Page 77 of Fierce Hope
“Whatever,” Chad muttered, throwing up his hands. He stalked back toward Jade and DJ, grabbing a flickering lantern and smacking it with his hand. The light momentarily brightened before going out. Chad swore and flung the lamp across the room.
DJ flinched.
Jade leaned into his side. “It’s okay. We’re gonna be okay.”
“I know,” he whispered, but clearly, his hope was fading.
When Sarah hurried around the far side of the SUV and stuck her head inside, searching for something, Jade decided to take a chance.
“Chad,” she said quietly, pitching her voice low enough that Sarah couldn’t quite hear from where she stood. “Do you really think Sarah will share? Once she has what she needs, you’re expendable.”
Chad scoffed, turning toward her with exaggerated confidence. “Shut up. You don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re tight.”
“You sure?” Jade maintained eye contact, her voice steady despite her racing heart. The trick was to play this right: sowjust enough doubt to make him think, but not make him mad. “Sarah’s been playing everyone for years. Kent, the church, the foundation board—even you.”
Chad’s eyes narrowed, but Jade saw the doubt flicker behind his bravado. “You don’t know anything about our arrangement.”
“I know Sarah likes control.” She pressed gently, trying her best to sound sympathetic rather than accusatory. “And I know there’s a lot of money at stake. Money changes people.”
Chad opened his mouth to respond, but Sarah interrupted sharply, striding toward them.
“What are you two whispering about?” she demanded, eyes darting suspiciously between them.
“Nothing,” Chad muttered. “She’s just trying to mess with me.”
Sarah’s eyes hardened as she looked at Jade. “Always thinking you’re so clever.” She turned to Chad. “Enough stalling. Let’s get moving.”
Chad hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. “I haven’t ... finished it yet.”
“What?” Sarah’s voice rose dangerously.
“It’s freezing out there,” he complained, gesturing toward the rear of the building. “And the ground is like concrete. It’s taking longer than I thought.”
Sarah’s face contorted with rage. “You’ve had hours!”
“Yo, Sarah. Chill. I’ve been working on it.” Chad shot back defensively. “You try digging in frozen ground with just a shovel. It’s not as easy as you think.”
The words hit Jade like a physical blow. The acrid, metallic taste of fear filled her mouth as realization crashed over her.
Chad was digging their graves.
41
Elegant classical musicflowed from the live orchestra as laughter and conversation filled the ballroom. Deke stood along the edge, blending seamlessly with the glamorous crowd in his formal tux, posture deceptively relaxed while his eyes remained sharp and observant. He scanned the room, tracking potential security concerns with practiced ease.
Behind him, a waiter in crisp white gloves offered champagne. Deke declined with a polite smile, maintaining his cover as just another wealthy guest while mentally noting the exits, security personnel, and the movements of their high-profile client across the room.
His phone vibrated subtly in his pocket. A text from an unknown number:
Magic practice tonight. Need glitter ASAP.
Deke’s stomach tightened violently. The code—“magic” and “glitter”—was DJ’s emergency signal, one they’d established weeks ago. But the number wasn’t DJ’s.
And not Jade’s either.
Cold certainty washed over him. Something was wrong. DJ wouldn’t use that phrase lightly—especially from an unknown phone. The teenager might be sullen and surly, but the kidwasn’t a troublemaker. Nor was he cruel. The boy understood the gravity of false alarms.
The one thing he knew for certain was he couldn’t risk calling the number back. No way DJ would have sent his message in such cryptic form if open communication would have worked.
