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God, he hated little kids Maybe it was a blessing that he’d been in prison while Dale was growing out of this disgusting phase

"Answer irl looked at the floor and hunched her shoulders as if trying to make herself look sh to get her attention

She gasped and covered her face with her hands

"Who did you call? The police?" When she didn’t answer again, he raised his hand "Don’t ain," he told her

"Isabelle"

Wyatt s to call her anyway"

Then he heard the sirens and realized that Isabelle had probably called the police He hadn’t had the chance to warn her not to

Fuck!

Wyatt dragged the girl out of the rooet out before the police came

She tripped on the stairs and would have fallen down if he hadn’t been holding on to her He picked her up with one arm and tossed her over his shoulder

By the tilow of flashing lights winking through the blinds

A frustrated roar burst out of hi the s shake This was not supposed to happen It was supposed to be a clean trade He’d get his son and get out of the country without the police being the wiser But no, the soft little girl who couldn’t stop crying long enough to wipe her nose had ruined everything

Wyatt tossed her on the floor, next to herbody "See what happens when you try to fuck upthe arm she’d landed on close to her body "Momma?"

"Mo will happen to you, too, if you don’t listen"

The girl shook her mom’s shoulder, but the woman didn’t move Blood oozed out of a hole in her chest, but apparently, the girl hadn’t figured out what that meant "Momma, wake up Please, Mo the street out front There was no way Wyatt was going to get out of here without being caught His plans had to change

At least he had a hostage

Grant made the fifteen-minute drive to Amanda’s in less than half that Isabelle’s stoerous speed even as she adet them there safely

Amanda’s street was blocked off by police cars, and they couldn’t get closer than a hundred yards They got out and headed down the cracked sidewalk

Light flashed everywhere, and neighbors poked their heads out to see as going on Some of the police had their weapons drawn and all of them kept careful watch on the house In the deep shadows behind the run-down hoht she saw movement

"There’s someone back there," she told Grant

He took her arood, because her legs still weren’t working like they were supposed to

"It’s SWAT," he said

"How can you tell?"

"They’rein standard two-by-two formation"

An officer in uniforhbor’s house "You can’t come any closer"

"Is Detective Mathews here?" asked Grant

More than a hint of sarcas man’s tone "Yeah, but he’s a little busy"

"I’m the one who called it in Where is he?"

The officer hesitated for awhether or not to cooperate, then pointed to a clump of men near one of the patrol cars

Grant told the police to him"

"I can’t let you do that The man inside is armed"

"I know I heard hi toto interfere, we just want to knohat’s going on These people are friends"

"Can you please find out if they’re okay?" She didn’t realize until Grant petted her hand that she was squeezing his arrip and took a deep breath She had to stay calm so she’d be able to help if they needed her

The officer gave hiet hi It was Ah her, and she nearly dropped the phone before she could push the talk button "Rachel?"

Grant leaned close to the phone, and she angled it so he could hear, too

"No," caht here If you want her back, then get these fucking cops out of here"

"Not going to happen," said Grant "Youtaken out in a body bag"

"Do they make those in kids’ size?" asked Wyatt " ’Cause that’s what they’re gonna need for the little girl here if they don’t back off I already took out her mom Don’t think for a second I won’t do the saround, Isabelle heard Rachel’s pitiful whimper of terror She was still alive They weren’t too late

Isabelle nearly crumpled with relief

"Let irl"

"You want her I want Dale The only way you’re getting her is if Dale agrees to come with me"

Isabelle’s throat clamped down so hard she couldn’t talk She felt Dale’s presence at her back and prayed that he hadn’t heard that