Page 86 of Fierce Hope
If DJ moved, she died. Unless she surrendered.
“Last chance, Sarah,” he said, every word measured and deliberate. “Let. Him. Go.”
45
The worldaround Jade was still a blur of sensory chaos.
The explosion had left her vision swimming with bright spots, her ears ringing painfully. Through the disorientation, she struggled to make sense of the scene unfolding before her.
“Last chance, Sarah,” Deke’s voice cut through the ringing in Jade’s ears, every word measured and deliberate. “Let. Him. Go.”
Jade blinked rapidly, her vision finally clearing enough to reveal the horrifying tableau before her: Sarah, wild-eyed and desperate, pressing a gun against DJ’s side as she used him as a human shield.
Blood dripping from his chin, Deke’s teammate, Christian, stood to Sarah’s right, handgun aimed straight at her.
Deke was in front of Jade, back to her, his weapon trained on Sarah.
DJ had been right. His dad came.
Relief swirled with terror, making it harder to clear her head.
How to break the standoff?
Jade’s mind raced. With DJ’s life hanging in the balance, she needed to act, but any sudden movement could spook Sarah into pulling the trigger. For a moment, she consideredtrying to signal Deke, to somehow coordinate their efforts—but what if Sarah noticed? What if she misinterpreted any subtle communication between them?
Deke and his team were professionals. They had training for situations exactly like this. But that was precisely why they weren’t acting. They were following protocol—waiting for the perfect shot, refusing to escalate the situation, prioritizing DJ’s safety above all else. Jade understood their restraint, but it was also their limitation. They wouldn’t risk a move while Sarah had that gun against DJ.
But Jade wasn’t bound by their rules. She didn’t have their training, but she knew Sarah. Knew the woman’s pain points. She could create the distraction they needed. If she could draw Sarah’s attention completely, even for just a moment, it might give DJ the chance to break free.
Deke would have the opening he needed to take a clear shot.
Every instinct warned her that what she was contemplating was dangerous, potentially catastrophic. But doing nothing was guaranteed to keep DJ in mortal danger.
Shooting DJ would be Sarah’s last resort. With her hostage gone, she was a dead woman. If Jade charged, it was more likely Sarah would shoot at her.
The math was simple, even if the variables were terrifying.
If she had a way to alert Deke, this could work.
“Sarah,” she called out, her voice remarkably steady despite her pounding heart. “Think this through. How far do you think you’re going to get with Deke’s son?”
“‘Bout an inch,” Deke added, voice deepened to a dangerous growl.
Sarah’s head whipped toward Jade, her eyes widening. “What did you say?”
“You heard him. Deke’s partners have Chad,” Jade continued.
“So what?” Sarah pulled a face, but the muzzle of her weapon remained in DJ’s side. “He killed Kent. He can go down for that. Works for me.”
“Me, too.” Jade strained to sound agreeable. “But he’ll tell them it was your idea and you got away with the money.”
If she could keep Sarah talking for a second, lull the woman slightly, her desperate move would have maximum impact. “Kent’s clients will hunt you down. You need a new plan.”
Sarah shifted almost imperceptibly. “Duh. Already on it.”
She prayed Deke would catch the message in her next statement. “It’s like chess, Sarah—you have to think three moves ahead. Jump on openings.”
“What are you even talking about?” Sarah stiffened, clearly tiring of the verbal jousting. Jade was pushing her dangerously close to the breaking point.
