Page 96 of Family Jewels

“Fine,” Raddy groaned. “But only Malcolm—like the other night. None of his men.” He lifted his gun. “And you stay to make sure he doesn’t try anything.”

I suspected my role would be as a hostage and not a diplomatic peacekeeper. “Fine. I’ll stay.”

James grunted in my ear. “Like hell you’re staying.”

I knew he wanted me as far away from this mess as possible, but I was part of it, whether either one of us liked it or not.

“We’re at the old abandoned fertilizer plant,” I said. “By the office.”

Raddy’s eyes darkened and his gun was trained on me again. “I didn’t say you could tell him.”

“If you want to meet with him, he has to know where to come,” I said, trying not to freak out about the large gun this angry, frightened man was aiming at my gut. “And I can promise you that when he arrives, your negotiations will go south pretty quickly if you’re pointing a gun at me.”

“He’s a dead man,” James growled.

Raddy pointed the business end of his gun toward my phone. “Hang it up. He can hear what’s goin’ on.”

Little did he know.

When I didn’t move, he stepped closer, sounding more insistent. “End the damn call and toss the phone to the ground.”

James’ car was already speeding around the corner, but I did as Raddy requested. He was skittish enough. I wasn’t about to give him any reason to pull that trigger.

Fear filled Raddy’s eyes. “Move closer to me.”

“Raddy, listen to me,” I said, lifting my hands. “You can work this out with Skeeter, but you can’t look like you’re threatening me.”

“Move closer!”

I took several steps toward him, but apparently not fast enough. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me to him, positioning me so the tip of his gun dug into my upper back.

That’s when I knew things were about to get ugly.

Chapter 21

James’ car screeched to a stop, and he leaped out in an instant, his car still running, his gun pointed in our direction. “Let her go, Dyer.”

“No. I need your word that you won’t hurt me.”

“My word doesn’t mean shit,” he said as he stalked around the front end of his car.

“Don’t come any closer or I’ll shoot her!” Raddy shouted.

I pushed out a breath, trying to stay calm. Panicking wouldn’t help. I had to de-escalate this situation and fast. “Everybody just take a moment to calm down. Let’s think about this logically. Raddy, if you shoot me, you’re as good as dead.”

James’ eyes darkened. “You’llwishyou were dead by the time I get done with you.”

The look on his face told me he meant it. “James.”

“I knew it!” Raddy shouted, starting to sound panicked. “Sheisyour woman!”

“I’m not his—”

James took a step closer. “She’s mine, and I guaran-damn-tee you that I’ll cut off your balls and shove them down your throat if you harm one hair on her head, so I suggest you send her over to me now.” He shot a quick glance at me, flicking his eyes down and then back up. “Rose, you ready?”

He wanted me to duck so he could shoot Raddy, but we needed him alive. “No,” I protested. “Just give me a minute.”

“I’ve given you about ten. The negotiating is done.”