Page 72 of Clear Blue Sky

“I’ve never been a jealous man.”

“It doesn’t matter. You love her and that changes things. Look at how you’re acting right now. You’re ready to go in there, with no backup, to end this because of her. He was banking on that.”

His father had a point.

“Look. Jared has pulled as many of his troopers as he can. We outnumber them on land and by water. We need to take the time to do this right.”

Nelson nodded. “All right.”

His father rested both hands on his shoulders. “We’ve got Marcus and his crew on a litany of shit and he’s going down. You will finally be able to live your life without this shadow hanging over your head.”

17

Brandi tried to twist her hands, but the duct tape was too tight. Her feet were tied to the chair. Even if she tipped it over, she couldn’t free herself. Not that she knew anything about being held hostage. The only experience she had was in books she’d edited. But that was fiction. It wasn’t real.

However, she conjured up every heroine she’d ever read that had been in this situation.

There were better courses of action than waiting for her hero to come and save the day.

Marcus and Tyler sat at the island while Chuck stood watch on the patio and Josh was out front.

She had no idea if Nelson had learned yet that she’d been kidnapped, but she had to believe that was part of Marcus’ grand scheme.

Though it seemed like a stupid one.

Everyone would know.

Wouldn’t they?

“I have a question,” she said. Maybe talking to her captives would help.

Marcus glanced over his shoulder. “And what’s that?”

“What do you plan on doing with me?”

“That’s easy. You’re bait to bring your boyfriend to me,” Marcus said.

“What then? And how do you plan on getting away with it?”

Marcus laughed. “That’s simple. You had an affair with your ex-boyfriend. We have the pictures. This will be a crime of passion.” Marcus lifted his hand, made a gun sign with his fingers, and held it to his head.

“That’s never going to stick.” She swallowed. “No one will believe that. Besides, your friend there already killed someone. How is that going to be explained?”

“Nelson did it,” Marcus said.

“Why would he do that?”

Marcus shrugged. “Who knows? But you’ll be dead, so no one will pin it on us. Problem solved.”

“You really are an arrogant asshole if you think anyone will believe that bullshit.”

Marcus’ phone rang. “It’s Nelson. Tape her mouth shut.”

She gasped.

Tyler took more duct tape and smacked it across her face.

She groaned.

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