Page 87 of Barron

He stood at the kitchen threshold and scanned the space. The pots Yoanni had hung above the kitchen island were neatly lined up on the tile countertop. Obviously, Johnny G’s work. He walked around the island. His toe hit something…

Barron’s heart jumped.

Johnny G lay unconscious on the floor. Instantly, his military training kicked into gear. Keeping the panic at bay, he slowed his mind down. Uncontrolled reactions only worsened a bad situation. He bent to press his fingers to his friend’s neck and exhaled with relief. Johnny G’s pulse was slow, but he felt it, and the absence of blood on his body, face, and head, or on the floor, reassured him that his friend would recover.

He sent out an emergency text to his primary contact, pulled the Glock from his waist holster, and continued searching. Bending low, he exited the kitchen. A shadow moved to his left,heading for the door that opened to the garage. He chased it. “Stop, or I’ll shoot!” he shouted, pointing the gun.

The shadow stopped and faced him. “And do what? Put a couple of bullets in her?” The hood covering the woman’s head fell back, and a mass of wild, bright red hair elicited instant recognition. Analise, the woman from the courtroom, had an arm around Yoanni’s waist. With the other, she held the tip of a knife against his girl’s neck.

Smirking, she pressed her lips to Yoanni’s ear. “What do you think he’ll do? Hmmm? Does he really love you? Will he save you?” She spoke as she walked backward toward the door.

If he expected Yoanni to be fearful, it was the opposite. He read fury in his girl’s eyes.

“Let her go,” he demanded, engaging the Dominant command to intimidate her. But this was the real Analise. Iris and Betty were gone.

Eyes cold, she stopped. “I don’t think so.”

His heart thudded, thinking of ways to pull Yoanni from her grasp. Nothing came to mind. “Don’t do this, Analise. Yoanni’s innocent.”

“Used to be. And I gave her a chance to escape. I used everything I could think of to scare her. I emptied her desk, used the mumbo-jumbo stuff, sent her things back, even tore this fucking house apart.” Analise chuckled. “She should’ve gone running to Mommy and Daddy in Miami. Left you at my mercy. I tried one more time at the club, but she sided with you and lost her innocence,” she growled. “My plan has changed.”

“You want me. Let her go. She means nothing.”

“But you’re wrong. She’s perfect for my needs. I’ll get my revenge through her. You and your precious MC ruined my poor brother’s life and sent him to prison. He’s going through hell, and now so will you. When I take her, your agony begins. You’ll turn every stone, go crazy searching, but you’ll neverfind her. Despair won’t let you sleep. You know I’ll torture her, and you’ll feel her pain. It’s actually brilliant.” She slid back as she spoke, closer and closer to the garage door.

Barron moved forward, keeping up with her. He’d allowed Analise to rant, hoping she’d get distracted somehow. Give him an opening to jump her, but the crafty woman used Yoanni as a shield.

“Please Analise. Take me.”

“You’re such an arrogant ass. You sat there, enjoyed my brother’s trial. Yoanni is my way to hurt you. She’ll waste away in my hands. Once I’ve had my fill, I’ll dump her body in a ditch somewhere. Regret will hound you. I want you to suffer the guilt in your bones, day after day, knowing your efforts to save her failed. Should you decide to put an end to your agony, my brother and I will get the ultimate payback.”

“You can try to take Yoanni. But I promise, you won’t get far. I’ll be on your ass.”

“Aww…you think I’m alone? That’s your mistake. Who do you think hit you from behind and knocked out your stupid friend in the kitchen? Beto, from Los Emes, is my lover. It was his idea to use Yoanni against you.” She grinned. “He’s bringing his car over.”

Fuck. He stared at Analise in panicked disbelief. The involvement of a Los Emes member elevated the danger. She’d gone all out to plan her revenge.

“Some lover. He left you to face me?” he taunted her.

“He wouldn’t take the satisfaction from me. So long as I have her, you won’t do anything stupid.” She tugged at Yoanni. “Stop resisting, bitch. Let’s go.”

Yoanni didn’t speak, but she wasn’t moving either. Frustrated with her resistance, Analise pressed the knife to her throat. Blood trickled down in a thin line. “Move, or I’ll cut you right here.”

The loud noise of an engine revving came through the opengarage door. Analise beamed. “Yes. Perfect timing. My Beto’s here,” she exclaimed in triumph.

Fury and renewed desperation surged in him. Barron evaluated quickly. Analise couldn’t leave with Yoanni. If she did… No. Never. He had to attack, but he had no space to maneuver without still risking his baby. Analise’s knife was too close to a jugular vein.

“Cut already,” Yoanni growled, staring into his eyes. The message was clear. She was ready to end the ordeal, no matter the cost. “I’ll die, but so will you.”

Outside, the engine revved louder. A hurry-up call to Analise.

“I mean it!” Analise shouted. Switching her hold, she dragged Yoanni by the hair into the garage. Barron followed them in. An important detail popped in his mind. For this to work, he needed Analise’s attention focused on him.

“You hurt her, and you won’t live a second to enjoy it.”

Analise continued moving backward along the Camry’s side. The space around her narrowed. Beto beeped his horn urgently. She looked over her shoulder. Her feet tangled with the pile of cardboard boxes. She flailed, seeking balance.

“Kneel!” he yelled. Yoanni dropped to one knee. Barron fired three bullets into Analise’s chest.

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