Crossing his left foot over his right to conceal the other boot’s missing lace, Jake calmly said, “Hey, man. Can I get a drink? My fucking throat feels like I’ve swallowed a bowl of cotton.”
Looking annoyed, Asshole Two went to his bag and pulled out his canteen. Adrenaline pumped through Jake’s veins as he waited. He’d only get one shot at this, and the timing had to be perfect.
The other man squatted down in front of him, unscrewed the lid, and put the canteen to Jake’s mouth. Jake tilted his head as if to drink, but in a swift and efficient move, he pulled his hands out from behind his back.
The guy’s eyes grew as big as saucers. Before he could reach for his gun, Jake grabbed both of the man’s wrists. He moved them in opposite directions, twisting Asshole One’s arms as he rose to his feet. The canteen dropped to the ground.
Keeping his hold tight, Jake lifted his right leg and spun it up and over the guy’s right shoulder. He now had Asshole One’s right arm trapped across his own chest, and his left arm wrenched up between his back and Jake’s chest.
Jake shifted his leg up so it was pressing against the man’s throat. He squeezed his hamstring muscles as tightly as he possibly could. Asshole One tried to fight, and at one point, came damn close to getting loose. In the end, Jake was able to keep his hold.
The man’s face turned a deep red, and spit flew from his mouth as he tried—and failed—to breathe. His eyes bulged, their blood vessels popping from the strain. When Jake felt the man’s body go limp, he released his hold and let the guy fall on his face.
Grabbing a large knife from a leather sheath at Asshole One’s waist, Jake filled his fist with the unconscious man’s hair. Pulling his head back to expose his throat, Jake made one, long slice across the skin there.
Blood gushed from the large wound. The man was dead within seconds. From start to finish, the entire interaction took less than a minute.
With one threat eliminated, Jake dropped the knife and grabbed the guy’s pistol. He checked the mag and the chamber, relieved to find them both full. As he stood, he heard Asshole Two’s voice holler out.
“Mateo?” When Asshole One—whose name was apparently Mateo—didn’t answer him, the other man yelled louder. “Mateo!”
Ready for what was about to happen, Jake got into a shooting stance. With his arms stretched out in front of him, he drew in a slow, calming breath. Praying Olivia didn’t get caught in the crossfire, Jake put his finger on the trigger and waited.
Chapter 15
Olivia’s legs shookas she and Shorty walked back to where she’d last seen Jake. Terrified of what they’d find, she rounded the bushes, gasping at the scene before her.
Jake was standing, his hands no longer tied behind his back. His arms were up in front of him, and he was pointing a gun in her direction.
Tall Guy was face down on the ground near the tree, and a puddle of dark liquid was growing beneath his head.Blood.
Somehow, Jake had managed to get his hands free, and he’d killed the other man. Olivia was trying to think of what she should do, when an arm flew around her neck from behind.
“You motherfucker!”Shorty yelled next to her ear just before pushing the barrel of his gun against her temple. “I will fucking kill her!”
“No. You won't.”
