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“Don’t try to reason with me,” Bryan warned. “You two are having your little romance while I’m going to lose everything.”
Jace wasn’t sure if the guy knew how to use the pistol. He could pray the safety was on, but he had no idea. At less than ten feet, Bryan would have a hard time missing. Jace could fight, but he didn’t know how to win against a bullet. He would not risk Bryan hitting Ayla.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“Money,” he snarled. “The cave and the gold bricks were a pathetic waste of time.”
“I told you they were,” Jace said evenly.
“‘I told you they were’,” Bryan repeated in a mocking voice. “Well, you’re going to make it up to me. You’ve got a good gig going here. Where do you keep the cash from the resort? Do you deposit it Saturday night?”
Jace saw no reason to tell this guy the truth. The resort took in very little cash. Almost everybody used credit cards, Apple Wallet, or Venmo these days.
Distraction and some time might give him an opportunity to disarm him. “No. We keep the money in a safe in my office.”
“And I’m assuming you can transfer me a fat load of money from your office computer. Successful ski resort owner and all of that.”
“Sure.” Jace nodded, keeping his face blank. With the expansions, he and Ammon had pretty much cleaned out the resort’s savings account. He had a little more in his personal savings. “Just leave Ayla here, and you and I will head over to the resort and figure it out.”
“No way,” Bryan snarled. “She’ll be the motivation you need to give me my money.”
His money? What a pathetic thief. Luckily, he wouldn’t get much. Would he go berserk when he realized that?
“Don’t mess with me. I’ll shoot one of you or both if you try anything.”
Jace could feel Ayla’s body trembling against his back. He held on to her. Even if it cost him his life, he would protect her. He’d never loved like this, and he would never let anyone hurt her. Especially not this loser.
ChapterTwelve
Bryan had threatened both of their lives, but he looked unstable and shaky as if he didn’t know what to do or how to proceed. Jace didn’t care about the money. He only cared about Ayla.
Jace gestured to the resort. “Do you want me to drive us there, or shall we walk?”
Bryan’s gaze darted around. “Walk. I don’t want you trying something if we drive.”
“Your choice.” Jace turned and put himself between Ayla and Bryan. He held on to her arm and started walking toward the resort. He prayed Ammon or somebody would look out the window of his parents’ house, but he sure hoped Bentley wouldn’t walk out. His innocent brother could easily dive at Bryan or say something that would make the man shoot.
Ayla was shaking.
“It’ll be okay,” he whispered to her.
“Shut up,” Bryan snarled, huffing behind them. He was obviously overwrought and out of control.
Jace’s gut tightened with anger. He was going to dismantle this guy. Unless he got shot in the back first. He shifted more fully behind Ayla so there was no way Bryan could shoot her.
They walked in silence, their feet crunching on the snow-packed road. The crisp air that usually refreshed him felt suffocating as the evening deepened around them. The half mile had never felt so long.
Finally, the resort parking lot and his and Ammon’s massive and beautiful lodge appeared. It would be quiet on a Sunday. He sure wished somebody would drive by. They were one of the few resorts in the world that closed on Sunday. They’d received some complaints about it and he knew they lost revenue, but they also had a lot of guests who came simply because of his and Ammon’s respect for the Sabbath day. He knew they’d been blessed because of it.
Please, Lord, bless and protect us now, he prayed silently.
There might be a guest or two milling around in the large gathering area, but most who’d stayed the weekend would be in their suites or visiting a restaurant in town or in a neighboring valley as their restaurant wasn’t open.
A car gunned toward the parking lot from town. Jace’s hopes rose. Ammon had seen them and he’d called Sheriff Reed or one of the Deltas.
Jace waited for just the right moment. Bryan’s eyes were wild in the headlights as his gaze darted between the car and Jace. At the exact moment Bryan turned the gun to aim at the car, Jace whirled and dove for him. The vehicle stopped and doors popped open just as Jace tackled Bryan.
Bryan screamed, then went silent as his head hit the asphalt with a loud thud. Jace ripped the gun from his slackened hand. He was surprised he’d knocked him out so easily. Prayers answered.
