Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“You don’t need my dad,” JB snarled. “He signed the ranch over to me this afternoon. He said it’s mine to do with as I wish.”
“What?” Katie gasped. “No! JB, no!” She tried to pull out of Dillinger’s grasp to go to him, but the fucker jerked her against him.
“Shut up!” Dillinger barked.
“I put down my guns, you let her go, and I sign the papers. Fair?”
Dillinger remained silent for several tense seconds, seeming to think through the offer, looking for the traps. Of course, JB could relinquish his guns and Dillinger could then shoot him in the head, but that wouldn’t get him any closer to possessing the ranch.
“Stay to your right. I’ve got a messy shot, but Katie’s in the clear,” Noah whispered in a cold, even voice that threatened to send a chill up JB’s spine. It was followed by a soft noise that JB swore came from Cole, but there was no word of actual argument from the man. Cole wasn’t happy, and JB suspected he was ready to take Dillinger apart with his bare hands as well.
“Guns on the floor,” Dillinger finally ordered.
Very slowly, JB lifted the gun over his head so that it was no longer hanging on him by the strap. He held it out to his side by only the grip and then bent to carefully place it on the floor. When he straightened, he held his left hand up and empty while reaching over and pulling the pistol from its holster with his right. When the gun was free, he also lowered it to the ground with the rifle.
Unarmed, he placed both his hands on his head and spun around so that Dillinger could clearly see he had no additional guns. Sure, he had at least four knives, but they hadn’t been talking about knives. Just guns. As he turned, he was sure to move a tiny bit to his right, giving Noah more breathing room for his shot.
“See, no guns,” JB announced.
“Fine. Sign the papers on the desk,” Dillinger ordered with a jerk of his head toward the large desk behind him and Katie.
“Release Katie first. That was the deal. Let me get her out of here before you fucking shoot me in the head.”
“No!” Katie screamed and Dillinger grinned at him. Yeah, he knew the fucker’s plan. Once JB signed the papers, Dillinger would shoot him so JB couldn’t cause him any more problems.
Dillinger shoved Katie toward JB. She stumbled the few steps that separated them, slamming hard into his body. That was fine with him. The perfect cover he needed to grab something from his pocket while fighting to help her keep her feet.
His sweet, strong-willed sister clung to him, desperate tears sliding down her face. “Don’t do this, JB. Don’t you dare.”
With one hand, he brushed her hair from her face and smiled. “It’s okay. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
“JB—”
“Trust me, please.” She seemed to hesitate, hanging between wanting to trust him and wanting to save him. “I need you to leave here. Now. I’ll be right behind you.” He brushed a quick kiss to her damp forehead and then shoved her toward the doors.
He didn’t look back as he immediately crossed to the desk. Dillinger tried to backpedal, but it was too late to try to think about keeping a safe distance between them. The bastard tried to bring the gun up to JB’s face, but JB grabbed his wrist, forcing it upward. Dillinger fought him, but JB was stronger.
The fucker still squeezed the trigger in his panic. The explosive shot left his ears ringing and momentarily deaf to whatever they were saying over the coms, but that was okay. He gripped the dart he held in his other hand tight and slammed it straight into Dillinger’s stomach. The same dart he’d pulled out of the sex doll. The thick material of the dummy had stopped the tranquilizer fluid from releasing, but it poured into Dillinger’s soft tissue now.
Dillinger’s eyes went wide in panic and he stammered, but JB had no idea what he was trying to say. Guttural, choked noises came out and his eyes rolled up into his head. JB released him so he could flop unconscious to the floor.
“JB!” His name came from the hallway as well as his ear. Katie and Cole had shouted for him at the same time.
“I’m fine. Not hurt,” he immediately replied for both of them.
Katie busted into the room and threw herself into his waiting arms. She hugged him tight for all of a heartbeat and then pulled away to punch his shoulder. “Asshole! Scared me to death! And it took you long enough to fucking get here!”
“Come on, Katie bear!” Noah teased as he strolled into the room. “No one stages a rescue in the middle of the day. That’s just tacky.”