Page 105 of Beat around the Bush
My skin grew hot with the anger that surged through me. “Don’t involve Oakley in this.”
“I mean, isn’t she why you fired me? Wasn’t that the whole reason?” He stalked forward a few steps, prowling like a lion about to pounce. “Because your poor girl was in danger for a few minutes?”
“It was because you broke my one rule. We went over this.”
“You see, I have a hard time believing that.”
I held my ground, doing all I could not to turn around and go to Oakley. Leo was getting in my way. “What’s the plan here, Leo?”
He shrugged, the act casual. “Revenge.”
My heart skipped a beat as a loud thump from the office echoed down the hall. “Who’s in there with her?”
Leo grinned, and I wanted to wipe the look off his fucking face. “My friend.” In one swift movement, he had the gun in his hand. He twisted it around, admiring it.
“Come on, Leo. Put the gun down. You’re really going to do this over aretailposition?”
He looked at me, his eyes frantic. “Where the fuck else am I supposed to work in this small town? The goddamn junk yard?”
It was an option.
“Just put the gun down and we can talk, okay?”
“No!” Leo’s voice echoed through the store, bouncing off the linoleum floors.
He raised the gun, aiming the barrel at me. “I’m done fucking talking. You didn’t want to hear what I had to say when you fired me, so I’m not giving you the choice. You’ve said all you need to say.”
He cocked the gun, but before his finger could pull the trigger, a blur of movement moved behind him and then Leo collapsed.
My eyes moved from Leo to Beckham, who stood poised above him with a shotgun in his hand.
“Beckham?”
“I could’ve shot him, but I figured knocking him out was the safer route,” Beckham said, heaving a breath.
I should’ve been relieved, but I wasn’t. Not with Oakley still in that office.
“Beck-”
“Go get your girl. I’ll watch him until police show up.”
They should be here any minute now, but I couldn’t wait. I had to get to her.
I gave a quick nod and spun, aiming for the hallway. Creeping closer to the door, I tried the handle, but it was locked. As I gently slid my key into the slot, the man’s voice became clearer.
“I can bring you to my house. Teach you to ski.”
“I don’t want skiing lessons, JP. I already told you this,” Oakley said, her voice small as she tried to keep her tone gentle.
“But I want to give them to you, and what I say goes,” he said, right as the lock clicked. I paused, but the sound of his footsteps didn’t falter as he paced the room.
Twisting the handle, I braced myself for what was to come. I wanted to take him off guard; make sure he didn’t see me coming so he wouldn’t have a chance to hurt Oakley.
Her safety was my number one priority.
“But don’t you want me happy?” Oakley croaked.
Two big footfalls, and then Oakley shrieked.
