Page 75 of Deception and New Direction

“Jason, put the gun down,”Ronaldhissed at him. “Wecan get the money in cash, but there’s no need to pull the gun.”

“Bullshit,”Jasonresponded, pushing the gun tighter into the side ofRuthie’shead, causing her to flinch.

Her eyes went to me andItried with everythingIhad to calm her.Aman who was on the edge like her brother was did not think rationally, so she needed to stay calm so she didn’t push him over.

Irrational people also made mistakes.Ijust needed to wait for my opportunity.

“There’s no printer issue,”Jasoncontinued. “Theseassholes knew something was up and aren’t going to transfer the money.”

“We can get the money based off of what was in her account,”Geraldthe bank manager placatedJason. “Giveus a few minutes to gather it up and bring it out.”

“You take him with you,”Jasonsaid, pointing toRonald. “Andyou have three minutes.Iknow you all have those fancy buttons to call the police, so we have limited time.Takehim with you, and make them do it fast,” he said toRonald.

Ronald nodded and walked with the bank manager.

Jason turned to me and grinned.Wewere at a standoff and he knew it, so why he was grinning was beyond me.

“If you’re in it for the money, there isn’t gonna be any left,” he said to me. “Sorryto rip out your cash cow from you.”

He wasn’t sorry though.Knowingthe cops were on their way,Ikept him talking.

“I’m not dating her for the money, so that doesn’t matter,”Itold him, maintaining my easy, non-threatening stance, even thoughIwas now standing.

That was the thing about me.Themilitary had trained me to be calm, cool, and collected even in the most intense moments.Soeven in moments like this, where someoneIloved was in danger, the inside of me may be raging, but on the outside,Iwas controlled and relaxed asIcalculated and executed my plan.

“Bullshit,” he barked out a short laugh. “Evenif you started out just with the intention of fucking her,Ronaldsaid you found out about the money and took a keen interest in it.”

Jason’s interpretation of my keen interest was fascinating.Myinterest had been in protecting her, not in how to acquire the money, as he andRonaldapparently interpreted.

“I guess it’s a moot point now that you’re going to take it all,”Iresponded.

“Damn right.Thatbitch of a mom we had left us with nothing to pay for the debt we had, only to find out she left everything to my cunt of a sister.Oncewe found out she would get it later, we came up with a plan.Shehad to go and fuck everything up when she moved here.”

“Got it.Let’sgo,”Ronaldsaid, carrying three small bags whichIassumed were full of money.

“That doesn’t look like a lot,”Jasonpointed out.

“This asshole was taking too long,”Ronaldgrumbled, pointing at the bank manager. “Look, the bags may be small, but there’s more than a million in cash in here.It’senough.Weneed to go before the cops get here.”

My watch buzzed, alerting me to a text.Iquickly glanced down to see it was fromArchersayingHankwas safe and her father was detained.

Knowing her grandfather was safe and not at risk ifRonaldorJasonwere to somehow escape,Imoved my attention toRuthie.Ineeded to getJason’sattention offRuthieand on me instead.

I took a look around me and assessed the room.WadehadElliebehind a small desk near the tellers, covering her but fully alert.Thebank manager and associate from earlier had edged their way back, removing themselves from the scene.Themain lobby space now only heldRonald,Jason,Ruthie, and me.

“Now that you have the money, let her go and get going out the front door before the cops get here,”Itold him.

“Nice try, butI’mnot an idiot,”Jasonsaid to me.

“We need to go now,”Ronaldsaid with panic in his voice. “Thecops are probably already out there.Ifwe walk out there with a gun to her head, they will never let us leave.Ifwe walk out, just the two of us like it’s no big deal, we’ll be fine.”

Clearly not appreciating taking orders from someone else,Jasonturned the gun toRonaldand shot him.

This was my opportunity, soIdove.Ilunged atJason, tackling him to the ground and trying to wrangle the gun from his hand.Hefired another shot in our tussle, this one going into the glass window behind us.

“You motherfucker,”Jasongrumbled underneath me asIwrestled him, trying to pin him down.

“No, you’re the motherfucker, you stupid piece of shit for a brother,”IheardRuthie’svoice beside me as she ripped the gun from his hand then kicked him.

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