Tegan looked back at her. Gina was still holding the gun and had it pointed right at her head. “Why are you doing this?” She was going to have to get out of this on her own. But she needed to know what she was up against.
Gina lifted a shoulder, not answering one way or another. “I’m doing it for Enzo, you stupid bitch. Stop asking questions. Now move that guy. Just roll him over so we can get out the door.”
Doing as she said, Tegan grunted as she shifted the man to the side. At least he was breathing. She just hoped that Gina had been telling the truth, that the guy would wake up soon. For a brief moment she contemplated taking the cop’s gun, but it was secured in a holster. By the time she unsnapped it, pulled it out, and turned, she’d already be shot in the back.
When they stepped out into the bright sunshine, Tegan had to shield her eyes. Only the cop car sat in the driveway. Gina must have just walked from her place—oh God. Was Enzo there right now?
More ice settled around her chest, making it hard to breathe when she saw two little kids playing across the street as their mom watched. Even if she wanted to scream and make a scene, there was no way she could risk putting anyone else in danger.
Tegan had no idea how dangerous Gina truly was—and that probably wasn’t even her real name. As Tegan turned to see how far behind her Gina was, she inwardly cringed.
Gina stepped up right beside her and pressed the gun into her ribs. She was using one of Tegan’s jackets to cover it up. Must have grabbed it from the coatrack in the foyer.
“We’re just going to walk down to my place and you’re going to have a little talk with my Enzo. You’ll tell him what he wants and we’ll all go our separate ways.” Her voice was a low murmur as they walked across the little stone path that led to the sidewalk.
Tegan’s instinct told her to simply stop moving, to refuse to go any farther. But she didn’t know this woman at all. She had no idea if she would hurt those kids or just shoot Tegan and run. She knew for a fact the woman was lying to her. Tegan wouldn’t be walking away from this. There was no way they’d leave her alive once they got what they wanted—or didn’t in this case. Once they realized she didn’t have what they wanted she’d be useless. Disposable.
As they reached the sidewalk, Aaron’s familiar blue truck pulled into the driveway.
Oh God. No, no, no. She hadn’t even seen him driving down the road, hadn’t been able to focus on anything other than Gina and the gun. There was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide from him. “Let me get rid of him. If you hurt him, you’ll never get your fucking diamonds,” Tegan said through gritted teeth. They would never get them anyway, at least not from Tegan. But she had no problem bluffing to save Aaron’s life. She couldn’t let him get hurt because of her. It wasn’t an option.
The woman’s dark eyes narrowed slightly but she nodded. “Do it fast,” she murmured.
Aaron’s truck shuddered to a halt and the big, sexy man jumped out, slamming the door before he hurried toward her, moving like a lethal predator.
A mix of concern and, yeah, anger played across his features. He flicked a glance at Gina, who was still standing incredibly close to Tegan, and nodded once in a half greeting.
“What the hell are you doing?” he snapped, clearly not caring that they had an audience. He clutched a piece of paper in his hand and she realized it was the note she’d left him.
Bone-numbing fear punched through her. Why the hell had he come? “I…can’t stay with you anymore. What we had was nice but I’m not interested in playing mom for your kid.” The words were harsh but it was the only thing she could think of to get him to leave. “Don’t call me again.” She also hoped he realized that she was in danger and called the cops. Regardless, she just needed him to let her go. All it would take for Gina to hurt him was to raise that gun and pull the trigger.
A wave of nausea swept through her at the thought. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Tegan—”
“Leave me alone!” Heat infused her words before she looked at Gina. “Come on. Let’s go.”
He stared at her wide-eyed, as if she’d slapped him in the face. As if he had no idea who she truly was.
He had to know better. God, she hoped so.
The whole scene was weird with the cop car in the driveway next to Aaron’s truck—with no police escort in sight—and she silently prayed that Aaron realized that.
Gina tightened her fingers around Tegan’s arm, hidden by the bulky jacket. The gun stayed pressed against her ribs as they started walking down the sidewalk. Once they reached the corner it wouldn’t be long until they reached Gina’s place. She couldn’t believe Enzo had been so close to her all this time. She’d never been safe. Not truly.
Tegan’s legs were stiff as she walked. She resisted the urge to turn around, to look at Aaron. She couldn’t risk—
Gina grunted as a huge blur of motion slammed into her from behind.