Lou immediately rips her away, his hand going to her throat, releasing me in the chaos.
“You dare defy me! I own you, bitch!”
Lawson must have gotten to his feet because before I realize it, he’s pulling me to his side, securing me next to him almost in a hug. “We gotta get out of here,” he half murmurs.
No shit. My lips pinch together and I hope my sarcastic look relays my agreement.
Lou shoves Nicole against the wall, her tiny body crunching against the wood of the stall. She lays unmoving atop the wood chips, completely unconscious.
Lawson tries to push past me to get to her but I hold him tight. “No.”
His eyes bounce back and forth from my face to Nicole’s. He’s torn. He would like nothing more than charge Lou’s old ass and serve him up to Killer, but we have to be smart here.
“We won’t tell anyone what happened today,” I promise to Lou, distracting Lawson. Okay. That’s a lie of epic proportions. Of course I will tell the authorities, but Lou doesn’t have to know that. I will hunt this bastard down if I have to. Buying women…
What a fucking monster.
Lou sniffs the air, taking a step forward, pointing the gun directly at my chest. He gives me the glare of death and I try not to let him scare me. Try, being the operative word. I push at Lawson, moving him behind me. He stands solid at my side. No way is he taking the coward’s way out. I glance at him wide-eyed so he knows I have a plan. Maybe not a good plan, but a plan. He pauses, but inches behind me like I wanted. Now, my body is blocking most of his, just like I planned.
“Move, bitch!” Lou’s scream rakes on my nerves like nails to a chalkboard.
But unlike the annoying actions of a second grader, Lou inspires fear to settle deep within me. His crazy is starting to frighten me and the longer we continue this negotiation, the more I fear that one of us will not make it out alive. The thought of anyone dying makes the fear turn into panic.
I’m no soldier. The bile rising in my throat reminds me of such. I have never been this terrified. Lou having a knife to my throat was a close second but nothing like having a revolver (go me for actually paying attention to Cade’s gun conversations) pointed at my chest.
I do know this, though: Lou is not getting Lawson. He will not take one of my boys. That is for damn sure.
My decision solidified, I inhale a broken breath and meet Lou’s eyes with the cattiest smile I can muster. “Come on, Lou. I thought we were past all the name-calling.”
Lou swipes at the moisture slipping from his brow before giving me a sinister smile, and clicks the safety off the revolver.
Oh hell.Hold on to your balls, Ans.
“I have no problem killing a woman.”
Of course, he doesn’t. He’s a real class act.
“I get that, Lou.” I begin shuffling my feet, trying to create a distraction with my body. When nasty ole Lou looks down, I nudge Lawson with my hip, encouraging him to take a step back toward the open door of the tactical closet we use to house all the barn equipment. He grabs my hip, halting my movements. Damn it, Lawson. Do not be the fucking hero here. I swat his hand away and push again.
“Really, I get that,” I continue, animating with my hands. “You see, I, myself, don’t mind killing a man.”
I take another step back and push against Lawson hard. He complies and moves back into the closet.
“I mean, they pee on everything.” I sweep my hand out, creating dramatic flair for distraction. “They leave the toilet seat up, they jerk off in cars.” Another hand motion, and this time I grab Lou’s attention.Finally.I keep with the up and down motion, miming a hand job, knowing I have Lou’s rapt attention at this point.
Fucking guys, they are so easy. A girl doing a jerk-off motion…suddenly they are all ears. Lou, in this case, is no different.
“They forget occasions. And, they are just plain selfish motherfuckers.” I take a breath, halt my hand ministrations and give Lou a deep, southern smile. “Much like you, Lou.”
With that final dig, I shove hard into Lawson with my butt, making him fall through the doorway of the tactical closet. Quickly, I grab the handle and pull the wooden door closed, sealing Lawson inside. He starts to bang wildly, hurling curse words that won’t make me budge from my position. I hold on to the door handle tightly and pray my strength will outlast his.
My fate now sealed, I mock my captor with a smug smile.
“That was a very stupid move, girl.” Lou spits “girl” like the word is a disgusting roach that dared to scurry by him.
I focus my eyes on his, my smirk in place, and keep the mantra playing in my head that Cade taught me.In battle, you face your opponent clinically and without emotion. Okay, it’s harder than it sounds, but by God, I am going to go down trying.
I shrug nonchalantly. “What can I say, I like to live dangerously.”
