Page 46 of Jael

Eva squeaked and buried her face in Danny’s back.

“You’re not going to shoot me,” he said.

“My dad chose you for this job for multiple reasons. One of them was that you’re disposable. Now. Give me your gun, and put her on the couch.”

Danny took a moment to stare down Christopher, but he saw a hungry look in the other man’s eyes and knew he would get pleasure out of killing Danny and the girl if that’s what it took to get the job done.

He gave Christopher his gun before crouching down in front of Eva. He held her shoulders in place, using his bulk to keep her from seeing past him to the living room. When her eyes fluttered up to where Christopher stood, he angled his head to block her view.

“Keep your eyes on me, okay?”

She did.

“Eva, I need you to be really brave for me right now.”

She shook her head lightly, her body trembling under the weight of his hands. “You said—” she whispered. “You said I could go to my room.”

“Is this really necessary?” Christopher said.

Danny held his anger in check. “Yes.” He turned his head enough so he could see Christopher in his peripheral vision. “I’ll handle it, just give me a second.” He waited to see if Christopher would offer any more objections. When he didn’t, Danny focused back on Eva. “You remember what I said in the cubby?”

She nodded.

“Nothing has changed except where you have to wait, okay?”

Another small nod.

“I want you to close your eyes.”

She hesitated for a second, then mashed them closed so her whole face was pinched.

“Good. That’s perfect. Don’t open them unless I say so. Do you understand?”

She nodded, and he took her hand, using his other to cover her face while he led her to the couch. He lifted her and set her down, watching her face for a couple seconds.

“Is everyone comfortable now?” Christopher said.

Danny took a pillow off the other end of the couch and pressed it into her lap. “Eva, if you feel like you have to open your eyes, you put that pillow over your face first, okay? And if you have to yell out, you do it into the pillow.”

Her head jerked in agreement as tears made a path down her dirty face.

Danny sat on the edge of the couch and looked at Christopher. “Is it okay if I sit here?” He wasn’t asking permission.

“For now,” Christopher said.

When Danny took her hand, she pressed her face into his arm.

“Man,” Christopher said, dropping his head in disgust. “I gotta say, Danny, you are a disappointment. What prison did you say you went to? Because it has made you soft as a marshmallow.”

Danny kept his voice quiet. “She’s a little girl who has nothing to do with this.”

“You know nothing.” Christopher said this more to himself than to Danny.

“I know you’re using her as leverage.”

“And? You want a medal? If we did things your way, this job would take all day.”

“Speed isn’t everything.”

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