Read Online Amber Morn by Brandilyn Collins - Free Book Online Page B

guilt. Now they’re going to hear the TRUTH.
We DO NOT CARE what happens to any of the hostages. We ONLY CARE about T.J. If we don’t get what we want, THE PEOPLE WE HAVE WILL DIE.

TWENTY-FIVE
     
    “I say we shoot another one.”
Brad’s words vibrated in Bailey’s ears.
    “Don’t tell me what to do, either of you!” Kent shoved his chair back from the computer, face flushing purple-red.
    Bailey’s heart rattled against her ribs. It took every ounce of will she possessed not to shrink from his rage. But something told her she dared not show her fear.
    Brad planted his feet apart, blue eyes flaming. “So — what? You gonna stare at that computer all day?”
    Kent pushed to his feet, snatched his gun off the floor, and stomped around the other side of the table. “We
planned
it this way, remember?”
    Angie whimpered. Mitch whipped his gun in her direction. “Stuff it!” She melted into her chair, drew her hands across her chest.
    Brittany’s lips trembled. She mashed a hand against her mouth as if to keep herself quiet.
    Brad turned a hard look on his father. “Maybe I don’t like your plans now that I’m here. We got all these people —”
    “So what you want to do?” Kent kept his weapon and eyes on the hostages, his words thrown at his son. “We’ve been here forty-five minutes. You want to kill somebody every half hour?”
    “Why not, we got enough of ’em.”
    “Fine,” Kent spat. “At that rate we run out of people in six and a half hours. Then what?”
    “You got a better idea?” Brad’s knuckles whitened against his weapon. Bailey’s blood ran cold. She pressed back in her chair, prayers streaming through her head. This wasn’t going to work. These men were too
crazy
, and with all their ammunition…
    “Yeah, I got a better idea!” Kent’s shout bounced against the walls. He grasped his gun in his right hand, waving it for effect. “We keep with the plan. They’ll contact us soon.”
    “What if they don’t, though?” Mitch threw out. “We never thought it would take them this long.”
    Kent sliced the air with his left hand.”
Then
we start shooting, okay? Tell you what, Brad, I’ll let you take the first one, since apparently that’s what you came for.”
    Brad’s features twisted. “I came for T.J., and you know it.”
    Kent snorted. “Then start acting like it.”
    “Yeah, okay, fine.” Mitch wagged his head side to side. “We wait a little longer.”
    Brad threw him a look. “Now
you
got patience all of a sudden.”
    “Cork it, Brad. You’re not even supposed to
be
here.”
    “I didn’t see you fighting that this morning.”
    “Yeah, like you —”
    Kent cursed and kicked a chair with all his might. It scudded across the floor and slammed into the windowsill. Gasps rose from the hostages. “Both of you shut your traps!” His wide nostrils flared. “I swear, you don’t stop arguing right now, I’ll put you both outside and do this myself.”
    Anger pulled at Brad’s mouth, but he said no more. He backed up to Wilbur’s stool and sat down.
    Kent swiveled toward Bailey. “
Don’t
just stare at me! Are you checking?”
    She dug her fingers into her legs. “I… sure.” She leaned over to reach for the mouse. Clicked out of the comments box and back in. No change.
    Bailey lifted her eyes to Kent. Shook her head.
    He pierced her with a look to kill. “Keep checking.”
    The three men fell silent. Kent stepped back and leaned a hip on one of the tables shoved against the right wall. Mitch and Brad exchanged heated glances, then turned their black stares on the group. Mitch’s eyebrows jammed together, and his gaunt face and beady eyes gave him the look of a rat sniffing cheese.
    Bailey checked the comments page. Nothing.
    She glanced at the clock. Twelve minutes before nine. Was it just an hour ago she’d been making espressos?
    Where was John? He would be so worried. And what about Sarah? Bailey was scared to death she’d been in Simple Pleasures