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“He’s here,” White said, throwing up his hands and clapping them once, elation flooding his voice.
I stopped, a cold ball slamming into my gut as I swung my gaze around the table.
Ronnie’s parents sat at it, regarding me silently, as did Tannah and Fluffy. The Marine’s mouth was stuffed full of a bright red ball, and his massive arms were behind his back. Cuffed? Cable-tied?
Our eyes made contact, and he shook his head in the tiniest of moves and flicked a glance toward Ronnie’s parents. Beyond them.
I followed his lead, and my chest squeezed tight at the sight of two more men dressed in black standing a few feet away, both holding Glocks trained on the backs of William’s and Janice’s heads.
The message from my friend was clear. My future in-laws would die if I did anything stupid.
I had to remain calm. Behave. Until the time was right to misbehave.
Hurry up, Tac.
“This is your fault, Pratt.” William glared, hatred radiating from him.
“Ah.” White rounded the table and clapped a hand on William’s shoulder. “I see you have another fan here, Tripwire?” He gave William’s shoulder a shake, the kind a friend would give another when they’ve had a rough time and need some cheering up. “Glad I’m not the only one eager to see your guts spill out of your body.”
“Stop it,” Janice snapped, her scowl directed at the bastard before she turned it on her husband. “William, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
White shook William’s shoulder again, gave it a cheery slap and then tapped Janice on the nose with his index finger. “Now, now, Mrs. Underwood, what did I tell you earlier? Women are to be seen, not heard.” He gave Ronnie—standing a few feet away with her hands clasped in front of her groin—a wide grin. “Isn’t that right, my dear.”
I curled my fists at my side.
White slid his gaze to me. “She’s very feisty, your piece of ass. Or at least, she was to start with. She shut up quickly when her mom and dad arrived. And positively shrank into subservient passiveness when Gunnery Sergeant Baxter and his lovely arm candy arrived.”
I flicked Fluffy another look.
His jaw bunched. I almost felt sorry for White. What Fluffy would do to him, given the chance…
But Fluffy wouldn’t get the chance.
This was my dance. My fight.
Aloysius White was mine.
“So this is how you’re going to do it?” I asked, returning my attention to the bastard. Had it been ten minutes yet? “You’re going to kowtow me, control me by threatening those I care for?”
White ran a mocking inspection over Ronnie’s parents, Tannah, and Fluffy, and then he beamed at me. “Yes. The fact your pet CIA agent was M.I.A. when I had everyone rounded up was a little problematic, but I have been assured by a reliable source she won’t be attending the fun.” He lifted a dark-gray eyebrow. “So you came here alone. I must say, you’ve got some balls on you.”
I grinned. “You better fucking believe it, asshole. They make yours look like shriveled walnuts.”
A soft snort came from my left.
Ronnie.
If I flicked her a look now, would I find her fighting a smile?
Warmth flowed through me, seeping into the icy void my emotions had become. If Ronnie could find humor at this moment, she was okay.
It was going to be okay.
I hoped.
It had to be.
If it wasn’t…
