Page 76 of Betrayal In Calusa Cove
“Nice place,” Valenia said calmly, eyes flicking to Fletcher’s gun. “But I’d suggest you put that down unless you want to clean up what’s left of Baily’s dockhand.”
Baily’s scream caught in her throat. The ring on her finger suddenly felt like a target.
“Not gonna happen.” Fletcher didn’t lower the weapon. His arm didn’t even tremble. “Let him go.”
Julie smiled—cold and calculating. “Let’s talk about what you’re going to do for us first.”
Fletcher took one small step forward, angling his body as if to shield Baily’s. She felt the shift in his energy—focused, fierce, utterly unafraid.
Where Baily was horrified—totally and unequally terrified. She’d been in situations before that any normal person would describe as harrowing. She’d come face-to-face with a six-foot rattlesnake. She’d killed pythons. She’d been one wrong step away from being taken out by an alligator. All things that happened in the Everglades, and people living there didn’t bat an eyelash.
She’d even had to deal with old man Jenkins when he’d threatened Cooney and his chickens with a loaded shotgun. That was never fun and could always lead to being on the wrong end of a stray bullet.
But this? Watching her eighteen-year-old deckhand being held at gunpoint by her brother’s wife? No. This was crazy town.
“Let the boy go. He’s got nothing to do with this,” Fletcher said. “And then we’ll talk.”
Julie tugged at Bingo’s hair, jerking his head back and running the metal of her weapon against his neck.
Bingo’s eyes grew wide, registering fear, but he didn’t cry. He didn’t whimper. He simply went rigid. Tense. Like fear gave way to anger.
“This one, he’s loyal,” Julie said. “Unlike my idiot husband.” She shook her head. “My parents seriously miscalculated his loyalties.” She smacked the weapon against Bingo’s cheek. It cracked open his skin. Blood trickled out.
“Leave him alone,” Baily cried, setting her gun on the counter with a shaky hand. “What do you want?”
“Two things.” Valenia wiggled her fingers. “You give us the account information for the money Ken stole and stop your fight for custody of the boys. We have a plan for them, and no way are you part of it. If you don’t do those two things, we kill this young man right in your kitchen, you two will go to prison for it.”
Fletcher had the nerve to laugh.
“I’m so glad you find this amusing, son,” Damon said.
“Don’t ever call me, son.” Fletcher kept his weapon aimed right at Damon’s heart. “No one would ever believe either one of us would kill Bingo. Your plan is seriously flawed.”
Valenia pulled out a folder from the bag, opened it, and set it on the counter. Inside were pictures…pictures of Baily and Bingo…together…looking intimate.
Baily gasped. “Those are fake,” she managed.
“Not the point. It’s enough of a deflection to cause a stir and an inquiry.” Valenia smiled. “Such a shame, and it looks like you got engaged recently, too. Your reputation will be tarnished. Such a tricky thing for someone like you to come back from.”
“You’re disgusting.” Baily glanced at Bingo, who hadn’t moved, nor said a word. Just stared at Fletcher with a hardened expression.
“This isn’t a very good plan,” Fletcher said with an amused tone. “First, we don’t have the money. It’s not being released anytime soon.”
“All we need is the paperwork for those accounts,” Damon said. “Now turn them over. This is not a negotiation.”
“We don’t have them anymore.” Fletcher shrugged. “And Baily’s not giving up custody of her nephews.”
“You’re not getting my boys,” Julie said. “Besides, these charges won’t stick and my kids will be back where they belong soon enough. But until then, we need those documents, or I’ll put a bullet in this kid’s head.”
Baily shifted his gaze to Fletcher. “Give them what they want,” she managed. She couldn’t let anything happen to Bingo. It didn’t mean she’d stop fighting for her nephews, but this standstill needed to end.
“No,” he said flatly, keeping his gun trained on Damen. “We’re not giving you a damn thing. And you’re not going to shoot him because the moment you do, you lose your leverage—and I put you down.”
Julie’s hand twitched on the gun. “You think you’re in control here? You’re not. You might get a shot off, but my mom, or dad will kill Baily. Is that what you want?”
Fletcher growled. He knew they’d do exactly that, but he had to play the game. “I think I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ve faced worse odds and walked away. You kill Bingo, and I guarantee you don’t walk out of this house.”
He needed time. Just a few more minutes to think…to find his way out. There was always an out. These people were desperate. Running on fumes. Backed into a corner with no way out and not thinking too clearly.
