Chapter 98 Chaos
CAITLYN'S POV
The gunfire was so loud I could barely hear anything else. It was coming from everywhere. The front. The back. Upstairs. Everywhere.
People were running and screaming. Guards are shooting at the police. Police are shooting back. Members of Collin's organization are trying to get out. It was complete chaos.
"Get her," Collin yelled pointing at me. "Get her now."
Two guards grabbed my arms before I could run. I tried to fight them off but they were too strong.
"Let me go," I screamed. "Someone help me."
But no one helped. Everyone was too busy trying to save themselves. Running for the exits. Trying not to get shot.
"Bring her," Collin ordered the guards.
They dragged me toward the back of the room. Away from the doors. Away from any chance of escape.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked.
"Somewhere safe," Collin said. "Somewhere they cannot get to you."
"Jason is here," I said. "He will find me. He will stop you."
"He will try," Collin said. "But he will fail."
We went through a door at the back of the meeting room. Into a hallway I had never seen before. The guards were still dragging me. My feet barely touched the ground.
"Please," I begged. "Please just let me go. You do not have to do this."
"Yes I do," Collin said. "You are my insurance. As long as I have you I can negotiate my way out of here."
"No one is going to negotiate with you," I said. "You are finished Collin. It is over."
"It is not over until I say it is over," Collin said.
We reached the end of the hallway. There was a heavy steel door there. Collin pulled out a key and unlocked it.
"Inside," he ordered.
The guards shoved me through the door and I stumbled. Caught myself on a table. We were in some kind of storage room. No windows. Only one door. The one we just came through.
Collin came in behind me and locked the door. The guards stayed outside.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"Panic room," Collin said. "Built it years ago in case I ever needed to hide. Looks like I finally get to use it."
"They will find us," I said. "The police. Jason. They will find us and break down that door."
"That door is steel reinforced," Collin said. "Three inches thick. They will not break through it."
"Then they will wait you out," I said. "You cannot stay in here forever."
"I do not need forever," Collin said. "I just need long enough to figure out my next move."
He pulled out his phone and tried to make a call. But there was no signal.
"No reception in here," Collin said. "The steel blocks it. That is a problem."
"Good," I said. "That means you cannot call for help either."
"I do not need help," Collin said. "I have you. That is all the help I need."
I put my hands on my stomach protectively. The baby was moving. Could it sense my fear? Could it tell that something was wrong?
"Please do not hurt my baby," I said. "Whatever you are going to do to me please do not hurt my baby."
"That depends on what happens next," Collin said. "If Cross and the police are smart they will let me walk out of here. Let me leave the country. If they do that then maybe I let you live."
"And if they do not?" I asked.
"Then you die," Collin said simply. "You and the baby both."
"You are going to use us as hostages," I said. "You are going to threaten to kill us unless they let you go."
"Exactly," Collin said. "See? You are finally starting to understand how this works."
Outside the door, I could hear voices. Footsteps running past. More gunfire in the distance.
"They are searching for us," I said. "They are going to find this room."
"Let them find it," Collin said. "This door will not open unless I open it. And I am not opening it until I get what I want."
"Jason will not negotiate with you," I said. "He will find a way in."
"Then he will watch you die," Collin said.
He pulled out his gun and checked it. Made sure it was loaded. Then he pointed it at me.
"Sit down," he ordered.
"Where?" I asked. There were no chairs. Just shelves with supplies.
"On the floor," Collin said. "Against that wall. And do not move."
I sat down slowly. My whole body was shaking. The baby was kicking frantically now. Like it knew we were in danger.
"It is going to be okay little one," I whispered. "Jason is here. He is going to save us."
"He is not going to save you," Collin said. "No one is."
There was a loud bang on the door. Someone is trying to get in.
"Caitlyn," a voice yelled. Jason's voice. "Caitlyn are you in there?"
"Jason," I screamed. "Jason I am here. I am in here with Collin."
"Shut up," Collin said. He moved closer and pointed the gun at my head.
"Open the door Hayes," Jason yelled. "It is over. Let her go."
"It is not over," Collin yelled back. "And I am not letting her go. She is my insurance policy."
"What do you want?" Another voice. Rourke.
"I want safe passage out of here," Collin yelled. "I want a car. I want to be allowed to drive to the airport. I want to leave the country. If you give me that I will let Caitlyn go once I am safe."
"We cannot do that," Rourke said. "You know we cannot do that."
"Then she dies," Collin said. He pressed the gun harder against my head. "Right now. I will shoot her right now."
"Do not do this Hayes," Rourke said. "Think about what you are doing."
"I have thought about it," Collin said. "This is my only way out. Either you let me go or I kill her. Those are your options."
"You kill her and you have nothing," Rourke said. "You lose all your leverage."
"Maybe," Collin said. "But at least I will have the satisfaction of knowing she is dead. That she cannot testify. That she cannot destroy me."
"Please Collin," I said. "Please do not do this."
"Quiet," Collin said. "Let me think."
Outside the door, I could hear Jason and Rourke talking in low voices. Trying to figure out what to do. Trying to find a way to save me.
But I did not think there was a way. Collin had us trapped. Had me trapped. And he was desperate enough to do anything.
"Collin," I said quietly. "What if I promise not to testify? What if I promise to disappear? To never bother you again?"
"It is too late for that," Collin said. "You already gave your statement. The damage is done."
"But without me there in person, the statement is just hearsay," I said. "It is not as strong. You could fight it."
"Or I could just kill you and eliminate the problem completely," Collin said.
"But then you have nothing to negotiate with," I said. "At least if I am alive I am useful. I am leveraging."
Collin looked at me. I could see him thinking. Considering.
"Maybe," he said. "Or maybe I just end this now."
He raised the gun and I closed my eyes. Waited for the shot. Waited for the end.