Forever Hers by Walters, Ednah (top 50 books to read txt) 📕

“Shut up” He shoved her head with the gun. “Parents like you make me sick. You’re blessed with a child, a gift, and you treat him like dirt. Beat him like a dog. Starve him and laugh as he begs for food.” He was yelling by the time he finished.

Amy knew Nolan was talking about himself. “Leave them alone. They aren’t your parents, Nolan.”

“My parents, your parents, it makes no difference. They don’t deserve to be loved.” He glared at her. “Why do you love them after the way they treated you? I fed them lies and they bought them.”

More tears rolled down her mother’s face, muffled sounds coming from her gagged mouth. Amy knew she was sorry. Her e-mail had said it all.

“I know, Mom.”

Her dad’s eyes, filled with remorse, connected with Amy’s too. There was shame in his eyes. He also mumbled something too.

“Shut up. Both of you.” Nolan swung his gun between her parents.

Amy swallowed her panic.  Eddie’s teachings flashed through her head. Fool your opponent into thinking you’re helpless then attack.

“Please, Nolan,” Amy begged in a shaky voice she hoped sounded sincere. “Please, leave them alone. I’ll get the car keys and I promise to behave.”

“Stop sniveling. Here.” He thrust the flashlight at her. “Find your mother’s key.” The flashlight almost dropped and Nolan laughed. “You’re still the same spineless woman I married. Hurry up.”

Amy backed away and raced to the kitchen. She shone the flashlight around until she found her mother’s computer bag on the floor next to the kitchen table. She rummaged inside it and found the keys. She closed her hand on it, her mind racing as she plotted her next move.

“Amy?” Nolan called out, stressing the A and the Y like some sick psycho in a slasher film. “The clock is ticking.”

 “Her bag isn’t in here.”

“Check inside her car. Why do I have to think of everything, you stupid bitch?”

Amy pocketed the key then raced past the kitchen counter when she saw the steak knives and an idea popped in her head. She grabbed one and kept going. She yanked the door and entered the garage at a run, forgetting the step. She missed her step and fell, a cry escaping her, the knife and the flashlight slipping from her grasp.

“What happened?” Nolan called out. “What did you do now?” He sounded like he was moving toward her. Cursing, she crawled under the car to retrieve the knife and the flashlight.

***

“How far?” Eddie asked.

“It’s up this road.” Rod took the corner without slowing down. The FBI’s SUV followed close. “There it is the red-brick mansion at the top of the hill.”

The house had a low-lying brick fence and a pillared entrance with no gate. A winding road led to the house. Rod pulled up along the fence and parked. He and Rod jumped out. Agent Ross pulled up behind them. She was out of their SUV before her partner opened his door.

“Fitzgerald, you’re not going inside that house and that’s an order. You have no jurisdiction here.”

“Really? The woman I love is being held by a mad man and you’re talking to me about jurisdiction?” Eddie started toward the gate.

“Damn it, Fitzgerald,” she hurried after him. “We want this man off the street as much as you do.”

“Then go after him. I’m going to get Amy.” A gun cocked behind him but he kept walking. “Go ahead, Agent Ross. Shoot. I will crawl up the damn hill with a gunshot wound.”

She cursed. “Fine. Stop and let’s plan.”

Eddie turned and faced her, impatient to get moving. “Okay, what’s your plan?”

“Agent Carson and I will go to the front door and identify ourselves.” She looked over her shoulder. “The others will be here soon. We’ll have the house surrounded and we’ll give him no option but to surrender.”

“Hell no. Every time you guys have a hostage situation, there’s always a shootout and dead bodies. Not tonight. Give me ten minutes.”

“Detective—”

“Five minutes, Agent Ross. Your people aren’t here yet, so what do you have to lose?” He could see a line of cars zipping toward them.

Agent Ross glanced over her shoulder again and saw them too. “Fine. Five minutes then we’re coming in.”

Eddie took off at a run. He was nearing the gate when he realized he wasn’t alone. “Rod? What the hell are you doing?”

“I made a promise to watch your back,” the Cuban said.

Eddie scowled. “Promised to who?”

“Lambert, Faith, Ashley… Do you want me to continue listing the entire Fitzgerald clan or should we finish this?”

Eddie cursed. “Fine, but no sound and no talking.”

They crept toward the house, Eddie expecting gunshots. They were out in the open on the hilly lawn with no bushes or hedges to hide behind. If Nolan started shooting, they’d be sitting ducks.

Eddie frowned as they moved closer. The house was in total darkness. Maybe he’d made a mistake. Maybe they weren’t here. Even as doubt crept in, he knew Amy was here. His gut instinct had never failed him. They sprinted to the side of the garage and squatted, both of them breathing hard.

“Get the hell up from down there,” a male voice snarled from inside the garage. “I got the spare key.”

“I dropped the flashlight, but I got the keys…” A sharp cry came from Amy.

Eddie started toward the side door and indicated to Rod to follow him.

“You’re worthless. Get up and get inside the car,” Nolan ordered. “You’re driving. I’ll give you directions.”

Eddie hand closed on the handle and slowly turned it.

***

Amy struggled to her feet, her chin and hands scraped from being dragged on the garage floor. Nolan had grabbed her ankle and yanked her from under the car, but the deed was done. She might have slashed only one tire, but it was better than nothing, and the knife was under a pile of cardboard boxes in case Nolan bothered to look.

“Where are we going?” she asked, keeping her voice meek. The hand with the gun was above her.

“As