Page 104 of Danger Close

“This fucker?” He kept laughing like a maniac and I wondered if he was high as fuck.

When his whooping laugh died, I finally introduced myself. That was just good manners, after all.

“I’m Joaquin Guerro.” My eyes hardened, as my nostrils flared. “I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”

The place smelled like dust, dirt, and crumbling dry wall.

“Joe,” Teri’s whisper-soft voice cut into my head like a knife, but I had to ignore her. For now, at least. “No…”

Her tears were falling again. I could count them as they dripped from her chin, to the ground. I kept a running tally in the back of my mind, seeing each one in my peripheral vision.

“Oh yes.” Clark’s eyes appraised me, as I stepped forward.

He clicked the safety off the gun, put his finger on the trigger, and pointed it at Teri.

I froze.

I knew that at this angle, Daria didn’t have a clear shot from the window. I guessed that she could only see the tops of Teri and Trinity’s heads. I wouldn’t want her to take that shot anyway. That was danger close.

“That’s right. I’ve heard of you. The fucker that abandoned his wife and daughter.” He sneered, his smile hiding a secret. The secret of howhehad broken my marriage. “It was for the best. A spy, right? That’s what you told her.”

He laughed again. I kept a wary eye on his finger in the trigger well. If I had to jump up and catch a bullet, I would. I was ready.

No… No, I wanted him alive. Alive was best.

“No one’s ever heard of you. I fucking checked. You don’t show up in any database, you arrogant, lying sack of shit.” He cackled like a hyena. “Or did you believe him?”

He looked at Teri and laughed in her face.

“Fucking adorable. You’re so adorable!” Clark ran forward, and I flinched.

I stood still. He put the gun to my wife’s forehead. My nostrils flared, my heart beat against my ribs, threatening to jump out and I swallowed the fear as he brought his face right up to Teri.

“So fucking cute and stupid.” He laughed in her face. “Though you have let yourself go.”

He looked down at her body and sucked in a breath through his teeth, as if she wasn’t a complete knockout. Let herself go, my ass. She was perfect. She always had been. Was that his thing? Negging? What a beta-cuck-twat-waffle.

“Thank God that pussy of yours stays tight.” He leaned down, taking her mouth in a kiss.

I saw red. Murderous red.

When he let her go, she blinked at him, her lips pulled down in a frown, lips tense like she held in vomit.

Then she shut her eyes. I wanted to reach out to her. To grab her in my arms. To protect her, but I stood, fucking impotent to do a damn thing as he assaulted my wife.

When she opened her eyes, her face was impassive, her eyes empty.

“Teri…” I said under my breath.

“You’re right.” She looked up at Clark like he was the only man in the world. “You’re right. About all of it.”

Clark’s face changed, the pressure with which he held the barrel to her forehead eased.

“I ran because I hated sharing you with others. I wanted your attention. I wanted all of you.” She lurched forward, and planted her lips on his, and he kissed her back.

Bile rose up my throat, and I fought the unbelievable urge to yank her back by the throat and break his face. But that fucking gun! That fuckinggun!

He was one twitch away from blowing her brains out.