Page 56 of Without Warning
Afraid for my baby, I drop the phone while my sister is still screaming my name.
“Do I know you?”I ask as I get out.
“You said no one would get hurt.You just wanted to talk to her.”Thompson stomps over, holding the woman’s arm.She’s struggling, trying to get away.
“I said you wouldn’t get killed.I didn’t make promises about anything else.Not when it comes to Daphne.”He raises the gun and shoots Thompson in the shoulder, then shoots the girl in the head.
I’m screaming and begging for my life.
“Don’t kill us,” Thompson begs.
My stomach revolts, and my heart clenches.
“Thompson, how could you?”I look at him, realizing he’s working with this maniac.
“Shut up, Daphne.I’ve waited a long time to get my hands on you.”
He strikes me over the head, knocking me to the ground.As I fall, I pray Darrell will find me, and that our baby and I will be alive when he does.
Darrell
My phone rings, and I glance at the screen.It’s an unknown caller.I send the call to voicemail and refocus on the meeting.This man, Spencer, wants to do business with Cronus and me.I’ve never heard of him, but we agreed to hear his proposal.It had to be this early-morning appointment.I’m already frustrated I couldn’t wake up with my wife like we normally do.She’s hiding something from me, and I suspect I know the answer.
The phone rings again.I ignore it until a text comes through.
Delphi
ANSWER MY FUCKING CALL!
When she calls back, I answer without even telling the guy to pause.
“What?”In my gut, I know something isn’t right.
“I have Daphne on my cell phone.I put it on speaker.Her detail has been attacked.She’s being taken.I’ve heard several gunshots already.The man ordered her out of the car and to leave her phone.Before that happened, she said Thompson stopped them to help a woman,” Delphi says, and my stomach drops to my feet.
“Keep her phone on the line.Cronus is here.”I turn to talk to him.
“There appears to be some emergency,” Spencer says.“I’ll call you soon.”He bolts for the door.
I’m on my feet and hurtle the chair next to me without a second thought.It hits him in the back, knocking him to the floor.
“What are you playing at?”I ask him, but he just moans.
Cronus is on him as Delphi starts crying into the phone.
“Darrell, the line just disconnected, and I can’t call it back.”
“Cronus, lock him down.There’s something going on.”
I run to my office.Jethro is up and out of his chair.
“What’s the matter?”
“She was taken.”That’s all I say.
I log on to my computer and open the app for the tracker in her wedding rings.It shows her ring is not moving but sitting on the road from the house.My gut clenches.That isn’t right.
“Delphi.”I put my phone to my ear.
