Page 45 of Fate
“He is a pathological liar, Briget,” Scarlet told me from the table. “You can’t believe him.”
I sighed and shook my head as I clung to the hope that he wouldn’t kill them. He looked so genuine when he agreed to my request. I hoped he did want to be gracious or whatever. I didn’t care why. I only cared about what he’d promised. “We cannot lose Ma or their dad. He will keep his word. Even if it is just to spite Talon, he will spare them.”
Bones’ cell pinged. He shook his head as he looked down at his phone seemingly to read a text he just received. “My men say that his copter is gone.”
Fate came over and gently took my arm. “Maybe you should sit down, Briget,” he said softly.
Gazing up at him, I realized I was shaking from head to toe.
“The fuck?” Bones exclaimed as he stared at the phone.
“What?” I asked breathlessly. Anymore bad news and stress today and I might just pass out.
Bones looked around. “That chopper left someone behind.” He rushed toward the back exit.
I immediately went to follow him.
Fate kept a hold of my arm. “Wait a minute!”
“Let go!” I said as I yanked my arm from his grasp.
Shaking his head, Fate took my hand and we both headed back to the exit.
Everyone from the table followed us.
When we arrived outside, I heard it.
“The man ain’t all there, I tell y'all. He’s got a huge hole in his screen door!”
At the sight of her, I sucked in a breath and exclaimed, “Ma!”
Standing next to Jarret, she turned and saw us all coming through the door. “Thank heavens! You are all safe.”
Us women all gathered around Ma, hugging her as we cried and laughed at the same time.
Laughing, she raised her arms finally. “I’m okay, girls.”
Legend pushed himself through the little crowd and asked Ma, “Are ya hurt?”
Ma shook her head. “No, Dr. Legend…his men were gentle with me. But they gave my Jarret a black eye.”
We all looked over at Jarret.
He was talking in low tones with his sons and Bones, “I’m not sure what his motives were, son.” Jarret stared at Liberty. “He had his men pluck us up from the side of the road. That was after we got that flat tire. I believe he had the tire shot out. But before we knew it…The guards around us had been tranc-darted. Then from the brush…” He took a deep breath and then went on, “A red light appeared and sat right on Bea’s forehead. A voice ordered me to drop my weapon. And I did.”
We all listened now as Ma swiped tears from her cheeks.
“When they went to tie Bea up,” Jarret went on. “I didn’t want them touching her, so I struggled and got punched. It didn’t hurt. What hurt was the fact that we were all taken down so damned easily.”
“He didn’t kill anyone?” Legend asked.
Jarret swung his gaze over to him. “Not that we know of.”
“When they got to Jarret’s vehicle, my men reported in,” Bones interjected. “It appears that no one was harmed. That’s not his MO usually.”
“What I cannot figure out is why he just up and let us go?” Ma asked.
The entire group looked from her over to me.
