The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,83

to follow along.

Then she tossed the weapon, but not to the left. She threw it straight at Carson.

He yelled and automatically jerked to avoid the gun that was flying toward him. When he jerked, Ella ducked and ran in low. She just needed to get Carson’s weapon out of his hand.

The gun she’d thrown hit the floor. Carson whipped his head up toward her, but she was already close enough to grab his arm. She reached for him, but he was faster than she’d expected. A whole lot faster than she’d hoped he would be. He jumped to the right, and his gun darted out of her reach. In a blink, he had his weapon pointed at her face.

“Nice try, Ella. Damn, you always were such a fighter.” He smiled at her, and she knew he was going to pull the trigger.

She might only have a few seconds left, but she’d show him a fight, all right. She’d—

“I will pay anything!” Antony’s voice rang out. “Anything you fucking want. Any amount. Do not shoot her!”

She didn’t look back at Antony, but she saw Carson’s gaze dart to him.

“Anything,” Antony said again. His voice was closer. He had to be on his feet. Moving in on them. The Taser hadn’t kept him down for long. “I’ll give you everything I have, but if you shoot her, I will make certain you get nothing. Nothing but death.” A grim promise.

Carson licked his lips. Ella could see the hesitation—and greed—in his eyes.

“I can go into my office right now and wire any amount you want into your bank account. I will give you everything, but not if you hurt her. You hurt her, and it’s over,” Antony vowed.

A rough laugh came from Carson. “Cause you’re so big and bad?” He darted another look at Antony. Mocking.

“Right.” Low. Lethal. “Because I am so big and fucking bad.”

She knew Antony was going to attack. She risked a quick glance at him from the corner of her eye. Damn him. She’d told the man to stay down! But even as she peeked at him so quickly, she saw his muscles bunching and knew he’d lunge for Carson.

Carson must have realized it, too, because his weapon swung over toward Antony—

No, you don’t.

Ella was so close to Carson. So close that she could throw her body against his—and she did. She launched at him with all of her might. They collided even as she shoved his arm to the left so he wouldn’t have a path to hit Antony with a bullet. She and Carson tumbled down in a tangle of limbs, but she kept her tight grip on his arm. There was no way she was letting that gun-holding hand go. He was not shooting Antony, not on her watch.

Carson tried to headbutt her, barely missed, then his left hand swung toward her face.

“The hell you will,” Antony thundered. He’d caught Carson’s hand before it could hit her. “I warned you. If she’s hurt, it’s over.”

Ella wrenched the gun from Carson’s grasp and managed to roll free.

Antony slammed his fist into Carson’s jaw. Drove another punch at his stomach.

Carson snarled and tried to leap up.

“Freeze,” Ella ordered him. She had the gun aimed at him as she crouched just a few feet away. “You are done, Carson.”

Red darkened his jaw from Antony’s hit. His furious stare flew from Ella to Antony.

Antony rose to his feet. His hands fisted. His breath heaved in and out, and Ella could tell by the furious expression on his face that he wanted to attack Carson.

“Antony,” she said his name deliberately. “I’m okay.”

A jerky nod. He came closer to her. Slid his fingers down her arm. A long breath released from him.

More pounding came from the stairwell door. Jacob sounded as if he was close to breaking down the door. “I-I need to get Jacob.” She passed the gun to Antony. She warned Carson, “Don’t even think of moving. If you do, his finger might get twitchy,” Ella added, deliberately using his taunt from before.

Carson glared at her.

Ella hurried for the stairwell door. But before she reached it—

Ding.

The elevator doors opened. The young security guard—George—stepped out. Why was he up there? He should have been at his station downstairs.

“Shoot her!” Carson bellowed.

Oh, hell. That’s why he’s up here.

Things moved in slow motion for her. Ella had automatically turned her head toward the elevator when the doors opened. She could see the gun gripped in George’s hand. No Taser for him. A Glock,