there, but I knew I shouldn’t direct it toward him.
“I have to go there now, Thom.”
“I know, man. I get it. But listen to me.” He paused to right himself and then continued. “I heard from the people up north. They’re taking your deal.”
“When are they coming?”
Thom checked his watch. “An hour.”
I nodded slowly. “They’re coming here in an hour.”
“With muscle, too. Apparently Rigley doesn’t want to give Jay any time to regroup before they hit him.”
“I have to go now.”
“No. If you do that, you’re dead. But if you wait for Rigley and his muscle, we’ll get Becca back.”
“I can’t let her stay there. It’s my fucking fault.” I clenched my jaw, trying not to let my frustration spill out on him again. “I put her in there.”
“I get it. I really do. But going now is a suicide mission and might hurt her more in the end. Look, Rigley wants the money you have. He won’t let Becca get hurt.”
I turned my back on him and shoved out the door. I ignored his protests and started back into town, my head spinning.
I had to find them. I had to get Becca out, and I couldn’t wait an hour.
Rage filled me, spun down my limbs, and made my pulse race through leaping jumps. I was so full of adrenaline and anger that I didn’t hear Thom come up behind me.
He tackled me hard, sending me to the ground. I threw up my hands and broke my fall, but he was on me already, struggling with my pack. I felt him grab my gun and yank it free.
“Get the fuck off me,” I grunted.
He held the gun at me. “Stop struggling, Climber. This is for your own good.”
“Fuck you, Thom. Kill me if you want to but I’m going.”
He pressed me down, gun against my temple. “You think that’ll help, getting your ass killed? Do you even know where you’re going?”
“I can’t stay here. They have Becca.”
“They do, but only since yesterday. She’s fine, man. We’ll get her back but you can’t kill yourself in the process.”
I took deep, calming breaths.
I knew he was right. I knew he was right. I knew it but I couldn’t help wanting to get out there and do something.
“Rigley has to let me come,” I said finally.
“He will, man.”
Thom moved back and let me go, still holding on to the gun.
I slowly got up. “We wait an hour. If they’re not back, I’m leaving.”
“Okay. Fine.”
I stared at him. “Gun.” He handed it to me. “Don’t hit me from behind like that again.”
He grinned. “Roger that, Climber.”
We walked slowly back toward his trailer.
Thom was right. Getting myself killed wasn’t going to help Becca. As much as I despised waiting and hated myself for getting her involved at all, I knew that I couldn’t rush out there like an idiot and fuck everything up.
I’d wait one hour. After that, nothing was going to stop me.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Reid
They came in four huge black SUVs.
Forty-five agonizing minutes after Thom tackled me from behind, Rigley and his men pulled up and climbed out. There were twenty of them all together, each man carrying an assault rifle and wearing body armor. Each of them looked like they knew what they were doing.
Rigley laughed and threw his arms open when he saw me. “There’s my favorite thief.”
“Rigley.”
He embraced me and laughed. “This is a glorious day, thief. Why do you look so serious?”
“They have my stepsister.”
He pulled away. “Captive?”
I nodded.
He made a face. “Jay is scum. Real scum. I look forward to breaking him.”
“I’m coming with you guys.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You have training? Know how to kill a man?”
“They have my stepsister,” I said slowly. “I’m coming or we don’t have a deal.”
He frowned. “You’re trying to change the rules now?”
“Jay changed the rules. I have to come.”
Rigley studied me for a minute and I stared back at him. It didn’t matter to me whether he said yes or no, I knew I was going anyway. I’d walk if I had to.
“Okay. You ride with me.”
I nodded. “Fine.”
Rigley looked at a man with a deep scar down his right cheek. “Pierre, get this thief a vest.”
The man shrugged, took a drag of his cigarette, and then rooted around in the trunk of the SUV. He pulled out a black flak vest and tossed it to me.
I’d never worn one before. It was surprisingly heavy as I strapped it on. Rigley watched appraisingly.
“You look like a real badass now, thief,” he