The Tomorrow Heist Read Online Free Page A

so she could warn Jonathan and Lew.
    â€œMiss Burrows, be sensible,” George said, his voice quieter as he feigned compassion.
    No one had called her that name in over a year. It was her pen name back when she was a writer though her only work had been about The Monarch, Jonathan and Lew’s abandoned alter ego.
    â€œIf I were sensible, I would have put a slug into your psychotic brain when I had the chance,” Emily said. This enraged George again.
    â€œAnother!” he shouted. The masked man wound up and hit her again, this time with a closed fist. He hit her so hard, her slender frame was knocked right out of the chair, and one of her hands tore loose of her taped bondage. Lying on the floor, the chair still attached to one hand and on top of her, she fought for breath, coughing. She felt something in her mouth and spit it out. Another tooth landed on the carpet beside the first—­right beside her phone.
    â€œPick her up, idiot,” George barked from the screen.
    The man crouched to pick her up but hesitated. He reached past her head and under the couch.
    No!
    Up on her knees, she swung her free hand, knocking the phone from his hand. Then she gripped the arm of the chair in her still-­taped hand, looking into the eyes of her assailant. It only took him a second to realize what she was going to do.
    â€œDon’t—­”
    She swung the chair at him with all her strength. The hardwood legs slammed into his face and raised arms. As he howled, and before the other man could react, she drove one of her long legs into the wounded man’s midsection. With an oof! , the masked brute fell back against her bookshelf, howling. She tried to get to her feet to smash the phone, but the wounded hood’s partner swung his gun at her. She caught his arm and used her weight and the swing’s momentum to pull him down onto the floor with her, slamming her knee into his throat. Before she could do anything else, the first man picked her up from behind and tossed her and the chair through the air against the same bookshelf. Excruciating pain burst out from her side as she fell to the floor in a heap, the chair smashing to bits. She fought for her breath, every inhale now a stabbing pain. Lew had taught her how to defend herself, but in the end she was just too slight.
    The man who’d thrown her picked up the phone while his partner lay motionless where she’d left him. She wanted to jump up and run away, but the pain was just too much. She could feel her consciousness starting to swim. But through all of that, the worst thing she felt was the grief.
    Emily had almost been responsible for Jonathan’s and Lew’s demise two years ago, but she’d made amends, and in the end, she’d not only helped them, she’d had a torrid love affair with Lew. But it was all for naught. She was right back where she’d been at the start, responsible for their impending deaths. All because she cared.
    She’d felt sorry for Natalie, being left alone. She understood why Jonathan had severed contact with her, but that didn’t mean she agreed with his actions. Despite her promise to him, she’d been calling Natalie on a regular basis, keeping her up to date on her father and her uncle Lew. Not that Emily’s motivations would matter if George got ahold of Natalie.
    â€œI’ve got it, sir!” the masked man exclaimed. “His daughter’s phone number.”
    â€œPlease! She’s just a—­” Emily’s pleas were cut off by a kick to her side.
    â€œBring me the girl.”
    â€œWhat about Burrows?” the underling asked, looking at his partner. “I think she might have killed Neill.”
    George didn’t even hesitate. “Kill her.” The screen went blank. George was gone, along with Emily’s chances of saving Natalie.
    And that was it. It was over. The sin she’d committed years ago returned in full.
    The man