Page 93 of Angels & Whiskey
“What plan?” I pleaded, a tear rolling down my cheek.
“You think your tears are going to work? I don’t love you,princess.” Rich shrugged out of Gabe’s grasp and Remo went to step around Paul again, but he blocked him.
“Then let me get my things and I’ll leave you,” I sobbed.
“That’s not going to work for me. See … you’re part of the plan. I need a wife to win votes, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let your training go to waste.”
“If you think I’m going to let her stay here, you have another thing coming,” Gabe growled.
“Try something. See what happens when Remo knocks you out. You two assholes will be brought out to the desert and you’ll never see her again.”
“No!” I gasped, covering my mouth. This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t the plan—my plan. Gabe was sent to protect me. He promised.
Gabe’s gaze landed on me again, and as he spoke, he backed up and never looked away. “All right, let’s go. Let me see what Major Dick has to offer,” he hissed, beckoning for Rich throw the first punch.
I saw Rich’s mouth curve, and before I knew it, Gabe landed a punch on Remo’s jaw, sending him back a step. I didn’t think anyone was expecting it. I jumped at the sudden movement and it felt as if my lungs collapsed and I couldn’t breathe. This was all my fault.
As Remo tried to gain his balance from Gabe’s unexpected blow, Paul rammed him, sending him to the floor. Rich rushed toward me, grabbing me by the hair and bringing his arm across my neck. I grabbed his forearm with both hands, trying to breathe as he tightened his hold.
Paul’s gaze darted to me and he ran, ramming into Rich’s side, and sending us slamming into the wall. Rich’s grip loosened at the contact and as hard as I could, I elbowed him in the stomach. He hunched over, trying to catch his breath as Paul punched him in the face.
The room felt as if it were getting smaller. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t cry. Four men fought, each of them with a different agenda. Gabe was dodging Remo’s punches, blood seeping from his lip as if Remo had landed one, though Remo looked worse as blood trickled from his nose and cheek.
I was certain they wouldn’t stop until someone was dead.
I ran through the doorway, dodging Gabe and Remo, who were spinning around. I expected Remo to attack me, but Gabe landed another punch on Remo’s face. Running as fast as I could, I opened the passenger side door of Gabe’s SUV and reached for my purse. Pulling the gun from its sleeve and setting it on the seat, I started to look in the console for anything that could give me the upper hand. I didn’t know what I was looking for. I had a gun I’d only used once and I was scared I’d miss.
There was nothing in the console. Then I opened the glove compartment and saw the gun Gabe bought. After grabbing both guns, I ran back into the house.
“Stop!” I shouted, but no one did. “Stop!” I repeated. Still nothing. “Stop!” I yelled once more and cocked one of the guns. Nothing. I cocked the other. At the sound of the gun being cocked, they all stopped and looked at me. I pointed one of the guns at Rich and the other at Remo. “I said stop!” I barked.
“Angel …”
“What are you doing, princess?” Rich asked, narrowing his eyes.
All four men were heaving, trying to catch their breath as I stood fuming, my arms shaking with adrenaline. “Don’t call me that!” I snapped, glaring at Rich.
I saw Gabe and Paul out of the corner of my eye, slowly starting to walk toward me. My gaze met theirs briefly, and then darted between Rich and Remo.
“Give me one of the guns,” Gabe whispered.
I shook my head, not wanting to give Rich or Remo a chance to act.
“Okay … I’m going to take it. Just keep looking at these assholes.” He reached out slowly, taking the gun from me, my gaze never leaving the other two men.
“Give the other gun to Paul,” Gabe whispered.
Paul reached out and did the same thing Gabe did to get the gun. My hands dropped to my sides and I waited for more instructions. For a split second, I felt in charge. I wasn’t going to shoot anyone. I just wanted them to stop fighting and let me leave. If Rich never loved me like he said …
“You never loved me?” I asked as I remembered what he’d said.
Rich laughed and wiped a drop of blood from his lip. “I loved how you let me fuck you whenever I wanted.”
Gabe growled next to me and my teeth clenched at the hateful words.
“So from day one you came up with this master plan?”
Rich rolled his eyes and laughed.
