“Please, we can't let him die,” Josh mumbled in a voice that he was trying to maintain balance.
“I know.” Sparkle kept up the demanding pace, aware of his panting breaths and the way he began to lag. Slowing her speed to a fast walk, she kept pulling him onward. “We’ll stop once we’re a couple of blocks away,” she told him.
“What? We can’t, the time limit—”
“You’re not going to that address, Josh.”
“But if the police storm the place, the hostage-takers will kill him! Valentino’s father is probably their only source of income. They might starve this winter without him.”
“You’re not going,” she repeated, her tone making it clear she would tolerate no further argument.
“You said we had to make it look legit,” he shot back, his voice ringing with frustration despite his obvious fear and
