He relinquished his grip, leaving a red-faced Tasha gasping for air. “Michael,” he shouted.
Skin slick with sweat, Michael ran his hand through his hair as he stepped into the room.
She narrowed her gaze on him, realizing now that although Rinaldi had been the one who’d woken her up from her bed in Arizona, Michael was the one who had threatened her at Benediction. “You broke into my room at Benediction. How did you get in?”
He wiggled his fingers. “Made a copy of your key. Just needed somewhere to hide on your floor. Luckily, Cassandra was more than willing to lend a helping hand with that. Easy in. Easy out. Girl was more trouble than she’s worth though.” His gaze darted everywhere but on her, as if he was afraid to look her in the eyes.
“Stop talking,” Rinaldi said to Michael. “Take Tasha outside, kill her, and throw her in the grave I dug this morning. We wouldn’t want anyone to stumble upon her while Danielle and I are enjoying our time together.” He winked at Danielle. “We need some privacy, right babe?”
Her throat thickened with terror. “You’re crazy.”
He tsked and shook his head. “Actually, I’m perfectly sane. That’s why I never get caught. That and the powerful people I have in my back pocket.” He pounded his chest. “I’m invincible. I can set this cabin on fire and watch you burn without answering to anyone. Some people think taking a life is playing God, but they’re wrong. I don’t play God.” He widened his arms. “I am God.”
“Crazy,” she repeated, unable to stop herself.
Rinaldi rushed toward her, his face turning purple with rage, and with a crack, her head knocked back into the chair, fire exploding across her cheek from the punch. “That’s just a taste of what I’m about to do to you,” he shouted. He craned his neck around to Michael. “What are you waiting for? Get the old bitch outside and shoot her in the head.”
Tasha cried, swinging her head back and forth. “No. No. No.”
The front door crashed open, and a storm of heavy footsteps pounded into the room, bright lights blinding her. “FBI! Drop your weapons, and hands up where I can see them.” Through her star-filled vision, she made out several shapes dressed in navy and white.
Her face throbbed as she frantically glanced around searching for Cole. Was he here?
As her eyes adjusted to the lights, she witnessed Agent Miller and another agent cuffing Rinaldi’s and Michael’s hands behind their backs. “Anthony Rinaldi and Michael Malone, you are under arrest for the kidnapping of Natasha Walker and Danielle Walker. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.”
“Agent Ryan, it’s good to see you again,” said Rinaldi calmly. “How’s your daughter? Celia, right? I bet she’s got to be around sixteen now. As I remember, a beautiful girl like her mother.”
The agent swung him around and pushed him against the wall. “Is that a threat?”
“Just making conversation. I don’t need to make threats,” Rinaldi said, seemingly unperturbed by his arrest.
“Yeah. Apparently he’s a god.” Danielle inhaled, relieved the FBI had shown when they had. “Michael busted the tracker and the wire. How did you find me here?”
Agent Miller grinned. “You’re buddy Logan sewed a tracker and transmitter into your sweater. It activated as soon as the other GPS was destroyed. He called us with your coordinates and patched the feed from it into our system. You did a great job, Danielle. We got enough to help put them both away for a long time, and I have a feeling we’ll find the bodies of those missing girls on this property.”
“Oh, Miller.” Rinaldi sighed dramatically. “You know there’s no amount of evidence that could ever keep me behind bars. DeMarco.” At the name, Danielle followed Rinaldi’s line of sight, and her heart danced from the vision of Cole striding toward her. “Didn’t think you’d let her out of your sight for a minute, but to wire her and allow her to get kidnapped? You and your little subbie have some major balls. Enjoy your time together, and I’ll see you both when they drop the charges and I not only walk out of jail, but get a big, fat apology from Agents Ryan and Miller.”
“Fuck you, Rinaldi,” Agent Ryan said, pulling him toward the door. “There’s nothing that would ever get me to apologize to a thug like you.”