knife block.
“You! You’ve been a thorn in my side since before you were even born. I had that idiot Masterson ready to sell me his hunting cabin when your whore mother told him she was pregnant. Next thing I know, I’m drawing up trust papers so he can give it away.”
“Why would you have wanted the property thirty years ago?” Nadya asked, stalling for time. The longer he talked, the more time Mary Ellen had to get help.
“I had been buying up properties all over the area. If I could have gotten Woody’s piece, it would have been worth millions. But you ruined everything. Now the rest of the properties aren’t worth the paper the deed is printed on, and I’m overextended to people who apply their late fees with a baseball bat to your knees.”
“If I sign the property over to you, will you put the baby down?”
“Do you think I’m stupid? I know the second I put this brat down, your man over there is going to play hero.”
“Then what do you want?” She inched closer to the knife block. If she could distract him, maybe J.T. could do something without hurting the baby. What, she wasn’t sure, but something.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. You see this paper right here in my pocket? You’re going to sign it, transferring the custody of the trust back into my hands. Then you two heroes will witness it. Once the paperwork is signed, me and the baby will disappear. I’ll call you and tell you where to get him.”
“No deal. We have no assurances that you won’t kill him the second I sign the paper.”
“This isn’t a negotiation!”
“Everything’s a negotiation.”
“Nadya,” J.T. said, the warning clear in his tone.
“Leave the baby here with Bill. I’ll go with you as your hostage.”
“No!” J.T. shouted.
“You can drive me somewhere out in the woods and I’ll sign the paper. By the time I get back to civilization, you can be long gone.” Nadya used every ounce of control left in her to keep her face blank. Both men were to her left, so they couldn’t see what was happening on the patio. Her heart lodged in her throat. This could go terribly, terribly wrong if she didn’t do something.
“No way. You are not leaving the house with him.” J.T. vibrated with fury.
“In case you haven’t noticed, you aren’t in charge here.” Hornblower appeared to think about it.
Nadya didn’t take her eyes off him. If he managed to see the movement right outside the door, she wanted to be able to react quickly. There was no telling what he was capable of. His eyes were wild, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. He was definitely not operating on all cylinders.
“Put the baby down. This is the only way and you know it.” She kept moving towards him, keeping his attention on her and not what was going on behind him.
“Come out on the patio. I’ll put the kid down when we get to the fence. Neither of you better take one step out the door until the kid is loose, or I’ll slit both their throats. I got nothing to lose.”
“Nadya, no. Don’t do it.” J.T. pleaded with her, but she steeled herself.
“I know what I’m doing. I can handle myself.” She really hoped he got the hint.
“Let’s go. I’m calling the shots. Out the door.”
Walking away from J.T. was the hardest thing she’d ever done.
“If you ever show your face around here again, loan sharks are going to be the least of your problems.” J.T.’s voice was rough with anger.
“You’re in no position to make threats, pretty boy.”
Nadya drew closer to Hornblower, and his stink almost overpowered her. “At least let me hold the baby so he’ll stop crying. I’m sure he’s getting heavy too.”
“Take him.” He thrust Hunter at her. “Just remember, I’ve got the knife on you.” He grabbed her arm and pushed her out the door, pressing the knife against her side.
As soon as they were clear of the frame, Mary Ellen smashed a flowerpot over his head. Nadya clutched Hunter to her chest and ran for her life. She heard a roar and spun in time to see J.T. fly out the door and body slam Hornblower, who’d only just made it to his knees.
Mary Ellen skirted the brawling men and ran right to Nadya and Hunter. She hugged them both so hard Nadya thought they’d suffocate. “I have never been so scared in my entire life. Oh