He Folded for a Fraud

In a split second, he shoved me forward.

Irene screamed and fell into Shane's arms. A sweaty hand that stank like cheap tobacco clamped onto mine.

Cold steel pressed to my neck.

The blade nicked my skin, a thin, icy line of blood.

Shane just lowered his head, soothing Irene. "It's okay. Irene, don't be scared. I'm here."

He never looked back.

Irene glanced at the blood on my neck, brows lifting in triumph, then clung tighter to him.

"Shane, I'm so scared. It's filthy here. Can you take me away first?"

Shane scooped her up.

The kidnapper roared, "No one leaves! You think you can just walk away? Call her rich mom. Ten million in cash in thirty minutes—or I kill her!"

Before he even finished, Irene grabbed Shane's arm, voice shaking. "Shane, let's go. I'm too scared to stay. He's bluffing. He won't kill her—if he does, he gets nothing!"

The kidnapper snapped. The knife dug deeper into my neck. "You think I'm scared? Try it! I said I'll kill her! Make the call!"

The cut split open. Blood ran down the blade, dripping to the ground.

Shane looked at me—my face drained from blood loss. His eyes wavered.

Irene caught it.

Right on cue, she whimpered, then went limp.

"Irene!" Shane pulled her close. The hesitation vanished.

He clenched his jaw, decision made.

Holding her, he forced out, "Lana, I'm sor—"

Bang!

A shot cracked through the air.

The bullet punched through the kidnapper's forehead. The knife hit the ground.

A body dropped behind me. The grip on my arm was gone.

I stood there, frozen. Forgot how to breathe.

Across from me, Shane looked just as stunned. Even Irene—supposedly out—jerked awake in his arms.

Seconds later, SWAT stormed up from the first floor.

My mom was with them.

She rushed over and pulled me in. "Medics! My daughter's neck is injured! Stop the bleeding!"

Only then did it click—the messages I sent from the car.

The cut wasn't deep. A few wraps stopped the bleeding.

Once they cleared me, I pulled away from my mom.

I walked straight to Shane.

He opened his mouth, eyes flicking, like he wanted to explain.

"Lana, I—"

Slap!

I didn't let him finish. My hand cracked across his face.

His head snapped to the side. He just stared.

I raised my hand again.

Slap!

The second hit knocked him off balance. He went down.

When I went in for another hit, the officers and medics finally snapped out of it and pulled us apart.

My mom stepped in. "Lana, your neck's still injured. Don't push it. Come to the hospital for a full check. The PD heads are on their way. We'll get answers."

I closed my eyes, forcing it all down, and left with her.

Later, I heard what happened after we left—Robert Lambert, the chief of Halcyon PD, saw Shane, pointed straight at him, and snapped.

"Forcing a hostage swap? This is a disgrace! Shane Terrell, you're suspended pending investigation!"