Road to Redemption - Michelle Dalton Page 0,52

back, this time hitting her target—his shin.

“Vok!” Marnus retracted his arm to slap the child but Mina threw herself in the way, copping the blow.

“Agh. Ever the fucking martyr.”

“Leave them, my love.” Becky, who was now dressed in a pair of skin-tight jeans, expensive boots and blouse, turned Marnus’s head and kissed him.

“Keep some for later when we’re done here.” He said.

“Come. There’s gotta be booze somewhere in this house, and we need to go over the plans. You sure Ben won’t come up?”

“No. According to Cyril, he’s lights out.” Becky nodded in Mina’s direction as the pair strode off.

“And the guests?”

“Last I heard, they’d fucked off to town for the night.”

“Good …” Their voices dimmed as they walked away.

Mina’s head spun from the slap Marnus had dealt. Her right eye was closing up from the swelling. Lullu leaned forward as if to get her attention.

Mina placed her head against her daughter’s to reassure her she was okay when the front door opened and closed again.

Mina and Lullu both stiffened until Rochelle’s familiar face peered around the corner, her finger on her lips.

Rochelle tiptoed toward the pair and knelt down, pushing Mina forward and slicing off her restraints, then doing the same to Lullu before helping them get rid of their gags.

Mina gasped for air, coughed into her hands, and gasped again.

‘s

“My—my office,” Mina whispered.

“They’re in the kitchen. Klein Piet is out front.” Rochelle whispered. “I won’t be able to get to your study. Will you be okay?”

“And just where in the hell do you think you’re going?” a voice called out.

The scuffling of chairs and pounding feet echoed through the house as Becky and Marnus ran in to the dining room.

Rochelle didn’t waste time. “Run, now!” She pushed Lullu to her feet. The small girl darted past Klein Piet, who came running up behind Marnus and Becky. He reached for her daughter and Mina dove on to him.

Lullu’s shrill scream echoed through the house and then silence. Klein Piet fought to get Mina off of him, but she managed a knee in the groin where they struggled on the floor, and then smacked his head on the cold floor tiles.

“Enough!” a deep voice called out, and Mina rolled onto her back, her ability to draw in a clean breath worsening. Marnus grabbed Rochelle, and Becky pointed a gun to Mina’s sister-in-law’s head. Thank God Lullu had gotten away!

“I-I sw-swear, if you killed my boet …” Becky’s weapon-loaded hand shook.

“I think he’s just passed out.” Marnus peered past Rochelle to Piet. Her large blue eyes were wide and fear-filled.

“Come here.” He motioned with his head for Mina to get up and walk over to him.

“Ta-take the abalone and go. There’s no need for all of this!” Mina wheezed.

“No, but we do love to have our fun. Saw some great work on another farm with an iron. Liefie, go find the iron.” He grinned at Becky, who nodded as she handed Marnus the revolver.

Mina rolled over onto her hands and knees, her chest spasmed and burned.

“Yeah, I’d planned on catching up with some extra work today.” The look of utter evil which danced in her dark brown eyes caused Mina to retch and clutch her belly.

Ray slotted ammunition into the point two-two rifle and readied it for action.

“Know your guns, eh?” Ben commented as he gripped two semi-automatic pistols before sliding them into their holsters on either side of his hips.

“Didn’t know ex-crims were allowed gun licenses.” Ray slid a cap he took off Ben’s table on backward. He smiled inwardly when Ben’s nose flared and his mouth pulled askew affirming Ray’s suspicions.

“This is South Africa, boet. Place a two hundred-rand note in the right hand and you get what you need.”

“And what else have you paid for, Ben?” Ray stepped toward him, squaring his shoulders.

Thomas intervened as the two bristled. “Boys. Stay focused. You two cocks can beat the snot out of each other as soon as we’ve got these fuckers cornered.” Thomas slid his pistol into his holster.

“Okay. Give me that scope.” Thomas pointed to the item he’d removed from the rifle sitting on Ben’s desk.

“Make sure your men and the inmates don’t come anywhere near the house,” Thomas ordered Ben, and Ray smirked inwardly. He liked seeing the bully of Redemption Farm being told what to do.

“All inmates are in lockdown. Guards know to keep out of the way. They’re not trained for this anyway.”

Ray snorted, and Thomas held up his hand as a warning to both men.

“Follow