the barrel into her ribs so harshly, I know that her skin will bruise.

Stopping, I open my mouth to try to reason with him when the door to the warehouse is kicked clean open. It ricochets against the wall, sounding like it was loosened from the hinges. Luke strides in with the sunlight streaming at his back; he’s haloed like an avenging angel with a gun in both hands. He roars so loudly the hairs on my nape stand on end at the fury within his words. “Alan, I know what you did! I know everything!”

You and I are on the same page, Luke.

Detective Rodgers’s eyes glaze over as he turns and yells, “No, you can’t have her! She’s mine!

“I’ll kill her before I let you both have her!”

I see the instant that Luke comprehends that Detective Rodgers is not alone… that he’s holding Hope. Luke raises both of his revolvers, pointing them at Detective Rodgers. I scream out, “NOOO!”

You could hit Hope. Don’t shoot.

My voice bounces off the wall as Luke closes in on Detective Rodgers. His head is lurching from me to Luke, and back again, uncertain which of us is the biggest threat to him.

That’s right. You’re going to die here today, asshole. The only question is which one of us is going to pull the trigger.

He’s just disoriented enough that he loosens his hold on Hope as he tries to decide where to focus his gaze.

She tumbles from his arms. Falling. Sliding down his body, quickly heading for the ground. The hard, unforgiving cement floor. I watch as if in slow motion. He screams, “Nooooo!” as he leans down in an attempt to grab her arm while he points the gun down at her.

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