She slid the door open to the patio, took two steps outside, and a voice from behind her shot ice through her veins.
“Looks like we finally get to meet, INN reporter Dani Barlowe.” A muscular arm snaked across her throat and pulled her into the shadows of the deck, against the wall of the house.
“Who are you?” Her voice rasped as the man flexed his forearm against her neck.
“I’m only going to ask one time. Where is the camera? We know you were there recording that night. Our security cameras caught you and that other snoop filming our hideout. If you give me the evidence, I won’t hurt any of your new friends here. We’ll leave.”
Dani kicked and tried to scream, but he clamped a hand over her mouth. She gagged and choked.
She willed herself to stay calm, but the bitter taste of dirt from the man’s hands made bile rise in her throat.
The man pulled out a gun and pushed the muzzle to her temple. “I see the hotshot I knocked out came to. I guess I should have just finished him off when I had the chance. But you’re the prize. I’ve got no beef with the others. Just you and that big guy.”
Had Grizz become collateral damage for helping her? The man tightened his grip around her neck.
“Where is the camera?”
“I—I don’t have it. I gave it to someone else for safekeeping.”
No sense in denying they had the evidence. But Grizz had the SIM card. It wasn’t a lie. She didn’t have the prize he sought.
Her vision blurred and she clawed at the arm pressed against her throat. She kicked and scratched, but lack of oxygen began to slow her reflexes.
The glass door to the deck slid open, and from the shadows, Dani watched Grizz walk out and inspect the area, his gun drawn.
She managed a squeak before the man slapped his hand over her mouth. Grizz’s head spun in her direction.
“Hold it right there.” The man dragged her across the deck. Her feet barely touched the ground with his beefy arm still wrapped around her neck. “Toss your weapon over to me.”
“Jeremiah Redding. We meet at last.” Grizz glared at the man. He leveled his gun at Jeremiah’s head, but her captor shoved his weapon harder into her temple.
“Your girlfriend here says she doesn’t have the camera. We know the reporters filmed us. Give me the evidence, and I’ll let you walk away. Or I kill her in front of you. Your choice.”
Dani struggled against him but couldn’t catch her breath. Spots danced in front of her eyes. She couldn’t hold out much longer.
“Looks like you have something I want, and I have something you want.”
Grizz stood like a granite boulder, unmoving and unflinching. The anger sparking from his eyes could start a forest fire.
Where were Saxon and Sanchez? How could she end this standoff?
Grizz broke the tension. “I know where the camera is. But you’re going to let her go.”
“Nope. My orders are to keep her alive for some reason. It seems that someone has an obsession with the pretty reporter. But I don’t care if she dies.” He twisted the gun, and Dani couldn’t stifle a whimper.
Think, Dani. Think!
God, I could use a rescue right about now.
The clouds parted in the sky, and her mind cleared. She knew exactly how they were going to get out of this mess.
She nodded her head as best as she could to get Grizz’s attention. He shifted his eyes without moving his head.
Get ready, Grizz.
She felt around her jeans pocket for the knife Grizz had given her. She’d kept it on her, but she hadn’t known what she’d do with it. Until now.
Minimizing her movements, she pulled the knife out and flicked it open. With what miniscule strength she had left after being deprived of oxygen, she drove the knife into Jeremiah’s leg.
