If I Should Die_ A Novel of Suspense - Allison Brennan [109]
“I’m. Going. To. Kill. You.” Sean’s breath came hard and fast and his vision clouded.
I’m sorry, Lucy. Oh, God, no.
His chest tightened to the point of physical pain, but he didn’t care. Lucy was dead. He couldn’t see her, hold her, kiss her good-bye. Just one last kiss.
Unshed tears burned his eyes and something deep inside twisted so tight that he felt broken. Paul Swain’s words came back to him, in a haunting tone.
Vengeance is mine.
How could Sean live without her? It would be no life. If he got out of this alive, he would kill Ian and Omar and Bobbie Swain. He’d shoot them or choke them, but either way they’d be dead.
“Everything’s working just fine now,” Omar said from the passenger seat.
Ian disagreed. “Everything is fucked up, she’s not going to be happy. Word is Lowell is backing down.”
“That sucks, but maybe we can resolve it.”
Ian laughed humorlessly. “He’ll never work with her again. She’s going to take out her anger on someone. Better him than me.” Ian glanced in the rearview mirror.
Sean kicked the bench seat in front of him, over and over, the pain and anger still building inside until he thought he would explode, and still it grew.
Omar laughed. “Look, Ian, he’s all choked up. Sorry, Romeo, it’s not personal. But man, was your Juliet one fine lady.”
Sean threw his body against the seat in front of him, not coming up with a plan, just reacting out of raw rage. Omar smacked him hard and Sean fell on the backseat, biting his lip to keep from screaming.
But his mind worked separate from his emotions. He repeated Omar’s words over and over until he realized exactly what they meant.
Romeo thought Juliet was dead, but she wasn’t.
Pushing the grief and anger aside, Sean focused on coming up with a plan. His emotions were still on overload, but he mentally repeated that Lucy was alive. He had to focus on his current situation, listen carefully, and take advantage of any opportunity.
He knew he didn’t have a lot of time.
THIRTY-SIX
With Adam following in the ATV, Ricky drove his car to the Kelley Mine’s main entrance. He was worried about being seen, but it seemed Gary Clarke and Uncle Butch were still at the Foster house waiting to surprise Sean.
He was preparing to send Sean a message about the trap and tell him what he was doing, but as he was about to press send, he feared that Sean was already in trouble—or dead. Instead, he called. A man answered who sounded nothing like Sean. Ricky almost hung up, then the man said, “Who’s this?”
“Who’s this?” Ricky responded.
“FBI Special Agent Noah Armstrong. You’re calling the cellular phone of Sean Rogan.”
Ricky sighed in relief. “I’m Ricky Swain.”
“Are you all right?”
“Adam Hendrickson and I are looking for Tim. Three men came to the Foster house where we were hiding. They were driving Tim’s truck, and are now waiting at the Fosters’ for Sean to show up. My Aunt Bobbie wants him.”
“And you are looking for Tim Hendrickson where?” asked the FBI agent.
Ricky hesitated. How could he be certain the man he was talking to was a real agent? And even if he was, he could be a bad cop—Ricky knew Deputy Weddle worked for his aunt.
“You still there, Ricky?”
“Yes.”
“Sean’s partner Patrick is with me. He says Tim was heading to the mine.”
Ricky sighed audibly. He had to be legit, right? “I’m almost there.”
“I need to advise you that it could be dangerous. It would be safer if you came into town. We’re on our way to secure the Lock & Barrel and use it as a staging area.”
“Adam is worried about his brother. We’re headed to the mine first.”
He heard voices, but couldn’t understand what they were saying.
Then the cop said, “I’m not going to lie to you, Ricky. Your aunt has Sean.”
“It’s my fault. I should have found a way to warn him.” Ricky frowned, wishing he knew what to do.
“It wasn’t your fault, Ricky.”
In the dark, he almost missed the road that led to the main entrance to the Kelley Mine. He turned quickly, and his car bounced down the