Georgie had taken Lee horse-riding and arranged for him to go on the whale shark cruise. If he could seriously shoot Georgie after spending so much time with her, then he was irredeemable.
Lee took his gun from the back of his jeans. “Do you want me to shoot him now, or when Georgie arrives?”
Matt wanted to be sick. His legs went weak, and he swayed before he managed to strengthen them again. “You’d really kill her?” He had to keep her alive.
“You don’t seem to care you’re about to die,” the gunman said.
Matt met Lee’s gaze when he answered. “I care more about a woman who brings joy to everyone she meets.”
Lee said nothing, his face a statue. Not a guy to play poker with.
“She deserves to be in this world.”
“Let’s wait until the girl arrives,” the gunman said. “I’d like to see them suffer after all they’ve put us through.”
“I warned the boss the Stokes wouldn’t give in easily.” Lee shifted slightly closer to Matt. “They’re stubborn.”
“Are you suggesting my father made a mistake?” The gunman stiffened, the first sign of real emotion Matt had seen.
“Never,” Lee said. “He’s run the organisation successfully for over two decades. He gets results.”
This was Matt’s chance to get information. If he somehow made it out alive, he wanted a lead. “He seems rather fixated on the Ridge to me.”
“It contains something that is rightfully mine,” the gunman said.
Was he talking about the treasure? Matt frowned. “It’s Bayungu land.”
The gunman waved the comment away. “Your people have no idea of its value.”
How dare he! Matt growled and stepped towards the man.
The gunman raised his gun. “Don’t.”
It was that kind of attitude they’d been fighting against their whole lives. Matt exhaled, but before he could speak a vehicle rumbled in the distance, the sound growing louder. Georgie. He had to get away before she arrived. The gunman looked away for a moment. Matt’s muscles bunched, ready to pounce at the gunman.
“Don’t,” Lee barked.
The gunman focused on Matt, steadying his aim.
Damn it. Matt relaxed, glaring at Lee. He’d get another moment.
“What car is she driving?” Lee asked.
“I told her to take a PAWS vehicle.”
Lee swore. “They have rifles to shoot injured animals.”
Matt’s mouth dropped open, and a fly immediately tried to take up residence. He spat and said, “She wouldn’t be so stupid.” Sure, she knew how to shoot, but she couldn’t shoot anyone. She wouldn’t be fast enough against these two. Though she didn’t know about Lee.
Lee glanced at him. “If it meant saving you?”
Fuck. He glanced towards the track entrance. If Georgie came in guns blazing, the gunman would shoot without hesitating, not bothering to wait for Lee to shoot her.
When he returned his gaze to the clearing, Lee was gone. Shit.
The gunman smirked at him. “She won’t know what hit her. Lee’s the best we have.”
No. Matt scanned the bushes and caught a glimpse of Lee. He was out of view of the gunman. Lee met Matt’s gaze, pressed a finger to his lips and mouthed,Please.
