Page 68 of Wicked Oath
His eyebrows raise. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting that. “Well, instead of sending us after one of your father’s shipments, he tricked us into going after one of our own. James is trying to get out of the deal he made with us, so he’s got to face the consequences.”
“So, you ruined one of your own shipments? Man, how stupid can you be?” I know I should keep my mouth shut, but I’m too pissed. James or Owen could already be dead for all I know, and I’m out here dealing with these numbnuts who managed to destroy some of their own product without realizing.
He grabs my neck and pulls me toward him. I cough and scrabble at his hands. “Now, you listen here, you little bitch. I don’t need to hurt you. My problem isn’t with you. James is the one I have a bone to pick with. Now, I suggest you shut the fuck up and stand there all pretty-like while I get James on the phone and have him come out to make a trade. Can you do that for me?”
I nod, desperate for him to remove his hands from my neck.
“Good girl.” He lets me go, tossing me aside like I’m a piece of trash and he’s littering.
“But I thought you weren’t supposed to attack the shipment until tomorrow night.” Why am I unable to keep myself from talking?
The man shrugs. “We wanted to go after it now. Now, shut up.” He pushes a number on his phone and lifts it to his ear. The line rings and rings, reaching voicemail. He grumbles and tries again. And then again. And then again. With every phone call he makes, my worry grows stronger. Why is James not answering? Is it because he’s already dead?
I drop to my knees, fighting the urge to cry. James’ and mine relationship is passionate and full of lies, but the one truth between us is our connection. That was never made up. Every time he touched me. Every smile he gave me. It was all real.
And now, he might be dead, and I could very well be next.
When the sound of his voice comes out on the other line, a sob escapes my lips from sheer happiness. A couple of the guys look at me strangely.
The man with the injured leg explains the situation and tells James to come and get me. If James meant what he said, that he loves me, too, then he won’t hesitate to walk out those doors and save me as he did with Finian.
So when he doesn’t come out right away, I’m confused.
As the seconds tick by, the simmering feeling of betrayal hits me deep in the chest.
“Well,” the man with the limp says, clucking his tongue, “this is awkward.”
The doors burst open, and James walks out. The sight of him makes all the tension in my body melt away.
James walks with confidence as he approaches. “You called, Zach?”
The man with the limp, Zach, curls his lips into a mockery of a smile. “I did. We just wanted you to show up unarmed and ready to hand yourself over in exchange for your wife’s life. Then we’ll proceed to torture you and then kill you for fucking backstabbing us.”
James shrugs. “It wasn’t my fault you were stupid and jumped the gun, attacking one of our shipments without even knowing it. I’m done with the lot of you anyway. I need smarter men.” In one swift motion, he pulls out his gun and shoots Zach point-blank in the head. Zach falls to the ground, dead.
The scream that comes out of me scares even myself. A couple of the men jump back and shout, clearly not expecting James to kill Zach. Before they can react, James fires off more shots, killing more of them.
The rest of the men are spurred into action and finally pull out their guns, turning it into a standoff.
The larger man who grabbed me before picks me up again. “If you kill us, I’ll kill her.”
I whimper as he presses his gun into my head.
James’ hand wavers for a second. It’s subtle, but I see it. His eyes meet mine. “I meant what I said, Olivia. I might have made a lot of mistakes, but marrying you was not one of them. I didn’t kill your brother for you.”
I gasp, tears springing to my eyes.
“I didn’t kill your brother,” he says again, enunciating every word.
Then it dawns on me. My brother is still alive. Which means he’s around here somewhere, and so is my dad. That must have been why James took so long to come out—he was putting together a plan with my family.
A shot comes from the side of the building and hits another of James’ men. The man falls to the ground, dead.
Everyone looks around as my brother and dad come running from the side of the building, their guns raised and ready to fire.
“It’s a fucking ambush!” shouts someone.
“Oh, just shut up, Jacob,” another guy mutters.
