“You lie,” the man with the gun took a step closer.
“I’m not.” She shook her head. “H-he wasn’t feeling well, so he took the rest of the day off.”
Okay, that last part was a lie. But if they were specifically looking for Colton and thought he wasn’t in the building, maybe they would let her and Christine go.
Please let him believe me. Please, please believe me.
The man in charge looked around the room. In one, quick glance, he could see there was nowhere Colton could be hiding. To one of the others who’d come with him, he ordered, “Check the other rooms in this hallway.”
Doing as instructed, the two men left in search of their target. Sophie’s mind raced to figure out what she would do if Colton returned before these jerks left. In reality, she knew there was nothing shecoulddo.
Fighting them would be futile. They were big and strong, armed to the teeth, and most likely trained in hand-to-hand combat.
She and Christine were none of those things.
Several long, agonizing minutes passed before the others returned. “He’s not here. Not on this floor, at least.”
Inside, Sophie was breathing a huge sigh of relief. Outwardly, she schooled her expression so they wouldn’t have any reason to doubt what she’d told them.
If they asked which hotel they were staying at, she’d lie. Then she’d figure out a way to warn Colton he was in danger.
Because these weren’t the type of men to give up easily.
The one in charge, the one still pointing his gun at her, thought for a moment before biting out a sharp, “Call him.”
Sophie’s stomach dropped. “What?”
“Call Mr. Moore. Tell him you need him to come here.”
“No.” The refusal was out before she could stop it.
Anger reddened the man’s face as he stormed toward her. “How dare you defy me!”
Fear nearly choked her to the point she had to physically work to keep her body from trembling. She had no interest in being a martyr, but she also couldn’t bring herself to do what this man was asking.
“I’m not going to lure an innocent man here simply so you can...do whatever it is you plan to do to him.”
Her decision may have just cost Sophie her life ,but she also couldn’t knowingly put Colton—or any other person—in danger.
The man stood directly in front of her, now. His hot, rancid breath hit her face as he spoke, nearly making her gag. “Call.Him.”
With her heart in her throat, she kept her spine straight and shook her head.
“No.”
He pressed the tip of his gun against her forehead, the cold metal cutting into the delicate skin there. “If you do not call your journalist friend, I will send a bullet straight through your brain.”
Something did flash through her mind, just then. It wasn’t a childhood memory, or even anything of the sort. It was a man’s face.
A man she thought about often but barely knew.
Well, isn’t that great. I’m about to die, and out of everything I could think of, the one and only regret I have is the last thing playing through my mind?
“Sophie.”
Christine’s pleading voice pulled her away from the crazy thought.
From her tone, it was clear the other woman wanted her to make the call. Not that Sophie could blame her. They were both seconds away from being murdered, and the only possible way out was to do what the man said.