Chapter 15 - The Price of Loyalty
Rosie lifted her chin. “I'm not afraid of either of you.”
Price pushed her toward a crate. “You should be.”
Mara's stomach turned. The rescue team had a plan for Evan, but not for an unexpected hostage. She kept her hands visible and her voice steady.
“Malcolm, you knew my mother.”
Price swallowed. “She was the best person on our block.”
“Then how can you stand here?”
“Because there are people with mortgages and kids and mistakes they can't take back.”
“That doesn't explain hurting mine.”
Price glanced at Victor. “I never wanted any of this.”
Victor scoffed. “You took the money.”
“You made sure I couldn't refuse it.”
“Everybody can refuse.”
“Like Helen refused?” Mara asked.
Victor turned toward her, fury climbing his neck. “Your mother was going to expose us all.”
“She was going to expose you.”
“She signed the papers.”
“Because you told her the fund would protect families.”
For a moment the only sound was water hitting the pilings. Victor stared at Mara with the stunned rage of a man hearing his own excuses spoken back to him.
Price shifted closer to Rosie. “Just finish the exchange.”
Mara watched his hands. One hovered near the inside pocket of his raincoat; the other trembled.
“Malcolm,” she said, “this ends without anyone else getting hurt. Put Rosie behind the crates and walk out where they can see you.”
Price's face changed. “Who can see me?”
Sirens sounded in the distance—too soon. Somewhere, a patrol unit had turned into the access road before the signal.
Victor grabbed Mara's arm. His fingers clamped over the bruises he'd made the night before.
“You brought them,” he snarled.
Evan rushed forward. Price drew a pistol. Mara shoved Victor away and threw herself between the gun and her brother.
May you like
The shot shattered the floodlight above them.
Darkness swallowed the pier.
