Page 21 of Stunts and Sparks

The leader looked her right in the eye and said, “Everyone always says that.”

Her eyes widened at that. “How many times have you done this?”

“That’s for us to know and for you to never, ever find out,” the hothead said.

The psycho apparently couldn’t help adding, “Because you’ll be dead.”

Finally, the muscle chimed in, but all he said was, “Stop.”

“This is why I said we shouldn’t include him.” The hothead gestured to the psycho. “He’s unhinged, and you all know it. He’s going to get us into a situation way beyond what we’re prepared to handle.”

The psycho glared at his accuser. “The only one who has gotten us into a situation way beyond what we’re prepared to handle is you, Jay. You’re the idiot who took her hood off. I’m just saying what everyone else here is thinking.”

“Oh, really?” Jay squared up to the psycho. “Well, I’ll tell you another thing everyone else here is thinking. You’re only on this project because old Stan here’s your uncle.” He gestured to the leader. “And you’re a damn liability.”

“That’s enough!” The man apparently called Stan shouted at both of them, and both young men immediately stood at attention. The one who had the authority in this situation was obvious. “Now she knows two of our names and one relationship. You’re both only making this situation worse. It’s your incompetence that’s going to kill this woman. Her blood is on both your hands. I expect you to learn from this, and so you’ll be the ones to put her down.”

“Not a problem.” The psycho looked more excited than anything, and it sent a chill down Heather’s spine.

“I want Jay on this one,” Stan said. “He needs to learn.” Then he walked away. Heather could hardly believe it. After handing down her death sentence, Stan just walked away like it meant nothing to him.

It occurred to Heather that this was how she was going to die, that she wasn’t ready, that there was still so much she wanted to do. She was terrified, but more than fear, she felt a kind ofgrief for her own life, the one she wouldn’t be allowed to live, just because she looked a bit like a movie star. And then she was angry.

Jay, the hothead, seemed angry, too, although Heather didn’t feel he had any right to be. “I always get stuck with the worst jobs,” he muttered.

Heather found an ounce of courage and managed to glare at him. “So don’t do it.”

“I wish that was an option.” He shook his head, reached into his jacket, and pulled out a medium-sized handgun. And Heather saw her whole life flash before her eyes.

CHAPTER 11

COLE

Cole had followed the van so easily that he almost couldn’t believe it. He just had to stay back and not make any erratic lane changes. The entire drive, his mind was racing, imagining what could be happening to Heather. He was at least fairly certain they wouldn’t do anything to her before they reached their location. By the way the kidnappers drove, they clearly had somewhere they needed to be. All he had to do was follow them and get Heather back before they had time to do anything to her.

He had never been more grateful for his military training. There were no police on the way because he’d been a fool and left his phone behind. At the very least, he knew he had combat skills. He knew he was fast and strong when he needed to be. Maybe it was him against four — which was the number he came to when he counted the arms and assumed someone else was driving — but if they were four inexperienced kids, he knew he stood a chance against them. In fact, he psyched himself up by insisting, they would be the ones in trouble when he finally found them. They would have to contend not only with his combat training,but also with his newfound protective instinct when it came to Heather.

The van turned into the parking lot of a once-vibrant shopping center that was clearly on its way out. Cole was surprised it hadn’t been demolished yet. They continued into the parking garage, and Cole followed. The garage had several levels, only a few of which were in use. Much of it was underground, and of course, that is the direction the van drove in — down. Cole knew better than to follow in his car. If he guessed correctly, they were likely going to one of the unused underground levels to do whatever they planned to do.

Cole parked a level up from the lowest and quietly exited his car. The lower levels were completely empty, and because of the way they echoed, Cole could hear much of what was going on. He heard Heather’s voice, and a chill went down his spine at the sound of her in distress. She was holding her own well, talking to her kidnappers like she would if she weren’t as terrified as Cole knew she would be. She was brave and strong, and he felt proud… as though he had anything to do with it. He knew he didn’t, but he couldn’t help feeling that little spike of pride.

He wanted to shout encouragement to her, to tell her to hold on just a little while longer. He wanted to somehow signal to her that he was on his way. There was no chance he was walking away from this without her. But the acoustics of the parking garage that made it so easy for him to hear the goings-on below him would also make it easy for the kidnappers to hear him.

No, he had to be silent. He had taken his shoes off in order to walk more quietly. There would be no charging in like a fool to rescue her. He had to find the right moment. The fewer people he had to fight, the better. Even though he knew he was capableof combat, he also knew it would be safer for Heather if the fighting was kept to a minimum.

When she finally came into view, Cole had to restrain himself from running immediately to her. He was even more furious when he heard why she had been chosen as their victim. The stupidity of it all had him absolutely reeling. The carelessness was unforgivable. Also, she didn’t lookthatmuch like Jessica Johnson, in his not so humble opinion. She was far more beautiful in his eyes.

He made his way from concrete pillar to concrete pillar, trying to get closer to where Heather sat taped to a chair by her ankles. He gritted his teeth and vowed to destroy them just as soon as he could. How dare they? Her wrists were taped, too. He wanted to punch somebody.

All of a sudden, they were talking about killing her, and Cole realized he wouldn’t have the benefit of waiting for the perfect moment. The two older kidnappers gave instructions to the younger ones and then just walked away. Well, that was easy.

One of the younger kidnappers finally pulled out a gun, and Cole was immediately out of time. He had to think fast. So he took one of the shoes he had removed and hurled it as far away from Heather as he could. When it hit in the echo chamber that was the underground parking garage, it sounded off reliably. Both younger kidnappers turned in the direction of the shoe.

“Did you hear that?” one said.

“Yep,” the other answered. “Should we check it out?”

“Maybe one of us should stay here.”

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