“Stop it!” I screamed. I didn’t know if I was yelling at her or at him.
Hannah stopped fighting the guard, but she still gave him a filthy look. He pressed the gun firmly against her, not budging, looking as if he’d be thrilled for an excuse to pull the trigger.
“Let her go!” I shrieked. “Let her come to me. That was the deal.”
“You have to come here first,” the guard with the red beard called. “Step away from the vehicle.”
“Don’t you dare!” Hannah yelled at me. “Don’t do it, Lauren!”
I shook my head at her, hoping to shut her up, and took several wobbly steps toward them. Hannah watched me, that same furious look on her face. Her blonde hair was matted, hanging over her shoulder, and her normally impeccable clothes were torn and dirty beyond recognition.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Not if you come any closer,” she said fiercely.
“Let her go,” I told the guard who was holding his gun to her. “Let her go, and Li Na can have what she wants. Me.”
“Hold on,” Big Red said. He came toward me and thoroughly patted me down. “She’s clean.” He nodded at his partner.
The guard shoved Hannah toward me.
She stood there, not moving, watching me warily.
I held out my hand. “It’s okay, Hannah. Come to me. We’re going to get you out of here.”
She jutted her chin out defiantly. “No.”
My eyes filled with tears as absolute panic descended on me. I have to get her into the car. “Please. It’s okay. They’re not going to hurt you.”
She nodded. “I know they’re not. But they’re not going to hurt you either. They shot Wes already. I’m not having another person get hurt to protect me—especially not you. I’m not worth it.” Her voice shook.
“Wesley is alive, he’s doing better, but he needs you. You. Because you are important, and you mean everything to him. And to me.” I took a step toward Hannah, noticing that the guard still had his weapon trained on her. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay. Just come to me and get in the car. Please.”
Hannah didn’t budge. I suddenly remembered a time when we were little, when she’d found a bird about to die in the woods. Even though it was getting dark and we were going to get in big trouble, she wouldn’t leave it. I’d cried, and I’d begged her, but she wouldn’t move. I remembered the wild panic I’d felt as I’d watched the sky darken. A child’s terror, stark and overwhelming. I was older, but I felt the same way right now. I couldn’t leave her. She was so stubborn—and if she didn’t do what I said, we were both going to be lost.
“Hannah. Listen to me.” Except I had nothing to say. I couldn’t tell her Levi and his team were waiting nearby. I’d ruin everything. “Li Na wants me alive. She’s not going to hurt me. I talked to her. We’ve figured it all out. We have a deal.”
Hannah shook her head, tears coursing down her face. “It’s a trap, Lauren. I meant what I said.”
I clenched my fists. I could feel the guards watching us. “Just get in the car.”
“I’m not going to let you sacrifice yourself for me. I told you, I’m tired of that Mother Teresa act.” She smiled at me through her tears and took a step back, turning to the
guard. “There’s not going to be a trade. But would you consider letting us both go? We could pay you.” She jerked her thumb at me. “My sister’s a billionaire, and her boyfriend’s a mega-billionaire. We could totally make it worth your while. We can triple whatever it is you’re being paid—or more. Cash. And you can both walk away, no questions asked.”
Hope kindled in my chest because Hannah finally sounded like herself, attempting to throw money at the problem.
The guards looked at each other. Big Red looked as if he were considering it, but the other guard grunted. “No deal—I don’t trust them. We have strict instructions. You go, she stays. If that doesn’t happen, we’re bringing you back.” He looked up at me. “Both of you.”
Hannah ran at him. “No! You can’t!”
He shoved her off and turned the gun on her.
“Hannah!” I screamed hoarsely.
She sank to her knees in front of the burly guard, her eyes never leaving his face.
“Just do it,” she said. “Shoot me!”