Page 92 of Deserving Lara
Using the various boxes as cover, Lara and Owl moved toward a large window that was already cracked open—maybe to try to air out the musty room. She glanced back and finally saw Carter and Ricky, both standing about six feet behind the couch, arguing. They were so engrossed in each other, they hadn’t noticed their captives were on the move.
Thankful for the clutter, the large size of the room, and the escalating anger of the two men, Lara held her breath as she and Owl made their way across the large room toward freedom.
“You can literally just shoot him in the head and dump him in the ocean, but instead you want me to load him back on the chopper and take him with me. And do what? There’s no autopilot on the helicopter, genius, so I can’t shove him out while in the air, and if he wakes up while we’re flying, I’m fucked! You want me to take all the risks with the guy, fine—but I want another mil before one of those skids leaves this island,” Ricky argued, sounding oddly unsure and confident at the same time.
“A million?! Are you fucking high?”
“Too much? No skin off my back. I’ll just be leaving alone then…once you pay me the second half of my fee.”
“I’m not paying you another goddamn dime.”
“Fine. I’ll take the bitch and you can deal withhim.”
“You’re not touching her!” Carter screamed, sounding unhinged. “She’s mine!Mine!” He whipped out a pistol and aimed it at Ricky, his hand shaking with anger.
“Easy, man,” Ricky said, holding up his hands as if in surrender.
Owl had reached the window, and still neither man had noticed. But it was only a matter of time. Lara hated hearing the possession in Carter’s voice as he claimed she was his, but since he was completely absorbed in his argument with Ricky, she was grateful for that small mercy.
As Owl tried to open the window wide enough so they could slip through, Lara couldn’t take her gaze from Carter Grant. He looked more menacing than she remembered. Probably because of the eye patch. For a second, satisfaction swam through her. Cora had done that, trying to protect Pipe from being overpowered. She couldn’t imagine hurting someone up close and personal like that…
But then she looked back at Owl. He was frowning and his brows were furrowed as he strained to hoist the damn window higher—and she realized she’d do whatever was necessary to make sure he didn’t sacrifice himself for her.
It was looking more and more likely that they were both completely screwed here. The window wasn’t budging, and if it didn’t, she had no idea how in the world they were going to get away.
“I’m not giving you another dime. In fact—”
At that moment, Owl managed to finally shove the window up a few inches.
Unfortunately, the high-pitched squeak the frame made as it rose was loud enough to getbothmen to stop arguing—and turn in their direction.
Lara froze, and for a moment, no one moved.
Carter looked so furious, Lara thought he was going to have a heart attack right then and there. But of course, she and Owl weren’t so lucky.
He shifted so the pistol was now pointed ather. “Get over here,” he ordered.
But Lara wasn’t going anywhere. Especially not anywherehewanted her.
Owl stood and pulled Lara to her feet. The window wasn’t open far enough for either of them to get out, and if they made a run for the door, they’d have to pass both Ricky and Carter.
“I said,come here. Now!” Carter yelled at Lara in a vicious tone.
Again, she didn’t move. She huddled behind Owl, scared out of her mind.
Ricky chuckled.
“Shut up!” Carter screamed at the man.
“This is classic. It seems you’re at an impasse.”
Carter was clearly tired of the other man’s taunting. He pointed the pistol back at Ricky as he growled, “You think this is funny?”
Between one blink and the next, Ricky had pulled a weapon of his own from the small of his back, pointing it at Carter. “Hilarious,” he said.
The two men stood just a few feet apart, pointing pistols at each other’s heads…and they each slowly inched back even as they circled each other, gazes locked. They were completely focused on their standoff.
As they moved, they had to step around boxes in their way, which moved them farther apart…and away from the path to the door.
