Marine's Mission - Rebecca Deel Page 0,41
Toni’s throat open. She’ll be dead in less than two minutes.”
Jase moved toward the front door, forcing Gigi to walk with him. She couldn’t let him take her away from the B & B. If she did, Gigi knew she’d never see Owen again, and she had long-term plans with that Marine.
Owen walked into the room, gun aimed at Jase. “Drop the knife, and let go of her.”
In a flash, Jase whipped Gigi around so her back was against his chest, the knife pressed to her throat. “I don’t think so, cop.”
“He’s one of the men who took Toni.” Gigi’s voice trembled.
Owen acknowledged the information with a slight nod. “If you hurt Gigi, I’ll kill you.”
A snort. “You care about her. I don’t. You’ll do what I say if you want her to live. I’m not afraid of you, Owen.”
“You should be,” Owen said softly. “What do you want, Jase?”
“Matthews owes my boss a file. If I get the file, you get the girl in one piece.”
“What file?”
Jase nicked Gigi’s throat. Blood trailed down her neck, the thin slice burning. “Do you think I’m kidding here?”
“Take it easy,” Owen said, voice calm. He eased one hand behind his back. “I need more information to get what you want.”
The thug’s hold across Gigi’s throat tightened to the point that her breaths were shallow. “This better not be a trick. I will kill her.”
“No trick, Jase. What kind of file are you looking for? Paper or electronic?”
“A flash drive. If you want to save your girlfriend’s life, you’ll hand it over.”
“How do you know we have the drive you want?”
Jase cursed. A second later, the knife bit into her neck in a different place, a little deeper this time.
Gigi hissed at the sting. A fresh stream of warm liquid trickled down her neck, the blood flow faster from this cut.
“I’m not joking, cop,” Jase spat out. “I want that drive.”
“Unless you want to leave here in a body bag, move the knife away from Gigi’s neck.”
Jase gave a short bark of laughter. “You won’t shoot through my pretty human shield.”
Owen smiled, the sight sending cold chills up Gigi’s spine. “I have plenty of targets to select without risking my woman.”
“You can’t make any of those shots.”
“Want to bet your life on that?”
The man at Gigi’s back froze. “Nobody’s that good a shot.” His voice, though, revealed his doubts.
Owen remained silent, his gun steady, while Gigi struggled to breathe. Something had to happen soon. The darkness at the edges of her vision grew by the second. She’d pass out soon from a lack of oxygen. Gigi didn’t want to become dead weight with Jase’s knife pressed against her throat.
After a moment, Jase said, “Look, I just want the drive. Once I get it, the lady and I will go for a ride. After we’re safely away from here, I’ll drop her off, safe and sound, and I’ll be out of your lives for good.”
“You’re not taking her.”
“I’m the one with your girlfriend’s life in my hands. I hold all the cards.”
One moment, Gigi’s back was plastered to Jase’s chest. The next, she was free, and in Owen’s arms. Jase was face down on the floor, cursing, as Levi cinched handcuffs around his wrists. The knife was several feet away, out of Jase’s reach.
Thank God Owen and Levi knew how to handle this situation. If Jase had confronted her when she was alone, Gigi would have been in serious trouble.
“Let me see your neck, baby.” Owen eased back and turned Gigi’s head. His expression darkened. He turned and took a step toward Jase.
With his knee against Jase’s back, Levi said, “Not happening, Owen. Your job is to take care of Gigi. I’ll handle this guy.”
“One minute. That’s all I need.”
“Can’t get information from a dead man, and we both know Jase wouldn’t last 30 seconds against you.”
“Hey,” Jase snapped, struggling to free himself. “Release me. I’ll take him on.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“I’m not stupid.”
“Only an idiot brings a knife to a gun fight. And, dude, if you can’t see that Owen would wipe the floor with you in a heartbeat, you’re more of an idiot than I thought.” Levi jerked him off the floor. “I’ll call Blair,” he said to Owen. “She can take Jase off of our hands.”
Owen scowled. “Call David. Jase is our collar.”
“She’ll work with us. Toni is hers as much as she’s ours.” His lips curved. “Maybe we should ask Elliot to talk to this jerk.”
Elliot? Gigi frowned. Why relegate the