Page List

Font Size:

* * *

“Handle this like a hostage situation,”Gideon said into the mic as soon as Jada reported back to him.

“Aw, fuck, who does he have?” Nolan whispered his question.

“A young maid. Her name is Rhoda,” Gideon answered.

“I can see and hear you. There’s no need to whisper.”

Gideon about dropped the comm when he heard Kendall’s voice booming through the device.

What the fuck?

“Really, people, do you think I would check into a place like this and not plant some cameras and listening devices out and about to see what’s going on around me? Now wasn’t that dear Gideon’s voice on the comm link who said treat it like a hostage situation? He’s right. I have Rhoda here with me.”

Jada’s hand shot out and gripped his. He looked up at her. How could he not have been expecting yet another twist?

How?

“Now, I realize that you have crushed my hopes, dreams, and GoFundMe, which really, really, hurts.”

“This fucker is nuts,” Ryker said.

“You. The blond who just called me nuts. This is for you.”

A woman’s scream came through the door.

“Now don’t make me hit Rhoda again. She’s a tiny little thing, not like that Amazon Jada. This girl will break too fast. So, blond man with the big mouth who lies about snakes, get the fuck out of here.”

“Go,” Simon said.

“Now, where was I? Oh, my throat is sore, my knuckles are bruised, and so is my ego. It’s time to end this. Gideon? I assume you’re listening. This is simple. You want Rhoda here to live? Trade yourself. That’s it. A life for a life. I don’t intend to come out of this alive, but someone is going to die with me. Is it going to be little Rhoda here, or is it going to be you?”

Gideon unbuckled his seatbelt.

“What are you doing?” Jada squawked as Ryker opened up her passenger side door. He handed a gun over the top of her to Gideon.

“Here you go, never hurts to have an extra gun. Now go get that crazy fuck.”

“How are you going to do that?” Jada screeched. “You can’t do this. He just said he’s going to kill you and himself. This is a no-win situation.”

“There’s no such thing, Sweetheart,” Ryker grinned at her.

“Is that true?” Jada stared at Gideon. “Do you have a plan?”

Gideon couldn’t lie to her. “No, Angel, I don’t have a plan, per se. My plan is to save Rhoda and stay alive.”

“Let me be more specific—how do you intend to accomplish this?” she snarled.

“It’s a fluid situation, so I’ll just go with the flow.” He gave her his best reassuring smile, but it didn’t seem to be working.

“Gideon.” She reached out and gripped the side of his neck. “I want you in my life until I’m old and gray.” Her bottom lip trembled.

“I want to grow old and gray with you too, Angel,” Gideon said fiercely.

Please don’t ask me not to go.

Jada cleared her throat. “Just don’t piss him off like Ryker, okay? There’s no reason to add more fuel to the fire.”