Page 40 of Holiday Hostage
Payton shook her head. “It’s a good offer.” The sound of her raspy voice going watery with tears tamed me faster than anything else dared. “You should take the deal.”
“The fuck we will.” Reed’s lips peeled back from his teeth. The man looked more fearsome than a rabid wolf.
“Reed.” Payton tried to reason with him.
It was pointless, but I respected that she had tried. She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him closer.
To my surprise, he let her. “I’ve seen them, Reed. I know how many men they have, how many guns you’re up against.” Sheshuddered in my arms. “I don’t want to be responsible for your deaths.”
“You’re not responsible for this.” Reed shushed her with a kiss.
As soon as he stepped back, she continued. “It’s my fault you’re in this spot. If I’d kept my mouth shut…”
Maverick spun to face her. “Stop, Payton.” He stood straight and proud, the commander in him coming out with the threat we faced.
Her lips compressed into a flat line, the obvious desire to continue tightening her eyes.
“You have five minutes.” The grating monotone rolled across the snowy yard.
Payton stiffened in my arms and hugged her arms over her stomach, gripping her elbows tight.
“Any ideas?” Reed shifted to Maverick. “Other than getting Payton out of here.”
He tapped his fingers along the pistol strapped to his waist. “Brought a few goodies along for the inevitable shit show I figured we’d face.”
Maverick nodded and rasped a hand over his jaw. “Show me what you brought.” He spun to face me and Payton. “You two are going to run.”
My mouth opened to protest but snapped shut when Maverick jabbed me in the shoulder. “I need a plan. When and where do we go?”
“You can’t seriously think I’d leave.” Payton’s grip on her elbows tightened, but her chin came up, the fight in her roaring to the surface.
Reed grinned even as he retreated to our bags on the far side of the room. “They gave us five minutes. If they hold to their word, they’ll come for us and all bets are off. You’re safe with Tarron. Safer than you’d be staying behind with us.”
“He’s right.” I rested a hand in the small of her back. “I don’t like it either, but we need you out of harm’s way.”
Her jaw worked side to side, but she didn’t argue.
Maverick thrust a hand through his hair and nodded. “Meet up with us at the snowmobiles. If we get separated, donotwait for us if we fall too far behind.”
Mav closed the distance, walking right into my space and holding my gaze. “Swear to me you’ll obey and get her out of here.”
“Fuck, Mav.” I tried to stop the rising anger, but it swept across my face with a blistering heat. “Payton’s safety is my number one concern.” It was what he wanted to hear, and I would abide by his orders.
“Good.” He slapped me on the back. “Reed, how do we get them out of here?”
“Second floor.” Reed pointed at the staircase leading up to the balcony we’d barely explored. “There’s a second skylight low enough you can climb out and drop to the ground. The snow should cushion your fall and muffle the sound.”
“Wait for them to clear out.”
Maverick’s wry grin appeared, the one that lifted one side of his mouth with hints of contempt as he looked toward the front windows. “Then you two run like hell.”
I guided Payton to the side and reached for my bag.
She watched me, her eyes wide and fearful, as I strapped two handguns to my waist, added a knife to the holster at my thigh, and tucked another into my left boot.
A hidden holster on my right ankle held a smaller pistol, and I dropped a fourth and fifth into the shoulder rig.
“Guess this is what they mean when they say ‘armed to the teeth’ in the movies.” Payton tried to smile, but it trembled at the edges.
