A Mate for Gideon(76)

Liam pulled a gun from the holster on his chest. There was a loud bang and a flash of light. Something wet sprayed her arm. Anthony fell like a ton of bricks, on the floor next to her. His dead, staring eyes seemed to look right at her. The hole in his forehead leaked blood.

She screamed.

Liam grinned and walked from the room. There were screams and shouts, two more shots were fired and then there was silence.

****

Gideon stood in the middle of fucking nowhere. He had been following Liam’s instructions for the last hour. The large duffel bag on his back, housed three million US dollars. Even though he was a vampire, super strength, badass as fuck, he was beginning to feel its weight.

It didn’t matter, none of it did. Placing one foot in front of the other, he kept on walking, headed due north as Liam had instructed. The only thing that mattered to him was Jenna’s safety. Getting her back alive and well.

There was a team waiting to close in as soon as that bastard left with the money. Right now, he was on his own.

Liam had warned that he could intercept any communications and so while he had Jenna in his clutches, Gideon would fly solo. No immediate backup, no outside comms.

His phone rang. A look at the caller ID told him it was Liam.

Gideon accepted the call, not bothering to say anything.

“That’s far enough,” the male said. “Sit tight. I’ll be there in a few. Just remember, don’t try anything. I’ll put a bullet into your girlfriend’s sweet little head without fucking hesitation. Are you packing heat?”

“No!” Gideon barked. Heat. As if he needed a weapon to take the dickhead out.

“Good. If I see another soul or find that you are packing or trying to trick me in any way. She fucking dies.” There was an edge of panic to his voice.

Damn. Gideon was afraid that he might accidentally kill Jenna. “Stay calm. I won’t do anything. I am alone and unarmed. I give you my word. Her safety means everything to me.” He chewed the inside of his cheek, to stop himself from threatening the bastard. If he hurt her in any way. The fucker was dead. There would be zero hesitation from his side as well.

The bastard laughed. “Your word? Right. Just be ready with the money. The sooner this transaction is over the better.” He ended the call.

For once, he and the bastard agreed on something. Gideon dropped the bag at his feet. He folded his arms across his chest and waited. It didn’t take long for an SUV to arrive. Gideon watched its approach. He unfolded his arms, putting them out at his sides so that Liam would be able to see his hands clearly. His plan was to move slowly and deliberately so as not to scare the male.

Instead of pulling up, Liam stopped up ahead and reversed back to Gideon, stopping when the trunk was a few feet away from him.

The passenger door opened and Jenna’s scent hit him deep in the nose. Adrenaline surged but he forced himself to hold still. His female climbed out of the vehicle but remained standing at the door opening. From his vantage point, Gideon could see that Liam had a gun aimed at Jenna’s head.

He’d never felt so fucking useless in all of his life.

“Are you okay?” He growled.

She sniffed and nodded. Her face was a mess. Caked with blood. Her eye was swollen shut, the lid was bright red with black and blue coloring around the edges. Her nose was swollen as well. He bit back a deep growl. The fucker would pay for this.

“Show me!” Liam shouted.

Gideon moved to open the bag.

“Don’t do anything stupid!” Liam shouted.

Gideon ignored the male, he opened the bag, reached in with both hands and pulled out several tightly packed wads of cash.

“That’s what I’m fucking talking about.”

Gideon could hear that the male was smiling.

“Put the bag in the back!” Liam shouted.

Gideon heard a soft click as the vehicle lock was disengaged. He pushed open the hatch, then, moving slowly, he reached down and lifted the bag, carefully putting it into the back as Liam had instructed.

“Close it!” Liam commanded.

Gideon did as instructed. He held his hands up and away from his body as a show of submission. “Let her go,” he growled.

Without bothering to close the passenger door, Liam floored it. Dirt and stones flew as the vehicle tires struggled for purchase. A whole clod of grass was pulled up in the process. The vehicle pulled away quickly.

In a split second, he had his arms around Jenna. “Are you okay?” He worked hard at keeping his voice soft and even. He didn’t want to scare her.

“I am now.”

He shoved his phone into her hand. “Call Zane. Tell them that the coast is clear.”

“Wait.” Her eyes widened.

“Stay here.” He growled, his eyes on the fast moving vehicle.