Page 8 of Outcast’s Vow

“No.”

I know violence. Even though he’s still obviously disoriented by alcohol and the viciousness of his surroundings, Antoni is still the one with the gun. He has the power here.

The noises of nature around us quiet. Even the rainforest seems to hold its breath, waiting. All that remains are these two strange, deadly men and me.

I can’t escape.

Baptiste takes a leisurely step toward Antoni as if the firearm doesn’t exist at all.

“And you think I won’t do anything to have what I want as well?” he asks his fellow Castaways member, deathly cool. “You don’t think I’m that kind of man?”

“Move, Baptiste. Go back to the plane. Let me claim her.”

Baptiste’s gaze flicks to me like he’s checking I’m still here.

“You think I’m not hungry for this? You think I’m not prepared to do anything to secure my future?”

“Baptiste…”

“I have suffered so much to get to this point, and you are the last obstacle between me and my destiny. And that makes me very, very dangerous.”

“Stop it,” I say. “Stop acting like boys. There’s no need for this. Not for me.”

My words don’t land. Instead, Antoni lifts his arm so that the barrel of the gun is facing the exact middle of Baptiste’s head.

I gasp.

And yet, Baptiste fearlessly takes another step toward him. His foot lands heavily on the earth like a low drumbeat. His hands remain steady and capable. He blinks slowly, unhurried. So unnaturally calm.

“You’re standing between me and her, Baptiste,” Antoni hisses, the gun shaking.

There’s another step from Baptiste. The men are literally inches apart, both sweating uncontrollably in the tropical heat.

“Put down the gun, Antoni,” Baptiste rumbles.

“No. Not until you leave me alone with her.”

Baptiste moves again, head now touching – leaning – against the muzzle of the gun as if daring his rival to pull that trigger. He doesn’t flinch, but I notice a pulse jump at his throat. A flicker of something under the impossibly cool façade.

“Could you really shoot me?” Baptiste asks the drunk. “Can you?”

“Don’t... make me...”

“I know what I can do,” Baptiste replies evenly. “I can kill to get what I want. I wouldn’t hesitate. The question is, could you do the same? Could you pull the trigger? Could you kill me, Antoni?”

“I…”

“Because I can kill you.”

Antoni opens his mouth and closes it, lost for words.

And then Baptiste strikes.

It’s lightning fast. He yanks the gun out of Antoni’s hand. In one swift movement, Baptiste uses the handle of it to knock him out cold.

Thwack!

So sharp and precise. So professional.