outcropping, he shoved his gun into his holster, grabbed the first rock, and began to climb while telling Gigi exactly how she’d pay. With his height and agility, he closed the distance between them too fast.
“Logan, please tell me you’re close.” Her voice shook.
“One minute. Hold him off.”
Hold him off. Right. She’d get right on that.
“Whatever it takes, G,” Owen said. “Do it for me. For us.”
“Focus on your own thugs,” she snapped. “I’ll handle mine.”
Male chuckles came through the comm device as Gigi tightened her grip on the driftwood. “Come on,” she whispered. “Just a little bit closer.”
Heart slamming against her ribcage, Gigi waited until Guard One glanced down to find another handhold, then rose, and swung the driftwood like a bat. When the wood slammed against the side of his head, he went limp and fell, landing on the sand. The guard didn’t move.
Guard Two shouted and cursed at Gigi as he slithered across the sand to his friend. He checked the downed man and scowled at Gigi. “I’ll kill you. I don’t care what the boss wants. You’re dead.” He raised his gun and took aim.
Gigi dropped down behind the rock and prayed the man had lousy aim, and that the bullet didn’t ricochet and hit her.
A gunshot rang out.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Owen’s breath stalled in his lungs at the sound of the gunshot. Had one of the guards shot Gigi?
He needed to go to her. Now. He couldn’t until he dealt with Gonzalez. Owen didn’t dare turn his back on the gunrunner.
Gonzalez laughed, delight filling his expression. “You’re too late. Your wife is dead, and you’re next. You shouldn’t have crossed me, Michaels. This isn’t America. I own this town, and my word is law. You’ll die knowing your wife’s death is your fault. Only idiots bring their loved ones to business negotiations, especially business as dangerous as ours.” More laughter. “I’m tempted to chain you up in my basement and watch you die a slow, painful death.”
Owen breathed past the knot in his throat. If the woman he loved was dead, Owen didn’t care what happened to him. One thing he vowed to himself. No matter what the cost to himself, Gonzalez would pay for hurting Gigi.
“She’s safe, Owen,” Logan said through the comm system. “I’ve got her. Quit messing around and take care of that joker.”
Relief rolled over him with the force of a tidal wave. Thank God. He refocused on the gloating gunrunner. “Give it up, Gonzalez. The men you sent after my wife failed.”
The gunrunner’s expression shifted to a scowl. “Luis, Jorge,” he yelled. “Do you have the woman?”
Silence.
The crime boss darted a glance over Owen’s shoulder, then refocused on Owen. “You’re lying. Two of my men against your wife? She didn’t stand a chance.”
“You and your entire organization are going down.” He gave Gonzalez a come-on gesture. “You want me? Come and get me.”
With a roar of fury and hatred, the gunrunner ran full tilt at Owen, who shifted just enough for the man to miss his target and run past. The unexpected movement caused Gonzalez to stumble and scramble to regain his balance.
Owen pivoted and hit Gonzalez with a powerful roundhouse kick to the thigh, knocking him to the sand.
The gunrunner climbed to his feet and leaped at Owen. As soon as his back hit the sand, Owen wrapped one leg around Gonzalez’s leg, bucked with his hip, and flipped their positions.
On top now, he blocked a punch, then slammed his own fist into Gonzalez’s face over and over. When the man went limp, Owen climbed to his feet and backed off, watching in case Gonzalez came after him again. Doubtful, though. The gunrunner had relied on his guards to do the heavy lifting for too long, and he’d gone soft. He was done.
Now, Gonzalez was someone else’s problem. If he ever escaped custody and came after Gigi, it would be the last thing the gunrunner ever did. Owen would kill him, badge or no badge. No one would hurt his woman again.
“Owen!”
He turned in time to catch Gigi when she launched herself at him. Owen held her tight for a moment before easing her back. “Are you all right, baby?”
She nodded. “What about you?”
“I’m fine. Handling Gonzalez’s guard took about a minute. Gonzalez put up a little more resistance, but not much.” He looked at Logan who had followed Gigi. “What happened to the other two guards?”
“Gigi took care of one of them by herself. I helped out with the other