Chapter 5 - THE TRAP
“No police.”
Gabriel read the message twice.
Harper paced the apartment.
“We have to call someone.”
“You want to call Derek’s friends?”
“Not all cops are corrupt.”
“No.”
“But we don’t know which ones are.”
Harper hated that he was right.
Noah slept down the hall, unaware that somewhere three hours north, the only family they had left might be in danger.
Harper called Claire.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Her hands started shaking.
“I have to go.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“You’re exactly who they want.”
“She’s my aunt.”
“And this is a trap.”
“I know.”
“Then act like you know.”
Harper stopped.
“My entire life has been men telling me what I’m allowed to do.”
Gabriel flinched slightly.
She stepped closer.
“I left Derek because I was done obeying fear.”
“That isn’t what I’m asking.”
“It sounds exactly like it.”
Gabriel stared at her.
Then nodded.
“You’re right.”
Harper blinked.
“I am?”
“You’re going.”
“What?”
“I’m coming.”
“The message says alone.”
“They’ll believe you’re alone.”
Two hours later, Harper drove north through dark highways in a borrowed sedan.
Gabriel’s men followed nearly a mile behind without lights.
Gabriel sat low in the passenger seat.
“You’re terrible at following instructions,” Harper muttered.
“So I’m told.”
“If this goes wrong—”
“It won’t.”
“You can’t know that.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“But I can promise you won’t face him alone.”
They reached Claire’s farmhouse shortly after midnight.
All the lights were off.
Harper pulled into the driveway.
Gabriel disappeared through the trees toward the back.
Harper walked to the front door.
“Claire?”
Silence.
The door opened by itself.
Harper stepped inside.
“Aunt Claire?”
A lamp snapped on.
Derek sat at the kitchen table.
Harper froze.
He no longer wore a uniform.
That somehow made him look more dangerous.
“Hi, baby.”
“Where’s Claire?”
“Safe.”
“Show me.”
“Not yet.”
He gestured toward the chair across from him.
“Sit.”
“No.”
Derek sighed.
“You always make everything hard.”
“You kidnapped my aunt.”
“I needed you to listen.”
“I’m listening.”
“Come home.”
Harper almost laughed.
Derek’s face darkened.
“I mean it.”
“No.”
“Harper.”
“No.”
He stood.
She stepped backward.
“You ruined my career.”
“You ruined your career.”
“That rich bastard fed Internal Affairs lies.”
“He gave them evidence.”
Derek slammed his fist against the table.
“You think Ashford cares about you?”
Harper jumped despite herself.
Derek noticed.
His expression softened.
That softness was worse than rage.
“He collects broken things, Harper. People. Businesses. Politicians.”
He stepped closer.
“You’re just another thing he thinks he owns.”
“He doesn’t own me.”
“Not yet.”
Harper’s hand closed around the panic alarm hidden in her sleeve.
Derek suddenly grabbed her wrist.
She gasped.
His fingers found the device.
He ripped it away.
“You really thought I didn’t know?”
Harper’s stomach dropped.
Outside, Gabriel’s men waited for the signal.
A signal that would never come.
Derek smiled.
Then he pulled out a gun.
“You shouldn’t have brought him.”
Harper went still.
Derek looked toward the dark window.
“I know you’re out there, Ashford.”
Silence.
Derek pressed the gun against Harper’s side.
“Come inside.”
Harper whispered, “Gabriel, don’t.”
Derek shouted.
“NOW!”
The back door opened.
Gabriel stepped into the kitchen alone.
No weapon visible.
Hands empty.
Derek laughed.
“The devil came to save the maid.”
Gabriel looked only at Harper.
“You okay?”
She nodded.
Derek shoved the gun harder against her ribs.
“No touching reunion?”
Gabriel finally looked at him.
“If you hurt her—”
“What?”
Derek grinned.
“You’ll kill me?”
Gabriel’s voice was calm.
“No.”
He glanced toward the ceiling.
“I’ll let your partner do it.”
Derek’s smile vanished.
A floorboard creaked upstairs.
May you like
Eddie Pike stepped into view.
And his gun was pointed directly at Derek.
