Page 53 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

“I… I don’t know.”

“I’d need some assurances before I reach out to her. I’ll ask you again… If I promise to get Gigi on the phone, will you release her family members?”

“If I agree, you’re not going to fuck me over, are you?”

“I give you my word that if you release them, I’ll get Gigi on the phone for you. But I’m not going to wait all night, Ezra. You either take the deal, or you don’t.”

“I… I really want to talk to Gigi.”

“Then let them go, and I’ll get her on the phone.” While she waited to see what he would do, Sam used her own phone to call Dani.

“Hey,” Dani said.

“Are you aware of what’s going on at the Dominguez home in Fairfax?”

“What? No…”

“Ezra has taken Gigi’s mother, sister and nephews hostage.”

“Oh my God.”

“I’m there now, and I’ve got him on another line. I think he’ll let them go if he can talk to Gigi. Are you still at the hospital?”

“Yes, I’m with her.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to tell her what’s going on and ask her if she’s able to do this.”

“Hang on.”

In the background, Sam could hear the rumble of voices and the moan of agony from Gigi when Dani told her what was happening with her family.

“She’ll do it,” Dani said. “Patch the call through to my phone.”

“Stand by.” Sam ended that call and returned to the call with Ezra. “Gigi is willing to talk to you, Ezra, but only if you release her family members first.” While she waited for him to reply, she watched the house so intently that she barely blinked. Please, she thought. Please, let them go.

“Ezra, are you there?”

“I’m here. How do I know you aren’t going to fuck me over?”

“Because I gave you my word. Are you willing to give me yours? Will you release Gigi’s family?”

“I… Okay.”

Sam released the deep breath she’d been holding and turned to Dorsey. “Can you conference someone in on your phone?”

He took the phone from her. “What’s the number?”

Sam found Dani’s number in her contacts and recited it. “Don’t put it through yet.” She took back the phone from Dorsey. “Ezra, we’re ready to get Gigi on this call. All you have to do to talk to her is let them go. Just send them out. She’s waiting to talk to you.”

“She really is? You’re not just saying that?”

“I swear on the lives of my husband and children that she’ll talk to you after you release her family members. I can’t think of any other guarantee I can give you that would mean more to me than that.”

After a long moment of silence, a flurry of activity in the doorway preceded two women and two young boys emerging from the house.

“Hold your fire,” Sam called to the line of officers who had guns trained on the house.

Fairfax County police officers rushed forward to meet them, guiding them toward the driveway and away from the activity on the lawn.