Page 91 of Tabitha

“You know what I want.” Banks draws out his gun, then runs the barrel down the side of Tabitha’s face. “I’m willing to let you go…all you have to do is prove your loyalty.”

He grabs the barrel of the gun, then offers it hilt first to Tabitha.

She reaches for the weapon, only to be pulled up short by the cuff around her wrists. She flashes him a wry smile. “Sorry, it looks like I’m a little tied up at the moment. Maybe if you let us go…”

“No need.” His grin sharpens, and he slaps the gun in her palm hard enough to sting. She automatically grabs it. “Kill him and you’re free to go.”

I swallow hard, not once looking away from Tabitha, and my heart sinks. The only way for her to get out of here alive is to kill me. From the hard glint in her eyes, I fear the stubborn wench is going to do something foolish. “Do it. They’ll kill us both if you don’t. I’m not worth it.”

My only regret is that I won’t be able to spend more time getting to know her. Learn her likes and dislikes. Show her that life is more than just death. She doesn’t know how to have fun yet, and I mourn that I didn’t get the chance to show her.

Her silver eyes darken, and I tense, hating that I’m unable to read her.

“Sorry, but I’m going to have to decline your offer.” She twists the gun toward Banks and pulls the trigger.

An empty click fills the cavern. Tabitha drops the gun with a sigh, then shrugs. “Well, you can’t blame a girl for trying, right?”

My heartbeat thunders in my ears, and it takes me a second to realize that I’m still alive.

And that she tried to kill Banks.

Shit!

No way is Banks going to let this stand. I saw back and forth on the ropes with all my strength, mentally cursing her for being so stupidly brave.

She should’ve never taken such a risk!

“Enough games,” Banks snarls, menace in his tone. He grabs the glorious strands of her black and silver hair and wrenches her head back until she can only see him, yet my girl doesn’t make a sound.

My mouth waters at the beautiful arch of her neck, and I vow to kiss that very spot the instant we get out of this mess.

Static crackles across the radio, interrupting whatever Banks had planned.

Banks narrows his eyes, casting a suspicious look at Tabitha, then snatches up his radio. He presses the button, but the thing is dead. A growl tears from him, and he tosses it against the wall so hard that it shatters on impact.

“What did you do?” he roars, so pissed that spittle splatters her face.

My baby girl doesn’t even bat an eyelash, giving him a negligent shrug. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’re making this harder than it needs to be.” Banks scowls down at Tabitha, speaking through gritted teeth. He releases her, thrusting her away from him so violently that her head snaps forward.

He nods to my tormentor, and Steward steps forward.

Heart pounding against my ribs like tribal drums, I struggle against my ropes, rocking desperately back and forth. The ropes give a little bit more, but not enough. “Leave her the fuck alone!”

I slump and breathe a sigh of relief when the goon completely ignores her. He comes to stand behind me, slaps a hand on my forehead, then yanks back my head. I stop struggling when I feel the edge of the blade press against my throat, just under my jaw.

One slice, and I would bleed out in seconds.

Banks crosses his arms, his stance rigid as he stands over Tabitha. In response, Tabitha only lifts a mocking brow. “Women can be such irrational creatures. For example, kill him, and I will make it my life’s mission that you’ll never lay your hands on the gold.”

A vein throbs in Banks’ forehead, the thing just seconds away from exploding. A muscle in his jaw clenches, then all the rage evaporates. “We’ll see how you feel when all your men are strapped to chairs and tortured.”

Then he whirls and stomps away, disappearing back into the tunnels.

Tabitha glares after him, and if looks could kill, he would topple over dead. She turns away, lifting her nose in the air and sniffs. “What a bag of dicks!”

Stewart slowly removes the knife, but not before purposely nicking me, leaving a trickle of blood to trail down my throat. He eyes Tabitha up like she’s a special kind of treat, the fucker even licking his tongue against the flat of his blade.

---