“Call off your dog and put the gun down, then we’ll go from there.”
“Descendit,” I gave Zeke the Latin command to stand down. He relaxed, though he was still on high alert.
“Now the gun, Gavin. Put it on the floor and kick it under the sidebar.” I needed Roth to feel like he’d won—that he had me—so that he would let go of Natalia, so Zeke and I could make our move or Elijah could get here, whichever came first.
“Ok, Roth.” I slowly lowered to the floor and set the gun down. My palms were out, showing him I was defenseless as I rose, “Just let her go. I’m the one you want.”
Kick the gun first, he was getting more comfortable. The gun was no longer pointing at Natalia, but at me. I couldn’t look at her face, so I focused on the spot just above their heads.
I gave the gun a kick and it slid across the hard wood floor and slid under the sidebar. I wouldn’t be able to get to it without moving the damn heavy piece of furniture, but it didn’t matter. Roth still had a gun, but I had Zeke and Elijah should be on his way. He had me dead to rights right then, because Natalia’s safety was at stake. As soon as she was in the clear, he was dead.
“Alright, Natalia.” He threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled hard, she cried out at the shock and pain. My gaze clashed with hers, and I almost laughed at what I saw.
Good girl. She was waiting for me to notice before she did anything. God, when this was over, I was going to kiss the hell out of that woman. Her eyes were full of fear, but there was also anger and fire written there.
“We are going to walk toward the back door,” he started moving and dragging her with him even as he said it, “and put the dog out. Once Zeke is safely outside and presents no threat, I’ll let you go until it’s time to kill you.”
I looked back at Natalia, she’d have one chance to do stab him with the nail file and she’d have to do it hard to do even a minimal amount of damage, but I just needed her to create a distraction before Zeke was sent outside.
She was reaching for the doorknob, Roth still had a grip on her hair, though he was allowing her more slack so she could move. “Now.” I said, hoping she could understand my message, as soon as she I said it, Natalia’s arm went back with all her might and she stabbed him in the leg, “Impetus,” I said to Zeke, and he sprang into action as we both moved across the room.
Natalia, pulled away from Ian, “You bitch,” he said as he aimed the gun at her and fired.