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The lights flickered and then went out. “What the hell?” Patrick cursed.
Addie’s stomach sank. She reached for her cell and pressed the number to dial Carl.
Patrick headed down the stairs. “I’ll check on my parents and grab some flashlights from the kitchen. You figure out what in the hell is going on.”
Still no answer. Addie panicked and then remembered the gun William had given her down in her overnight bag. She ran down the stairs, past Patrick, who was helping his father light candles. As she rounded the corner into the bedroom where her overnight bag was, she noticed Penny out of the corner of her eye, sitting on the couch, her head in her hands. God, she wanted to kill that woman. She rummaged through the dark, using the flashlight on her cell phone until she found her bag and the gun. Throwing on a hoodie, she checked that the safety was on and tucked the gun inside her pants then dialed 911 and willed it to ring. Nothing.
She moved closer to the window and tried again. Still nothing. It was then that Addie heard the commotion coming from what sounded like the front of the house. Shoving the phone in the pocket of her hoodie, she started off running for her children but only got as far as the living room when that deep voice she knew so well stopped her in her tracks, causing a lump to form in her throat.
Addie stopped and let her eyes adjust to the candlelight. Suddenly, hyperaware of her surroundings, she noticed Penny pleading with Patrick at the door as the voice spoke again, but it took her a moment to process what was being said.
“Do not open the door. Whatever you do, do not open that door.” William urged.
Penny gasped, nodding at Patrick. “Son, we have to. He’s killing him.”
Addie surveyed the chaos around her. She looked from Penny to Mr. Greyer, who appeared to be trying desperately to dial out on his cell phone, and back to Patrick again. “STOP,” she yelled, the hard voice that came out surprising even her.
She moved between Patrick and Penny and peered out the small window next to the door. What she saw nearly brought her to her knees. Her gaze met William’s and her breath caught. He was bloody and beaten, and Scott Hammons was standing directly behind him, holding a knife to his throat.
Addie put her hand on the gun and slowly turned the lock.
“Don’t do it, Addison.” William pleaded as Scott delivered a blow that could be heard even through the thick wooden door.
“Okay, STOP. I’m opening the door.” Addie paused, quickly turning to Patrick, and whispered. “Go to the kids and take them and hide. You know this house better than anyone.”
“Patrick eyed her with a deer-in-the-headlights look. “I don’t think I should leave you.”
CRUNCH. Another cursing blow came from outside the door.
“GO!” Addie shouted in a hushed voice.
Addie stared at Penny who was wild-eyed and sighed. “Go.” She nodded.
“What does he want?” Mr. Greyer asked, moving in close to Addie. “Money? We can just write him a check.”
Once Patrick had cleared the top of the stairs and Penny had started out the back doors onto the deck, Addison slowly turned the lock and opened the doors.
Scott thrust William, who was barely standing, through the door. “Hands up!” he shouted, throwing William to the ground. When Addie started for him, Scott kicked William so hard in the stomach she immediately backed up. “I said, put your fucking hands up!”
Addie did as she was told and watched as Scott took two pairs of handcuffs from his jacket pocket. “You little whore, cuff the old man. Take him to the sofa. And then crawl to me on all fours or your little lover boy here gets tasered again.”
She did as she was told but stopped at the sofa. If she gave him what he wanted now, she was in trouble. Addie met his gaze dead on. “I’m not crawling to you, Scott. If you want to kill him, do it.”
Addie flinched as he stuck the Taser to William’s neck.
“Do what I fucking said! Get on all fours, you little bitch.” He pressed a button, and Addie watched in horror as William convulsed.
She steadily but slowly moved her hand towards the gun, pretty sure she had a good shot.
“Wait! Stop!” Mr. Greyer demanded. “Is it money you’re after, son? Because I can get you whatever it is that you need.”
Hammons spat. “Does it look like I need money? You rich fuckers . . . You’re all the same—so goddamned stupid. Did it ever occur to you that if I wanted money I would’ve gotten it from this dirt bag here?” He hoisted William up, and Addie lost her clear shot. Forcing him to stand, Scott demanded William place Addison’s arms behind her back and cuff her. William trailed his fingers down her arms in a way that gave her chills. She glanced back at his bloodied face and inhaled deeply, trying to fill her lungs with air when it had become too difficult to breathe.
“Shh.” Was all he managed to get out before Hammons was behind them, barking orders. “Where are the others?” he demanded, placing zip ties around William’s wrists.
Addie remained silent. “I asked where the others are.” He hissed, placing a Glock to her temple. “And I’d better start getting some goddamned answers before someone dies here. Now, look. No one’s calling out thanks to this here cell-phone jammer.” He called out, waving the device in the air. He laughed and continued. “And no one’s going out the gate—at least not in a vehicle anyway—BECAUSE I’VE DISMANTLED THEM ALL. Oh, and those pathetic jokers you call your security team? Well, they’re indisposed. SO! Hopefully no one’s been silly enough to go outside because with the temperatures as they are they’ll freeze to death by morning.”
“Scott.” William winced as he spoke. “Let’s handle this like men. Leave everyone else out of it.”
