Page 196 of Hidden Ties

“Let me do it. I want to go in first.”

“Okay.” Stepping aside, she let Creed open the door. Sage could see the empty living room.

“See? No one is there waiting to take me out.” Walking around him, she went through the door.

Creed’s jaw tautened as he followed her. “I take your safety seriously.” He closed the door behind them, and she saw him surveying the room.

“I see that.”

She glanced around the empty living room, wondering what he was looking for. Tayla’s apartment was slightly different than the one she had shared with Glory. The apartment had one bedroom and one bath. Both rooms were around a corner at the end of the living room.

“I’ll call out if I need your help,” she said, taking a step in the direction of the bathroom.

Creed jerked her back by her arm, placing her behind him at the sound of the doorknob being turned.

Poking her head out, she saw Creed’s hand sliding inside his suit jacket as the door was flung open. She recognized all three men.

Tayla’s husband, Link, and his two friends, Chris and Tripp. The sight of all three of them pointing guns at them overshadowed her relief that she recognized the men.

Tripp closing and locking the door had her shakily gripping the back of Creed’s coat.

“Link.” Still hoping that it was a misunderstanding that Link and his friends were pointing guns on them, she remained calm. “We didn’t mean to barge in unannounced. Tayla called—”

“Bitch, I know she called you. I told her to. Tripp, get his motherfucking gun.”

“Link, you and your buddy can stop right now.” Creed’s calmness eased some of the terror she was feeling. “Believe me, you don’t want to do this.”

Tayla’s husband looked at him like he was crazy. “I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m about to make us fucking rich, is what I’m about to do.”

Tripp approached Creed, forcibly pressing his gun to Creed’s head. “You make one move, and I’ll blow your brains out.”

Sage watched as Tripp slid a gun out of a holster she was unaware of Creed wearing.

“Damn, this one is mine.” Tripp moved back, holding the gun in his hand. “You can’t even find this piece in a gun shop. It’s custom made.” He gave Creed a gloating smile. “Thanks. I’ll take care of it.”

“Let me see.” Chris tried to take it out of Tripp’s hand.

“I can get each of you a gun like that.”

Creed’s offer had all the men’s eyes on him.

From his expression, Link wasn’t taking the bait. Chris, however, looked excited, and Tripp was too busy examining the gun he had claimed as his. He didn’t care if the other two got one.

“Do I look stupid?”

Sage really wanted to answer that question but wanted to live more. Creed must not have felt the same hesitation.

“Show me how smart you are, Link. How much money are you getting paid to kill Sage?”

“Like I’ll tell you,” Link snarled.

“Why not? Afraid of letting your buddies know you made a bad deal?”

“Fifty grand! Does that sound stupid to you?”

Creed seemed to mull the price over. “Just for hit on Sage, or both of us?”

“You weren’t supposed to be here, but he said if anyone else had to be taken out, he’d jack the price up to fifty each.”