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“She never shuts the hell up.That’sthe worst part of this. It’s torture,” my kidnapper mumbles from the floor.
I don’t pay him any mind. I continue with my story now that I have Mr. Baines's attention. “Anyway. Like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, theworstpart is that you made it personal now by taking me. Mr. Black isn’t going to appreciate that.”
Mr. Baines crosses his arms over his chest and scowls at me. “You made this mess, little girl. Sticking your nose where it doesn't belong.”
He’s right. It is my mess. “I was trying to do my job. In fact, this isyourfault for being so mean. I was so afraid of asking you a question that it caused this giant misunderstanding. Maybe you should lighten up a bit.” I know I should be scared, but what do I have to lose at this point? I’m dead if Jacob doesn’t save me. I might as well say exactly what’s on my mind.
Mr. Baines’s fuzzy dark eyebrows draw together. “How did you even get past the password?”
There’s no way in hell I’m giving my friend up. I bite my lip, not sure what to say.
Mr. Baines moves closer, his wide frame full of chained fury. “Oh, you can’t talk now? I can pry the words out of you.”
“I hacked it,” I blurt out. I don’t think he can prove I didn't. He wouldn’t be asking me if he already knew the answer to it.
“You’re a liar.” He moves even closer.
I push myself back into the sofa, trying to get away from him. I don’t think I can take a hit like he gave the other man.
“Sir.” A few men I’ve never seen walk into the room. They are all dressed in black, too.
“What’s with all the black?” My voice is high and thin, the bravado fading. “Is that like the bad guy color? Are they uniforms?”
“Shut up,” the man on the floor says as he tries to get up. Mr. Baines kicks him, knocking him back onto the ground. He cries out and grabs his side.
“Sir, someone’s in the building.”
He’s here. I never had a doubt that he would come for me.
“Fuck.” Mr. Baines’s whole body goes rigid. “Why are you just standing here? I want him dead!”
The black-clad men take off out of the room.
He turns to me and fists the front of my shirt as I try to scramble away from him. “You downloaded everything. I want it back. Where is it? Tell me now or I’ll kill you with my bare hands!”
“I don’t have it. Mr. Black does!” I lie. It was in my bag, but the past few times I dug around in there, I didn’t feel the USB. I guess it’s still there? He yanks me up, then stops when gunfire rings out.
My eyes burn with tears as he drops me back onto the sofa.Jacob, please be okay.
“Let me go after him, sir.”
Mr. Baines doesn’t even bother to answer my kidnapper. He simply pulls out a gun and shoots him right in the head.
I let out a scream before covering my mouth with my hand. He points the gun at me next. I thought I would cry or beg for my life, but I don’t do either of those things. A strange calmness comes over me. Sure, I’m more than terrified, but knowing that Jacob is in the building gives me a sense of hope.
There also remains the tiny fact that Mr. Baines doesn’t know for sure where I stowed the information. It’s the only thing currently keeping me alive.
19
JACOB
Ispit blood from my mouth and trudge past the black-clad bodies by the elevator bank. The guard in the parking garage gave me the most trouble. Not wanting to waste the bullet or alert the building, I did him with my fists. But he was a bruiser in his own right. Dead now, though. Just like everyone else here who helped take Margaret away from me. Grabbing the nearest guy’s gun, I check the chamber, then continue moving.
The floor is quiet, seemingly empty, as I stalk toward Mr. Baines’s office. But I know they’re here. Idiots who think they can stop me. No one has ever been able to so much as slow me down, not until Margaret. And for her, I’ll drop as many bodies as necessary to make sure she’s safe.
As I round the corner into the cushier section of office space, someone throws a flashbang. I manage to close my eyes, but only after I get a peek at the blinding white light. Fuck.
I duck back behind the corner as slugs begin to pepper the wall. I can barely hear the shots over the ringing in my ears. I hate flashbangs. It’s a douche weapon wielded by cowards who don’t want to fight fair. Not that it matters. These idiots are already dead.
