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He was the clear leader of the group.
“We’ve never been formally introduced,” I began. “But my name is Chris Jordansen. Also known as Xavier Prentiss. Or shareholder X.”
They all feigned surprise, some better than others. But that wasn’t important. What was important was that they would all feel my wrath soon.
“A series of attacks have forced me here today,” I continued. “First, you were killing people and trying to frame me as the murderer. I didn’t mind that much. It felt annoying, but there was something to be said for style. But now, one of you has ordered him to take out my woman, and I have to tell you, if anything happens to her, I will kill all of you.”
They were still staring at me like idiots, so I knew there was a next step in my plan.
I pulled out my gun.
Chairs scraped the ground harshly as people immediately jumped to their feet. Panicked gasps reigned, and one man looked like he was about to run for the door.
I pointed my gun at him lazily. “Don’t you fucking move.”
He froze. He looked longingly at the door but didn’t have the boldness to go for it.
With a curt nod, I leveled the gun at all the other people in the room and took turns pointing it at them one by one. “Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to ask you one by one where she is. And if any of you act stupid, I’m going to shoot you. Got it?”
They still didn’t look like they believed me, so I had to start the target practice.
“Where is she?” I asked Arthur, and he glared at me.
“When the cops get here, you’re going to get locked up once and for all, you no good thug,” he spat.
“Maybe,” I said with a wry smile. “But you’ll be dead by then.” And just to show him I meant business, I let the shot ring out.
He yelped in pain, and the other people in the room jumped, too, screaming. Drama queens. The shot had only passed through his shoulder, but the fucker fell to the ground groaning like he was dying.
I moved to the next person. The man who tried to run. Keith something. “Where is she?” I asked again.
“Oh God.” He looked just about ready to piss his pants. “I can’t. I can’t.”
I shot him too, and the shot tore through his leg. He collapsed on the floor, carrying on like he was dying too. The sound was loud, and suddenly, I heard banging on the door. I saw the handle turn a few times and a jangle that meant they’d gotten the spare keys. It would take them time to get the door open, though.
Everyone in the room could be dead by then.
I turned to the next man, but before I could even say anything, he blurted out, “I don’t know where she is.”
I pointed the gun back at Arthur, who was still on the floor, clutching his shoulder. “He’s the one who planned all this?” I asked Keith.
“Yes,” Keith mumbled, sounding nearly close to tears. “He said it would be easy. We would just have to frame you, and then we could have the business. But I didn’t know he hurt the girl. Please, I’m sorry. We just went along with whatever he said.”
My phone rang at that moment, and with one hand, I answered it.
“We have her,” Chase said, and it was like all the pressure instantly released from my body. “She’s safe.”
“I’ll be there soon,” I said, keeping my composure somehow. But inside, though, I could barely breathe with the relief.
Still, I had to finish this.
I got up and walked over to Arthur, who looked shocked that his entire world was imploding. I pointed the gun at his head.
Finally, the fear was there in his eyes. “You ordered him to kill all those people to frame me. Why? Just to get the business?”
He didn’t answer at first, and I cocked the gun. “Answer me.”
“Yes, damn it,” he croaked out. “Yes.”
