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“Lola, why don’t you come a little closer,” said Luca, motioning me towards the other central platform. The two ran parallel to one another.
“I’m not doing anything you say, you creep,” I said, and to my surprise, I spat at him.
Luca tutted at me. “That won’t do, Lola. Remember that we’re up very high. And if I wanted to—” he said, pushing Macy forwards a little, “—she can fall very far.”
I felt sick to my stomach. I’d come here to rescue her, to bring my daughter back. But now I was entirely in his control, and we knew it.
“That’s a good girl,” laughed Luca cruelly. “Now step forwards a little, why don’t you.”
“Why are you doing this?” I moaned, stepping forward and turning. I began to walk down the platform parallel to the one holding Luca and my daughter. There was barely ten feet of distance between us, and yet it would take me too long to run around if I had to.
“I’m not a greedy man,” said Luca.
“I beg to differ,” I said.
“I just have ambition. And ambition takes investment. And Alex has never seen me as worth investing in. Well, he will now. Now that I’ve got the two people who mean the most in the world to him.”
“Luca,” I said, “that’s where you’re wrong. Alex didn’t know he was Macy’s dad until last night. And I don’t mean anything to him.”
“How do you know that?” said Luca, suspiciously. “He got married to you, didn’t he? Cold-hearted Alex Lowe must have seen something in you tomarryyou, after all. I wonder if he’ll double the ransom now I have his wifeandhis daughter in the palm of my hand.”
“You don’t have a hope in hell of getting away with this,” I said. “Baby,” I said, directing my words to Macy, “it’s going to be okay.”
She nodded, and seeing the tape on her face broke my heart as she moaned at me. My little girl in the hands of this monster. I was going to kill him, I was going to—
Only it wasn’t.
Luca had pulled the gun from his jacket. I could see it in his hand. A cold, gleaming lump of metal. I’d held guns before on my dad’s farm. They were ugly things, heavy too, and Luca wrapped one arm around Macy’s neck, and I heard her wail as he brought the gun up to meet me at eye level.
“On the other hand,” he said. “Maybe I should send him a souvenir. Something to prove I’m serious. If, as you say, he doesn’t really care for you.”
“I beg to differ,” said a voice behind Luca.
Luca turned, in confusion, wondering who it could be.
And I watched, as Alex Lowe stepped out of the shadows.
Chapter 28
Alex
“Well,lookwho’scometo join us,” said Luca. “And just in the nick of time, too.” He whirled, taking Macy with him, and now the gun was trained on Alex. “Have you brought me my money, ‘Lex?”
“You know how this thing goes,” I replied. I held up the dark satchel on my arm. “I’ve got it right here. But you don’t get to look at a cent until that little girl’s standing here next to me.”
“Take me instead,” said Lola. My eyes flashed towards her, and they met. And for a sudden moment, I realized that I’d come back because it was the right thing to do, but also because I loved her. I loved Lola Ryder, whatever that meant, and I’d do anything to keep her and the tiny, dark-haired girl in Luca’s grasp safe.
“I don’t think you’re in any position to keep me waiting, ‘Lex,” said Luca. “After all, I’m the one who’s holding the gun.”
“You might be holding the gun,” I said, playing for time. “But I’ll wager you’re not the best shot with it.”
“I don’t need it foryou,” said Luca, and held the gun at Macy. She screamed, and suddenly I felt a terrible fear, the need to protect something and the certain knowledge I’d rather die than let any harm come to her.
“WHOAH!” I said.
“STOP!” screamed Lola.
“Don’t do that again, you bastard,” I growled, as Luca leveled the gun at me. He didn’t seem like the best shot in the world. But I also felt pretty damn sure that there wasn’t going to be even the slightest chance that he’d miss at this distance.
