Page 43 of Outlaw Ridge: Jesse
“Reggie,” Lauren called out, her voice steadier than she felt. “You don’t have to do this. Just put the gun down.”
Reggie’s head tilted slightly, like he was amused. His grip on Elsie tightened even more.
“Well, well,” he said, his voice still low and dripping with dark humor. “Still got that fight in you, huh, Lauren? Tell me—are you still enjoying the little tattoo I gave you sixteen years ago?”
The words hit like a slap, but Lauren didn’t flinch. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
Elsie let out a choked sob, her frail body trembling against Reggie’s iron grip.
Lauren took a small step forward, her hands slightly raised, her weapon still at her side. “This is over. Just let her go. You don’t have to hurt anyone else.”
Reggie laughed, a hollow, chilling sound. “Fifteen years, Lauren. Fifteen years in a fuckin’ cage, thinking about you.” He shifted slightly, angling Elsie’s trembling body. “And Isabel, too. That bitch is next, by the way.”
Before Lauren could respond, Jesse’s voice cut through the tension, sharp and steady.
“That’s assuming you’ll get out of this alive,” Jesse said, his gun still trained on Reggie.
Reggie’s laughter grew louder, wilder. “Oh, I’ll get out. I’ve got a human shield, remember?” He jerked Elsie, making her cry out softly.
Lauren’s chest tightened, but she forced the fear down, locking eyes with Reggie. She kept her voice low, firm, steady despite the chaos unraveling inside her.
“There have been enough deaths,” she said, her gaze unwavering. “You’ve finished the mission you started sixteen years ago with Nicky and Abilene. This doesn’t have to end with more blood.”
Reggie’s head tilted slightly, a dark grin twitching at the corner of his mouth like he had something clever to say. But before he could speak, the sharp screech of tires tore through the tense air, snapping everyone’s attention toward the road.
A truck barreled around the corner, moving fast, gravel spitting from its tires as it skidded to a stop in front of Lauren’s house.
“Reardon,” Jesse spat, his jaw tightening.
Yes, it was, and Lauren knew this wasn’t good. Things were about to go from bad to worse. Especially since Belinda was in the passenger’s seat, and Reggie no doubt had his sister on his hit list, too.
Reardon jumped out of the truck, gun already drawn, his face set in a hard glare. Belinda was with him, her eyes wide with fear, gripping the door handle as if torn between staying and running.
“Stay put, Belinda!” Reardon barked at her, not sparing her a glance as he stalked to the front end of his truck, partially ducking down behind it and using it as cover.
Jesse shifted slightly, his stance rigid as he kept his weapon trained on Reggie. “How the hell did you know he was here, Reardon?”
Reardon didn’t hesitate. “Reggie called the landline at our house and left a message. He told Belinda where to find him.”
Lauren’s heart thudded. She flicked her gaze back to Reggie, searching for any reaction, any sign of confirmation or denial. Reggie didn’t give her a verbal one, but he yanked off his mask, and she could see the sonofabitch’s smile.
Calm, almost amused.
Reggie certainly didn’t deny that he’d sent that text. Didn’t confirm it either. He just stood there with the gun still pressed against Elsie’s temple, like he was in complete control of the situation.
Lauren’s pulse roared in her ears, but she forced herself to focus. Every second counted. One wrong move, and Elsie would pay the price.
“Bitch number three,” Reggie called out. “AKA, my darling sister who tried to fuckin’ murder me.”
His voice got louder with each word, and Lauren could see him quickly becoming more and more unhinged. The rage had him by the throat now. That lust for what Reggie no doubt deemed as rightful justice. That rage wasn’t going to let go.
“You sick fuck,” Reardon shouted back at Reggie. “Let go of her and face me like a man. Show me you have balls and not chickenshit marbles.”
“Hell,” Jesse muttered. “Throttle back, Reardon,” he warned the man.
Reardon didn’t. Neither did Reggie.
“I’ll let go of the old bitch if my darling sister will step her cowardly ass out of that truck and walk toward me,” Reggie snarled. “I’ll trade the old bitch for her, and then Belinda and I can have a nice chat about how a fuckin’ sister should treat her brother. And it sure as hell isn’t trying to kill him.”
