He finished attaching some weird putty to the front door and added a piece of metal to it, tweaking something with his back to her. “Yeah, but think how beautiful the blast will be.” He smoothly moved to the front window, his pack in hand. “I’ve never felt the heat of a blast, you know. Sure, I’ve set a bunch and watched everything disintegrate, but I’ve never felt that.”

God, he was crazy.

Kat howled from the pantry, and Roscoe still hadn’t moved.

Dana waited until Gary started affixing another device to the front window before edging closer to the table. He’d put the gun away after tying her hands, so now was her only chance.

“You move and I’ll cut you,” he said, not turning around. “I’m going to cut you anyway, but it’ll happen sooner rather than later if you try to run.” He looked over his shoulder, his now blank eyes freaking her out. “I wouldn’t mind getting started, but I have a couple more windows to do first.”

She gulped down fear. He’d already wired the back slider, the door to the garage, and the windows in the master bedroom and bathroom. The office was the only window left. “You don’t have to do this. If you jump out of the office window, you can run and they won’t chase you. They’ll be worried about me.” And Roscoe. She didn’t want him to focus on the dog again, so she didn’t mention him. “Just go, Gary. Live a new life or something.”

He chuckled, finishing with the device. “Live a new life? Wolfe will never stop coming, and you know it.” Snagging her bound hands, he pulled her off the sofa and shoved her toward the office. “This ends today.”

She stumbled and then walked, trying to see if Roscoe was still breathing. Red matted his fur, and his eyes were closed. Was he moving? She couldn’t tell.

Gary shoved her harder, and she fell into the office, landing on her side. Pain blew up her forearm, and she twisted, kicking out and trying to trip him. He sidestepped her and looked down. “That wasn’t nice.” Pulling his boot back, he kicked her in the thigh.

Agony exploded in her leg, and she cried out, her eyes filling.

Pounding came from the front door this time. Gary shook his head. “They think they’re distracting me.”

How could she let them know the place was wired? If she yelled, he’d be on her in a second, and he’d promised to cut out her tongue. But could she get enough of a warning out first? Probably not.