The scene in front of him froze his heart in place.
Jeremy Beaumont held Dani before him like a shield, with his arm around her throat.No weapon that Lawson could see, but with the man’s grip, he could snap Dani’s neck in less than a second.
Panic got shoved down as Lawson’s training asserted itself.The man was done.Dani was safe.Neither knew it yet, but that was the only acceptable outcome, so that’s what would happen.What he would make happen.
Beaumont’s attention was riveted on the dogs, and he hadn’t seen Lawson yet.
Boomer was trained as a protection dog.He knew how to take on an attacker and keep his human safe.Apparently, the dog had Dani under his protection now.
Bibi growled and barked, every bit as menacing as Boomer.The big mountain of fluff and the German Shepherd had the man backed against the garage door.A vehicle sat on the road, but Lawson wasn’t wasting time checking out whatever threats it contained.The people behind him could take care of that.
His only focus was on getting Dani away from the prick.
He had a shot.
From this angle, he could blow Beaumont’s brains out and free Dani.But he knew she wouldn’t want that to happen.She was just rebuilding her relationship with her sister.Killing the woman’s husband wouldn’t help.
Shit.Was Evelyn involved?Was she in the car?Had her conversations with Dani been nothing but a ruse?
Lawson mentally shook the thoughts away.They’d deal with that fallout later.
Beaumont shrieked at Dani.“Make them stop.Shut them up.Get them out of the way.”
Dani didn’t respond, and Beaumont’s face reddened.“Once you sign the paper, I’ll leave.That merger has to happen, and you’re the only thing standing in the way.Once I’ve got my money, all the problems go away.Just sign it.”
Sounded as if Beaumont owed money.Lots of it.Seemed like he was behind the entire mess.
A pheasant call sounded, and Lawson holstered his gun.The call meant the team was in place.
If Lawson had his gun out, it might make Beaumont panic further.
Lawson stepped forward with his hands open and out to the sides.He moved slowly until both Beaumont and Dani could see him.“Let her go, Beaumont.It’s over.”
The man’s face deepened to purple, and his eyes widened.“No.She has to sign.I need her to sign.Then it’s over.”
Lawson didn’t tear his gaze from Beaumont’s as he eased closer.“Let her go, and we’ll talk it out.”
Beaumont squeezed her closer and pointed his other hand at the dogs.“Shut them up, shut them up.”
Even with Lawson’s presence, the dogs hadn’t let up on their verbal assault.Bibi’s deep bark sounded terrifying, while Boomer’s was even more menacing as he showed his teeth in a growl between barks, letting the man know he was looking forward to getting a piece of him.
“Let her go, Beaumont.Don’t make things worse.”
“They can’t get worse.I need that money.I need the merger.She has to sign, and then they won’t kill me.”
That meant he was in enormous debt.The panic proved it wasn’t the bank he owed, maybe gambling debts or poor management.He was hoping to use the merger to cover up his mess.
Lawson crept closer each time the man’s gaze moved to the dogs, almost within reach.
Beaumont looked back at him and realized how close Lawson stood.In a panic, Beaumont turned to the side to angle further from Lawson, and his grip on Dani changed.
That was all Lawson needed.
He reached between Dani and Beaumont.In less than a second, he wedged his body between them.With Dani safely behind him, he slammed the jerk backward into the garage.
The man squealed and tried to bring his hands up to shove Lawson away.
Lawson rolled his eyes at the attempt.Then he whirled Beaumont around and slammed him into the garage.This time, the man whimpered.
