Page 154 of Trapped Truth

“Nevertheless, I’ll have to decline. I have a ride out of here secured. But first, I will be requiring that my traitorous son be returned to where he belongs.”

“You’ll have to prise him from our cold, dead hands,” I snap in fury.

“That can be arranged.” Nolan looks down at his fingernails, as though our presence is boring him.

“You and what army?” Hyland barks a laugh. “Your ranks are crumbling!”

True enough, the occasional scuffles that emanate through our earpieces indicate just how distracted his remaining men are. Nolan is without backup. Unprotected. We’ve got him cornered like a scared rat, though his confident veneer refuses to falter.

“I’m willing to gamble there are two people here who want a piece of my precious Angela for themselves.” Nolan nudges the gun at the base of her skull.

“Hurt a hair on her head, and face the consequences.” A steady calm emanates from Azrael.

“You think I didn’t know about your affair? It was hardly subtle. My own staff… All this time. Frankly, I’d rather enjoy painting the walls with her brains just to punish you.”

“Let her go.” Blaine inches closer, near-vibrating with rage.

“In exchange for what?” Nolan leers at him.

“You want me, right?”

“No!” Ember thrashes as Hyland wraps two iron bands around her.

He ignores us all, tensing in preparation to spring. “It’s a basic exchange. Surrender my mother, and I’ll come willingly. We can finish this between the two of us.”

“Why should I trust your word?” Nolan challenges.

“Because unlike you, I understand the value of family.” Forehead terse, Blaine spares us a quick glance. “If this is what it takes to free the woman who birthed me, then it’s a price I’m willing to pay.”

“No!” Angela cries weakly.

“Silence!” With a sudden pistol whip, Nolan strikes her exposed shoulder. “Do not speak or it’ll be the last thing you do.”

“You won’t have my son!”

“I said silence! Else your precious son will watch you die!”

She collapses into a helpless lump, sobbing freely. It only seems to steel Blaine further as his feet spread and shoulders tighten. He tucks his weapon, hands opening in a wide-open plea for mercy.

“Do you agree to the trade?”

“Blaine! Stop!” Ember bucks and fights, unable to shake off her captor.

I’m caught between tackling the man and waiting for his plan to unfold. This can’t be it. He isn’t so stupid. But I worry that Ember might not have another second in her. If she breaks free, she’ll go after him.

“You’re a fool, Blaine.” Nolan shakes his silver head in clear dismay. “I don’t know how I raised such a pathetic, weak excuse of a man.”

“I guess we’ll never know,” Blaine responds with faux cheer. “Deal or not?”

“Toss the weapons. All of them.”

“Gladly.”

“You’re going to approach slow. No funny business.”

“Understood, Father.”

Without a word to the contrary, Azrael moves to let Blaine pass him. I’m internally screaming for someone to stop his approach. Even if deep down, I know it must be done. Angela won’t survive any other outcome.