The two men inside the vehicle jumped out. One was Rutger, the young FBI agent with the Southern accent. Was he a real agent—or not? Emily saw his face, and her cheeks paled. He looked at her with shimmering, satisfied hatred. “Welcome to my house, Emily.”
The other man, older, dark-haired, I hadn’t seen before.
We stood in a garage. Its automatic door had shut.
“Inside.” Shaved Head pushed me toward a door at the back.
“Ohhhh,” my mother groaned. I looked back to see her stumble, her expression sheer confusion. I listed toward her.
“Go.” The man pushed me again.
“I have to hel—”
“Go.” He flung open the door and shoved me inside. I went down on my knees. He grasped my elbow and yanked me to my feet, his gun pointed at my head. Pulled me across a small kitchen into a half-furnished living room with a worn wooden floor. He sent me flying into a tattered brown couch. I hit it head first—spinning renewed pain across my face. I flipped around. He flattened a huge palm against my chest and pushed me to sit.
Rutger dragged Mom to the couch and shoved her down. She fell against me, crying.
“Whaaat is happening?”
I put my arm around her shoulders and tried to soothe her. What would this trauma do to her? Send her deeper into dementia?
Hatred for these men stiffened my limbs.
Emily hit the sofa next, on the other end. Her knee was bleeding. She leaned toward her grandmother, cheeks red with rage. “We’re here, Grand. It’ll be okay.”
“Where are we?” Tears ran down my mother’s face.
The three big, courageous heroes faced us, lined up in a row. Shaved Head put his gun on a nearby table. Then stood with legs wide and arms crossed, focused on me. He had to be the leader. The other two stood on his either side, mirroring his stance.
“You kept a copy of the video.” Shaved Head’s voice stuck to me like wet fingers on ice.
My insides trembled. I looked him in the eye, unblinking.
He stared back. “What do you know about a key to the encryption code?”
Mom lifted her head from my shoulder. Her chin trembled. I eased her head back down. “Code?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
“I don’t know anything about a code.”
My mind tripped over itself, hunting for logic. Hadn’t Harcroft or Wade told these men Morton Leringer’s words to me? Why did Shaved Head act like he didn’t know anything about Rawly?
“Is that so. Then why have you been on the run?”
I glared at him. “Maybe because you sent someone to kill me?”
He worked his jaw. “You shot my man?”
No words came to my lips.
“You killed him, you know.”
The words knifed me. “No,” I whispered. “I didn’t.”
I could feel the anger rolling off Emily. Her eyes shot darts at Rutger. He shot them right back. Please, God, make my daughter hold her tongue.
Shaved Head’s searing gaze moved from me to my mother. My pulse stilled. He looked back at me, and I read the thought on that evil face. He could get to me through her.
He stepped forward and poked Mom hard in the shoulder. She cried out and raised her head. Her cheeks were puffy and her eyes clouded. She took shallow, rapid breaths. I tightened my arm around her.
“Leave her alone!” Emily spat.
Shaved Head ignored her.
“Don’t!” Emily smacked his arm away from her grandmother.
Quick as lightning he backhanded her across the face. The sharp crack ripped at my stomach. Emily jerked to the arm of the couch and hung there, gasping.
“Ahhhhh!” Mom sat up. “Emily!” She reached for her granddaughter.
I could not do this. Not at the expense of my mother and daughter. Who was I to save the world? “Please.” The word snagged in my throat. “Stop. Let them go. Keep me. I’ll tell you whatever you want.”
Shaved Head loomed over me, sneering. “Do I look like someone who needs to bargain?” He leaned closer. “Do I?”
I lowered my chin. A single tear fell and darkened my pants.
“Emily.” Mom’s voice shook.
“I’m okay, Grand, I’m okay.” With effort my daughter straightened and took her grandmother’s hand. She turned a defiant expression on the man who’d hit her.
Rutger laughed. He pointed at Emily and mouthed, Knew I’d get you.
Shaved Head turned on him. “What was that, Tex?”
Rutger/Tex shook his head. “Nothin’.”
“So shut up. She’s not here because you found her.”
Tex clamped his jaw shut.
Mom whooshed out a breath and faced the man above her. Her eyes cleared. “Who are you? What do you want?”
Mom, no.