“You made up your mind on who Garrison is when you havenoidea.”
My stomach tightens, bile burning the back of my throat.Sawyer is here because of me.He’s going to die because of me.The idea that anyone else is going to plunge headfirst into my nightmare makes my skin crawl.
“Oooh, I’m shaking.”He turns away from Sawyer, his tone mocking.Both Leo and Bradley laugh obnoxiously in response.
“Demo is the last resort,” Sawyer says evenly as soon as the room has quieted again.“For a reason.”
He pauses, letting his words sink in.And based on Earnest’s hesitation as he reaches for the door handle?They’re doing just that.
“Demo’s specialty is destruction.Buildings.People.He will destroyeverythingaround his target.Brick by brick, he dismantles until there is nothing left standing.”
Earnest turns back toward us, his face a bit paler than it was.Is Sawyer getting to him?“By the time he finds either of you, you’ll be dead.There will be no rescue.”
Sawyer’s smile doesn’t fade.It deepens.And somehow, his confidence builds my own.As he said, they’re a team.That means, if anyone is going to come for us, who better than a team of Navy SEALs?
That moment on the stairs with Thomas all those weeks ago swims to the front of my memory:“I heard he can kill a guy with just his pinky finger,” Thomas says, wiggling his own in demonstration.“That he and the others once went into a fully armed compound.”
Are they coming for us?
Can they survive it?
“By now, our rescue isn’t his mission anymore.”
Silence stretches.“Oh?”
“No.”Sawyer leans back in his chair.“Now it’s you.”
“Then I guess I’d better get what I can out of you before I kill you both.”He turns and looks back at Leo.“Give me your knife.”
“No.Please, let him go.You can do whatever you want to me—” I insist, that slice of relief I felt dissipating at the idea of anything happening to Sawyer.
“Oh, I plan to,” Earnest interrupts.“But first, I want to know where Thomas is.For every word out of your mouth that isn’t what I want to hear, I’m going to take out my frustrations on your overly confident friend here.Until he’s either dead or you’ve told me what I want to know.Either way, you should know better.I’m not a man who doesn’t get what he wants.”
“You think you’re the first one who’s tried to get information out of me?Do your worst,” Sawyer replies.“Neither one of us is letting you lay a finger on that kid.”
The door opens, and a man I don’t recognize comes in.He leans forward and whispers something to Earnest.Something that has a chilling smile spreading across his face.He offers the knife back to Leo, then turns to me.
No, please, God no.
“Looks like we won’t be needing playtime after all.Seems dear sweet Thomas was just brought into the police station to be notified that his mother is missing.How convenient.”
“Don’t you dare touch him!”I scream as I thrash against the bindings.“Don’t touch him!”My throat burns as I fight against the hold.“Please, Earnest!Please leave him alone!”
Earnest kneels in front of me.“You’re going to be doing a lot of begging before this is over, Katelyn.Don’t wear yourself out just yet.Don’t worry, I’ll let you see your boy one last time.”
“Good luck,” Sawyer says, his tone lacking all humor now.“You’re going to need it.”
Earnest collects his jacket.“You may have your team, Navy man, but so do I.And mine doesn’t play by any rules.”Without waiting for a response, he, Bradley, and Leo leave the room.
“Mine neither,” Sawyer replies softly, then turns to me.“We don’t have a lot of time.”
“He’s going to kill him, Sawyer.He’s going to kill my son.”Tears stream down my cheeks, my heart racing.I can’t just sit here.I can’t just wait for him to march Thomas in here.
“No,” Sawyer replies.“Because Garrison won’t let him within twenty yards of Thomas.You have to trust him, okay?”
I swallow hard, panic making my pulse race.
“I need you to stay calm so we can get out of here.With them distracted and riding the high of a perceived win, this is the best chance we have.You the praying kind?”