Chapter 5 - The Hostage Bargain
The knife nearly slipped from Elena’s grip. The sound of her brother Leo’s terrified voice severed whatever lingering restraint she possessed. She rushed past Cole, slamming her palms flat against the heavy oak wood of the door.
""Where is he?!"" Elena screamed, her composure shattering completely. ""Where is Leo?!""
""He’s safe for now, little heiress,"" Vanessa answered through the sliver of space. ""Sitting comfortably in the back of the sedan downstairs. But my driver gets impatient when it rains, and he has very little sympathy for trust-fund orphans.""
Cole shoved his arm against the door to keep Vanessa from levering it open further. ""You crossed the line, Vanessa. Leo has nothing to do with this!""
""Leo exists because of that stolen money, darling,"" Vanessa spat back, the veneer of politeness vanishing. ""Your fake boyfriend here promised me the drive months ago. He went soft. He started playing house with the target. So I had to expedite the transaction. Give me the drive, and Leo walks back up these stairs. Try anything stupid, and he disappears into the harbor.""
May you like
Elena turned her gaze on Cole, pure venom burning in her tear-stained eyes. ""Where is the drive, Cole? Give it to her right now.""
Cole swallow hard, his throat dry as sandpaper. His eyes darted to the wooden floorboards near the base of the living room bookcase. ""I don't have it here,"" he whispered, his voice cracking. ""I moved it this morning.""
