Page 99 of Tough as Steele

“Both, actually. Like the old lady said. You all know who I am. I can’t let any of you live.” He stepped closer to Londyn. “Although I hate to do it. Sheissomething to look at. Maybe we could party a little before the end comes.”

He stroked his hand over Londyn’s hair. She wanted to jerk away, but she couldn’t risk setting off the bomb. She would take Holt out with her, giving her life to save Nate and Mimi, but they were too close to survive a blast. Londyn wouldn’t act unless she was certain they would be fine.

Still caressing her hair, Holt jeered at Nate.

He fisted his hands. He looked like a fired up rocket on a launchpad that might explode at any moment. Londyn understood his feelings, maybe even more so since the creep continued to touch her.

“If this is going to take a while, can Mimi sit down?” Londyn asked.

“Fine by me.”

“I’ll help her.” Nate stepped toward her without asking.

As he passed, Londyn used her eyes to signal that she would try to get the remote from Holt. Nate gave a subtle shake of his head, but she returned it with a resolved look.

Before he could insist further, she looked at Holt. “Can I move while you have that switch, or am I stuck here?”

“Stuck.” He held up the switch. “This will discharge the explosive, as will movement on the plate. Move at all, and you’ll go boom.”

She glared at him. “I could take you out right now.”

“Could you?” A cocky grin slid across his confident face. “You might be willing to risk your life, but you won’t let the old lady or Mr. SEAL get hurt.”

She hated that he knew that. Hated it a lot when she wanted to put some fear on that smug face. Let him feel even a fraction of what Mimi must’ve been feeling. Or how Londyn felt right now.

She started to let out a long breath but held it. She didn’t want to let him know he was getting to her. “So, tell us why we’re here.”

“You, my precious, are icing on my cake.” A sick grin curled Holt’s lips. “The minute I picked Jessica up at that bar and she tried to impress me by telling me about her rich employer, was the minute I knew I was going to hit the old lady up for some money. When I did my recon and learned Ryder boy was part of the family, I knew fate had put him in my life to take revenge.”

“Not sure why you need revenge,” Nate said, his hands on his waist. “You did the deed. I only confirmed it when the brass asked.”

Holt dropped his hand from Londyn’s head and spun on Nate. “We were a team. You all should’ve had my back. The others kept quiet, but you? You had to open your mouth. Take over. Take charge.”

“As team leader, I didn’t have a choice. Not when you messed with one of us. Sunshine had more right to be on the team than you did. He had skills and experience far beyond yours. And he’s a great guy who would’ve had your back even when you called him every racist name in the books.”

Holt shook the kill switch at Nate. “He shouldn’t have been on the team. Whites only is the way I see it. So does Odin, if you must know.”

Odin. So Peyton was right.

Nate gritted his teeth. “And that’s the reason you had no place on the team or even in the service of our country.”

“That’s where you and so many people are wrong. We will put the coloreds in their place again. Just you wait and see.”

“Not as long as I breathe, you won’t.” Nate’s shoulders tightened into a hard line and he looked like he wanted to launch his body at Holt.

Londyn didn’t blame him. She wanted to do the same thing.

Holt chuckled. “See that’s where you’re wrong—again. You won’t be breathing for long. I’ve got you in an impossible situation, and you can’t do a thing about it. Not unless you want the old lady and girlfriend to go boom.”

“Now listen to me,” Mimi said. “You might have us in a predicament, but people like you don’t triumph. Ever. God will prevail.”

“Ha! Your God won’t do a thing. Look at how He’s let His world deteriorate. But my god is at work, and you’ll soon see that. Your money will help make that a reality.”

Interesting.“You’re not spending the money on yourself?” Londyn asked.

“I’ll take my finder’s fee, of course.” He laughed. “But the rest will do Odin’s work.”

“And what about Gaskin and Jessica?” Nate asked. “Why did they have to die?”

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