real slow.”
Owen stiffened, as though taken by surprise, and lifted his mouth from hers. He brushed his thumbs across Gigi’s cheeks before removing his hands from her face. “You’re making a huge mistake,” he said over his shoulder.
“Turn around. Keep your hands where we can see them,” a second voice said. “No heroics or the pretty lady gets a bullet.”
He stepped back enough to turn and face the two men aiming weapons at them. Owen raised his hands partway. “You don’t want to do this. I’m a cop.”
“Don’t see a gun on you, cop.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m not armed.”
The dark-haired man with a close-cropped beard snorted. “A gun’s not in your hands, and we’d fill you full of lead before you had a chance to draw. Besides, my friend has a gun pointed at your lady. You’ll do exactly what we say if you want her to keep breathing.”
“What do you want?”
Beard aimed his gun at Owen’s heart. “Step aside.”
“You want my wallet, I’ll give it to you.”
The blond-haired thug gave a bark of laughter. “Some cop you are. You’re a love-sick idiot. We don’t want your wallet. We want your woman.”
“Not happening. Let’s cut to the chase, boys. Your friend, Kilgore, tried to take my woman hostage earlier today. He’s currently sitting in a jail cell. Tell me what you want, and we’ll all walk away from this in one piece.”
“What’s the catch?” Blondie asked, eyes narrowed.
“No catch. I don’t want my woman injured. You’re not laying a finger on her or taking her from this parking lot.”
Beard scowled. “You can’t stop us.”
“Try me.”
“We’ll shoot you, and take her anyway.”
“She doesn’t have what you want.”
The two thugs glanced at each other before focusing on Owen again. “How do you know what we want?” Beard asked.
“Has to be the flash drive your buddy wanted. G doesn’t have it.”
“Who does?”
“I do. You can have the flash drive as long as you take it and leave.”
“You’re going to let us walk?”
“If that’s what it takes to protect my woman. Once you leave, the danger to G is over.”
“Maybe you’re not so stupid after all. Where’s the drive?” Blondie asked.
Owen patted the left outer pocket of his jacket.
“Bring me the drive.”
“Not a chance. Come get it.”
Blondie glanced at Beard. “If he tries anything, shoot her.”
Gigi scowled. She didn’t like that plan.
“No tricks,” Owen said. “Just take the drive and go.”
Blondie approached and shoved his gun against Owen’s chest. “Don’t move,” he growled, then reached into Owen’s pocket. When he withdrew his hand, he held the flash drive.
“The file better be on here. If it’s not, we’ll be back.” Blondie’s gaze shifted from Owen to Gigi. His gaze drifted over her, making Gigi’s skin crawl. “Too bad I don’t have time to show you a good time, honey.”
Owen moved then, grabbing the thug’s wrist with one hand and placing his other palm flat against Blondie’s chest. He shoved the man back. “You got what you came for,” Owen snapped. “Get lost.”
“Let’s go,” Beard said to Blondie. “If you follow us, cop, we’ll kill you, then spend some quality time with your woman before we kill her, too.” With that dire warning, the two men backed away from Owen and Gigi, their guns aimed Owen until they climbed into their SUV. A moment later, the vehicle sped from the lot and onto Main Street. Within seconds, the vehicle was out of sight.
Owen hugged Gigi. “You okay?”
She nodded. “My heart’s racing.”
“You were perfect, baby. You did exactly what I needed you to do.”
Nothing? Yeah, she could rock at doing nothing under those circumstances. How did Owen handle this all the time? Her knees wanted to buckle and probably would have if Owen wasn’t holding her.
His brothers and Jackson emerged from dark shadows around the parking lot. “Nice job, Owen,” Caleb said.
“Thanks.” Owen cupped Gigi’s nape. “I have to go. One of my brothers will be with you at the B & B at all times. Don’t go anywhere without one of them. I have to know that you’re safe, G, or I won’t be able to do my job.”
She kissed him. “I promise. Save Toni and Ellis. I’ll be waiting for you. You better not have a scratch on you, Owen.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He pressed a hard, fast kiss to her mouth, then motioned for Jackson to join him. Before he climbed into the driver’s seat, Owen looked at Elliot.
“I’ve got her. Get moving.”
A moment later, Owen and Jackson were gone.
Gigi watched the taillights of Owen’s SUV until