The moment I cocked the gun I knew I had his full attention and the cold steel that pressed against his head just behind his ear made him stiffen.
“Give me the gun,” I said quietly, proud of the steadiness in my tone.
Drew’s eyes closed instantly, the sagging of his shoulders and slow exhale a sure sign that hearing my voice was the last thing he’d wanted.
Travis, Trigger, or whatever he was known as barely even flinched as he turned his attention to me and raised a brow.
“Ayda Hanagan,” he said smoothly, without any concern whatsoever. “Time changes us all, I see.” His voice was so calm, so eerie, it made my skin ripple more than Chester Cortez’s ever did.
I huffed out a humorless laugh. “Sure does, and some of us learn from our mistakes. You need to keep your brother on a leash.”
The only reaction to my statement of Jacob was a flickof Travis’ eyes in his brother’s direction. Other than that there was nothing. I desperately wanted to hear some sign of our guys approaching to give us more numbers, but I knew they weren’t that stupid. They would be in stealth mode, formulating a plan.
“Give me your gun,” I demanded again.
Travis didn’t move to give me his weapon. He didn’t even twitch under my gun’s aim or scrutiny. He was fearless—a mental tactician waiting for the right opportunity to disarm me. I was sure about that.
“Ayda,” Drew muttered under his breath, dropping his chin to his chest.
“I’d listen to that edge in your man’s voice, sweetheart,” Travis said without concern.
“Don’t you call her sweetheart,” Drew growled suddenly, his eyes opening as he burned holes in the ground. His fists twitched and clenched by his side. “Put a bullet in the back of my skull, by all means. But don’t you dare call her…”
Travis pushed the gun harder into Drew’s head. “Careful what you wish for, Tucker. A lot of men would thank me for silencing you.”
Travis was so intent on Drew, he didn’t see Slater come from where I’d slipped around the building, but he did see Jedd step around the opposite side, a Glock in either hand and .38 special in his belt.
Backup had arrived.
“You sure you don’t want to give me that gun?” I asked sweetly, taking the second of surprise we had to glance at Slater over my shoulder. “It may… uncomplicate matters.”
Travis glanced between Slater, Jedd, and me before a small smile curled one corner of his mouth up. He slowlypulled the gun back away from Drew’s head, but Drew didn’t move. He didn’t even look up.
“This gun?” Travis smirked, waving it around in the air like it didn’t matter.
Something didn’t feel right. My gun was still trained to Travis’ head, but there was no way he should have been so at ease when he was outnumbered four to one. If he’d given me his gun and backed down, I probably would have backed away and left them to deal with the MC business, but he wasn’t giving me his weapon, and he was way too relaxed. It made me twitchy.
Thankfully Slater reached me in his slow step. He moved his Sig to his left hand and reached with his right to take over the one I had to Travis’ head, but I shook my head and tipped my chin toward where Travis was waving the gun around.
Taking one last look at the gun in his hand, Travis tossed it through the air until the hunk of metal landed just a few feet in front of Slater and me.
Still, Drew didn’t move.
“Now what?” Travis asked sarcastically.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
DREW
Don’t move.
Do not fucking move.
Don’t go for the gun, Ayda.
Don’t you dare fucking move.
Those were the thoughts running on repeat in my mind once he’d asked her for her next move in this game none of them knew he was playing. I stayed frozen still. Around Trigger Gatlin, you didn’t move an inch until he gave you the all fucking clear. I’d seen him at work first hand when dealing with an enemy. I just couldn’t believe that I was now on the receiving end of his wrath.