He shakes his head. “That’s exactly why you won’t kill me.”
“What did you do?”
“I tied my life to hers.”
I hold up his cell phone. “But I have the key to ensuring your man doesn’t kill Kai before I get there. He texts you regularly, and you respond. All I have to do is keep up the charade until I’ve reached Alaska and killed him.”
He smirks. “So you’ve figured out where Kai is. Good for you. I always knew you were the smart one in the family,” he says sarcastically.
“You should choose your last words more carefully.”
“The text exchange isn’t what is keeping Kai alive.”
I frown.
“What then?”
“Kill me and find out.”
He won’t tell me. He could be bluffing. This whole thing could be an elaborate lie. But my hope is too strong.
And my fear of losing Kai stronger.
I won’t risk her life to get my revenge.
I growl and then knock him out with my gun.
Felix is right—I can’t kill him. Not until I figure out how his life is tied to Kai. Is Beckett the only man who will be ready to kill her if Felix is reported dead? Are there others? Did he hook up some explosives? What?
I don’t know.
I just know I need Felix contained until I can figure out if Kai is alive. And how to keep her safe.
I pull out my own cell and dial the direct line to detective Perry.
“Hello?” he answers.
“I have another one for you. In the back alley behind the club. He was trying to make an escape, but I knocked him out.”
“Good work, I’ll be right there.”
I hang up as I wait for the police to apprehend Felix. It’s a temporary solution at best. Felix will escape prison easily. He has too much money and resources not to. But it will give me a head start.
Felix starts coming to as the footsteps approach. It doesn’t take him long to register what’s happening as the police officers lift him off the ground and put handcuffs on his wrists.
Felix looks right at me with a smug smirk. “Tick-tock,” he says as the police drag him away.
I don’t have to ask what the meaning is behind his words. Kai’s life is on the line. I have no idea how long I have to get to her. I don’t know what danger and traps Felix may have set. Or if this is all a mind game he’s playing with me.
All I know is I need to get to Alaska as soon as possible and pray that Kai is still alive by the time I get there.
10
Kai
“We need to get you into bed,” my father says.
“The doctor said I need to rest and take it easy for a couple of days, not that I need bedrest. All I’ve done is lay in a hospital bed for the last couple of days. Let’s go sit out on the back porch and have some tea or something,” I say.