Page 136 of Secrets in the Deep

Roscoe’s deep laugh cut through the air as he stepped back, too close to the edge. “I’min control here. I have a knife to Emily’s throat. I can kill her anytime I want. Or you can shoot me, and both of us can fall off this roof. You choose.”

He was right. Ryan could lunge toward them, but he might not make it. Roscoe held the power.

With a low growl, Ryan slowly lowered his pistol to the roof.

Roscoe shook his head. “No. Drop it over the side.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened. He lifted the Glock, pressed the mag release, and caught the magazine in his other hand. Then he racked the slide. Once clean, he dropped everything over the side of the roof.

As he did, he caught sight of Zac circling around below, behind Roscoe.

Zac could shoot, he was a perfect shot. Get Roscoe right in the head. But if Roscoe moved suddenly or the bullet went clean through him, Emily could get hit. It was too risky. And even if it didn’t, like Roscoe said, she could go down with him.

Ryan inched forward. “What’s the plan, Roscoe?”

“Create an infamous ending for my movie.”

Another step forward, hands up, eyes only for Roscoe. “This isn’t a movie. This is real fucking life. And you’re looking down the barrel of a long stint in prison.”

“They’ll have to catch me first. You really think I didn’t plan for this? I know exactly where I’m going. I’ll be safe and sound as I watch the world’s response to my art.”

“Killing people is an art to you?” Another step closer. Two more and he’d be within reaching distance.

“Creating something worth watching is art. Creating something people will remember and talk about.”

“You really think people will remember this? It’ll be a two-second segment on the news, and the next night, there’ll be a different feature, and they’ll forget all about you.”

Fury cut through Roscoe’s expression.

Emily met Ryan’s gaze, her own flicking downward.

It was his only hint before she stomped on Roscoe’s foot.

Ryan used the second of distraction to lunge forward and grab the wrist that held the knife. He yanked it away from Emily’s throat even as he shoved her forward.

He and Roscoe dropped to the roof. He squeezed the man’s wrist until he felt a bone snap. Roscoe screamed. The knife dropped.

Immediately, Roscoe threw his head forward, an attempt to headbutt Ryan.

Ryan dodged it easily.

“You’ve ruined everything!” Roscoe yelled, before throwing a knee up.

Ryan rolled to the side to avoid a knee to the balls.

“Watch out!” Emily cried.

Ryan didn’t see it in time. Pain lanced through him as Roscoe plunged a small dagger into his side.

That was all it took. One moment of distraction and Roscoe weaseled his way out from beneath him, shot to his feet, and lunged for Emily.

The unsteady movement threw Roscoe off-balance.

“No!”

The shout had barely left Ryan’s mouth when Roscoe’s heels hit the edge of the roof.

He fell back.