Amber Morn Read Online Free Page B

Amber Morn
Book: Amber Morn Read Online Free
Author: Brandilyn Collins
Tags: Fiction, General, Suspense, Suspense fiction, Christian fiction, Religious, Christian, Idaho, Resorts, Hostages
Pages:
Go to
for his youngest son.
    He breathed in, breathed out.
Walk normal. Look normal.
He could hear Mitch sucking air, could
feel
his pent-up energy. Brad’s shoulders were back, his face like stone.
    Five more feet. Kent slipped a hand into his jacket pocket, squeezed the cold metal of his weapon.
    Hold back. Not yet.
    They reached the door. Kent threw it open and yanked out his gun.

TEN
     
    John Truitt had just stepped onto the sidewalk, headed for Java Joint, when he saw the three men. Two carrying duffel bags. No one else on the street — typical for this early on a Saturday morning. Retail shops didn’t open until ten.
    Something about those men. They walked like they were in no particular hurry. But those duffel bags… and their straight backs and roving eyes didn’t —
    The pen
. And his cell phone. He’d left them in the car.
    John sighed and turned back toward the Subaru. The new epilepsy medication really addled his brain. Made him light-headed too. He was already running late. S-Man had probably signed his contract by now — without the fancy new pen John had bought him. Should have had Bailey bring the present.
    He opened the passenger door and leaned down to fetch the gift from the seat. The pen was in a nice wooden box, wrapped in green paper. John snatched it up and straightened — too fast. Dizziness hit.
    He shook his head and blinked, waiting it out. With a deep breath, he closed the car door.
    Back on the sidewalk, he realized he’d still left his cell phone behind.
    Forget it
. He wouldn’t need it anyhow.
    The three men had disappeared. Must have gone into Java Joint.
    John smiled to himself.
Wonder if they know they’re walking into a party.

ELEVEN
     
    Paige noticed a flicker of worry on Bailey’s face and suspended her hands midclap. In front of her, Frank kept applauding. Paige leaned over the counter toward Bailey. “Something wrong?”
    She tossed her head. “Oh no, it’s okay. I was just wondering where John is. He’s supposed to be here, but this new medication he’s taking…”
    Bailey’s eyes focused over Paige’s shoulder, toward the window. Her expression flattened. Paige turned. Spotted three men approaching the door. Two of them were carrying duffel bags.
    The hard looks on their faces…
    Paige reached for Frank’s elbow.
    The door flew open. The three men leapt inside.
    Guns. They had
guns
.
    “Freeze!”
    “Don’t move!”
    “Freeze now!”
    Everyone’s head snapped around.
    The men threw down two duffel bags, and one landed with a clatter. The last man inside banged the door shut and bolted it. Three weapons pointed.
    Brittany and Ali shrieked. Frank whipped his right hand toward his gun.
    The first of the three men fired.
    Bam-bam-bam
.
    Frank jerked back, and his hands flew up.
    He crumpled at Paige’s feet.
    No!
    Paige screamed. Someone else screamed. The room shattered into chaotic wails.
    Paige sank to her knees, all breath stopped in her throat. “Frank.
Frank
!”
    “Get up!” The man who shot him stalked over, weapon pointed at her face. “Get up
right now
and move back to the counter.”
    The youngest man’s face twisted. “All of you, shut up! And get your hands in the air!”
    Screams choked into stunned gasps. Shaking hands raised.
    The barrel jammed into Paige’s cheek. “Get up.
Now
.”
    She moved. Somehow. Pushed to her feet and shuffled back a step. A second. Swaying. Nausea clawing at her stomach. Her blurring gaze fixed on Frank. He wasn’t moving.
    Dear God, please, no, no, no

    Her heel hit the base of a stool. Seconds ago, Frank had stood right there. Clapping.
    This isn’t happening. It isn’t real.
    Paige smacked both hands over her mouth.
Please, Frank. Move.
    The man who shot Frank backed up. His face was red, deep-set eyes narrowed. “Brad, go!”
    The second man stood near the first, gun pointed. He rested on one foot, the other leg bouncing. His cheeks were sunken and the pupils of his beady eyes huge. Sweat ran down his

Readers choose