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His smirk widens. "So distrustful. I'm a man of my word."
"If you want the money, I get the girl. It’s as simple as that."My heart hammers in my chest.
For a moment his eyes narrow. But then he smiles as if I've just offered him a glass of damned lemonade. "As you wish. But if you try anything, the deal is off."
He scrawls something I can't see on a piece of paper, then slides it across the table to me. My eyes latch onto the address. It's not far from where Hope House used to be.
"I'll accompany you," my uncle says with a smirk.
I yank the table away from him. "Let's go."
It's a tense ride over to the warehouse district. Tristen is boring a hole in my uncle's head with his eyes. Burn is driving like a fucking maniac. And I am looking straight ahead, trying not to sweat through my suit.
When we arrive at the warehouse, Felix leads us inside. And there she is.
Solana, locked in a cage, but otherwise unharmed.
Her face lights up at the sight of me. "Dare!" She rattles the bars, reaching out her hands. Her little voice is raspy and desperate.
I hurry to her and grip her fingers. "I'm here now. You're safe."
"Here is your property. Returned safe and sound, like I promised."
Tristen and Burn rip the cage apart and Solana comes sprawling into my arms with a shriek. I cup the back of her head and try to remain calm. But inside, I'm roiling with turmoil.
"Shh," I whisper, stroking her hair. "You're safe now. I've got you."
She clings to me, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you, Dare. Thank you."
I hold her for a long while, refusing to let her go until I'm certain she's okay. Then, with a sigh, I point at my brother Burn.
"Tell him."
Burns straightens and faces him. "The deal is off."
"What?" Felix's eyes bulge. "You lying, double-crossing—!"
"You really thought that we would hand over the company that easily?" I nod to Tristan, who steps forward, a shiny silver gun glinting under the dim light. "You're more gullible than we realized."
Felix sputters in rage, hand darting into his jacket. But Tristen pulls his gun and points it directly at Felix's heart.
"Give me a reason," Tristen warns softly.
Felix glowers at him, then turns to me. "You'll regret this."
"The only thing I regret is not seeing through your transparent schemes sooner. I’ll be seeing you very soon, Dare.”
He leaves the room. I don’t bother to watch him go, but I hear an engine fire up in the distance.
I say nothing, hugging Solana to me. What I neglected to tell Felix, and everyone else, is that I have tipped off the FBI. I let them know not just about Solana’s kidnapping, but about some Ponzi schemes that my uncle set up and watched collapse. They happened a decade ago… but the state statute of limitations for wire fraud and investment advisor fraud still has five more years before it lapses.
The FBI should be calling on my uncle sooner rather than later. I offered to testify if they need me. And when the Feds nail him for wire fraud, he’s going to prison for life.
Burn steps up to us, features tight with concern. "The police are on their way. Felix won't get away with kidnapping."
"Good." I meet Tristen's gaze over Solana's head. "Thank you. Both of you."
"What are friends for?" Tristen's mouth quirks.
