“No.” I take another step back, and hiss when I kick the bag I brought on scene. “I’m not giving you the tool to lure Archer here.”
“I haven’t hurt you yet.” He stalks forward, slowly, prowling, so I know he’ll start running the moment I force him to. “I didn’t hurt the girl. Hell, I was in Tim’s bar this morning while he slept, and I didn’t hurt him either.” He dips his tongue forward and taps the back of his teeth. “I’m not a man of violence, beautiful. I’m a man seeking to reunite a family.”
In defiance, I glance to Officer Grayson’s crumpled body. Then across to Fox’s.
“Well, they don’t count,” he chuckles. “I don’t hurt family. Besides, I overheard that other one,” he nods toward Fox, “disrespecting you. If you’re my brother’s lady, then it’s my privilege and duty to defend your honor when Archer isn’t present. I heard him looking to get laid. Now, he won’t be an issue for you ever again.” He takes another step forward and curls his fingers to remind me. “Phone.”
“I can’t.” I step around the bag and shake my head. “Don’t make me do it.”
“Phone!” He shoots a round into the ground at my feet so the bullet bounces at the toes of my shoes, and a scream tears along my throat. “I wasn’t asking, Mayet!”
“You have your own phone!” Silent tears trek over my cheeks. “If you want him here, you’ll do it your damn self and be a man about it. I won’t be used to hurt him the way you used that girl when he was younger.”
“So I guess I’ll just shoot you, then.”
Charging forward, he stops a mere second later with the barrel of the gun pressed to my forehead and his hand in my coat pocket.
“I don’t know if you know, Doc, but Malones fuck only to make a son. After that,” he spits out, “they’re no longer needed. So now I’m gonna give you a choice.” He takes out my phone and opens it to the text screen. He intends to type, to send word to his brother, but he stops again and slowly reads the last thing Archer sent me.
“Aw, shit. He already knows I’m here.” Felix flips the phone around to show me Archer’s message.
Stay safe. Stay in contact. I love you.
“Andhe’s in love?” Shaking his head, he twists his lips. “Conceive a son, beautiful Minka. Then see how long he loves you after that.”
Typing again, he holds his gun against my skin and breathes a little heavier, like threatening a woman and a child excite him. “Come to the bay,” he speaks and types at once. “I need your help with something.”
“He won’t believe you.” I concentrate on my breathing. On my feet. On my hands and my options. “He’ll know it wasn’t me who typed that.”
“He doesn’t have to believe it. He’ll come either way. And the fact is,” he lowers the phone and looks into my eyes with a smile, “the clearer he smells a rat, the faster he’ll come. Now I have a choice for you to make.” Slowly, he lowers his gun, but he remains standing close enough that his aftershave burns in my lungs, and his breath tickles my lips. “You can choose Archer. Stay here, maybe stand between him and his big, bad, mean brother. Or you can take her,” he brings the gun up and points it at Mia, “outta here. Get her to safety and save her life.”
My stomach stops in my throat. “You would hurt her? She’s a child!”
“She’s neither family, nor useful.” He says it so easily, he makes bile race along my throat and threaten to spill over. “But like I said; you get to choose. Malones are all about loyalty, beautiful. So I need to know where you stand.”
“Take her away,” I rasp, “and leave Archer here to die? Or let the girl die, and Archer is probably dead anyway?”
He snorts, shaking his head like I’m a stupid little woman. “I already told you; I’m not here to hurt my brothers. I’m here to bring them home. Whether you stand between me and them is your choice, but I suggest the better decision is for you to save her life.” He looks over my shoulder and grins for the toddler. “Let it be known Uncle Felix said you could live.”
Bringing the phone up again and showing me the screen, Felix hits send on his text and smirks when the speech bubble fills out, proving the message has been transmitted. “You’re on the clock.”
“And if I kill you now?” I swallow down the bile and furiously think. Think. Think. “It’s just you and me, Felix. Who’s to say I’m the one at a disadvantage?”
Without speaking, he looks over my shoulder to the heavy hangar doors. Almost immediately, two men step through. Then his eyes shift to the side door on my left, where another two men emerge. Behind Felix, another two come closer.
“I’d say I’m pretty well covered, Doc. But if you’d like to try me, we can see how things shake out.”
Bastard.
“You won’t let us walk even if we choose to.” I bring my gaze back to the Malone whose blood enrages me. “You say we get a choice, but the second I turn to carry her out of here, you’ll shoot me in the back.”
“Not true.” Bringing his hand up, he slides his thumb along my bottom lip in caress. “I’m a man of my word, which means you can be assured of your safety. No harm, no foul, no takebacks. I’ll also stand by my word that I’m here for peace with my brothers. They’ll come with me, Mayet. They’ll come freely. And you’ll walk outta here, safe and sound.”
“If that’s true, why even bring me here? Why bring the girl?”
He scrunches his lips, but beneath that sits a cruel smile. “I couldn’t very well walk into the police station and ask to speak to him, could I? No, no, no.” He shakes his head and comes closer. Closer. “But my man could step inside and check the kid out from a daycare that doesn’t give a fuck about who they’re caring for. You were a means, Doc. But this doesn’t have to be the end.”
“I choose Mia.” The words come out on a heavy exhale, even as my mind and heart thud with a deep pain. “I choose to take her out of here. But I want my phone back.” I look down at the device in his lowered hand. “I need it so we can find our way home.”