It’s hard to see how this evening could get any worse.
Unfortunately, he’s likely correct about the original professional in this scheme wanting payment after being stiffed - which was not my fault but they won’t care.
Then, the very top of this seven-layer shit dip: Marcus, dangling from this musclehead’s grip and just now realizing he did not think things through.
“Let him go!” I said sharply, glaring at Gregor. I remember how casually he talked about ‘curb stomping’ the sleazebag who harassed me earlier this week.
Lachlan is staring at Marcus. “The best friend, aye?”
“His name is Marcus and yes, we’re close enough to be family, which is why he must have thought this was a good idea.” I took his other arm, trying to pull him away from Gregor. Marcus, meanwhile, is staring at Lachlan like he’s the tastiest piece of candy in the pinata.
“Lachlan MacTavish in theflesh,”he sighs. “Such a pleasure.”
“Marcus honey…” Yep, there’s that headache again. “Wrong moment.”
“Okay, okay,” Marcus smiles weakly, “let’s just all inhale some peace and breathe out any violent impulses, huh? I’m harmless. I was just keeping an eye on my girl here.”
Scowling at Gregor, whose massive chest vibrates with a silent chuckle, I finally manage to free Marcus from his grip.
“What the feck are you doing here, lad?” Lachlan’s voice feels like a cold steel blade running down my spine.
“No one is more competent than Aria,” Marcus says, gathering his customary swagger like donning a jacket. “But this is weird, even for her business weird. I’m just here in case… you know. If she needs me.”
“Oh, sweetie,” I groan, standing in front of him protectively. “Such a bad idea but I appreciate your intention.”
Lachlan - like a true sociopath - changes from angry to mildly amused. “This speeds things up,” he says, rubbing his hands together. “Do you want him to live, baby?”
“Obviously! Marcus will never breathe a word of this. Just let him leave.”
“Not so fast,” he cautions, pulling out his gun.
“Oh, god…” moans Marcus.
Lachlan strolls over, grinning like the unhinged demon he is and most distressingly, not putting away his Glock.
We’re all frozen in place, waiting for what he’ll do next. Marcus and I cling to each other, Gregor leans against the wall.
And Lachlan… just strolls back and forth, his hand resting his pistol against his shoulder.
“We have a dilemma here. I want what was promised to me.” Then, he nods at Marcus. “You want to save your friend. And I’m thinkin’ Marcus just doesn’t want to get shot, that’s certain. How do we solve this little problem?”
“By letting us go and never seeing our faces again?” Marcus blurts.
My nails dig into his arm and he shuts up.
“Wrong answer.” Lachlan cocks his gun and I smother a scream.
“Will you stop that? You’re not going to shoot either one of us.” I’m trying to sound authoritative, but even I can hear that pathetic little wobble at the end of my words.
“Well, I’m not going to shootyou,”Lachlan agrees amiably. “But Marcus here… sneaking around my club. Disobeying a stringent set of rules of conduct and expectin’ your connection is enough to save him.”
“Please…” The vicious drumbeat in my brain was pounding harder, and so was my heart. I’ve been in risky situations, but never with an innocent involved. “His only crime is being concerned for me, and you know it. Just- what do you want, Lachlan? I'll get the money if you don’t want the statue. I’ll double your fee.”
I will not go down in history for my brilliant negotiating skills.
Stopping in front of me, he smiles tenderly. “You know what I want. Make your decision.”
***
