Tempting Bounty (Inter-Galactic Bounty Hunter Series Book 2) by KD Jones Page B

staying right here.”
    “Damn stubborn woman!” He turned to Dan. “Is she always like this?”
    “Try being married to her.” Dan half-laughed, trying to ease the tension. “What do we do?”
    “My backup is close. I just don’t know how close. I’m out of detonators but I have a spare gun. Can either of you shoot?”
    “Hell no,” Dan took a step back, holding up his hands.
    “Dan’s scared of guns. He shot his own foot on accident once trying to show off at a party and ended up in the emergency room. I can shoot, though. I used to go to the firing range once a week with a guy I used to date. He worked for the authority.”
    Vic reached inside the waterproof backpack he had and pulled out a handgun. “Are you sure?”
    Lexi growled at him and reached for the gun. She checked the aiming grid and the cartridge. “Ready to go.”
    He didn’t like it, but he didn’t have any choices but to have her help him stall. “Okay, go find a place on the upper level that will keep you hidden, but where you might have a good place to get your shots off. Keep the engines running. As soon as you spot an opportunity to move around them, take it and get us out of the alcove. Whatever happens, don’t come down and don’t let anyone get up that ladder.”
    “On it!” She turned to leave but stopped abruptly to turn back toward Vic. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him hard. “Stay safe, babe.” Then she released him and headed for the ladder leading to the top deck. Vic watched her go, feeling worried.
    “I’ll go below and stay out of the way,” Dan said.
    “No, you don’t. You get the best job ever. You’re bait. You’re going to stand right here out in the open. I need you as a distraction.”
    “Dude, they want to kill me.”
    “Actually, I think they will try to take you in alive so that they can question you first. Roland will want to tie up any loose strings.” Vic grabbed Dan by the shoulder and turned him to face the approaching boat.
    “If you give me over to them, they’ll still kill you and Lexi. They can’t afford to leave witnesses,” Dan warned him.
    “I know. I don’t plan to give them the chance. You’ll go back to lock up and serve your time but you don’t deserve to die. I’ll do everything I can to keep you alive.”
    “Are you sure your friends are really coming? What if they decide it’s too dangerous and bail on you?”
    Vic gave him a smirk. “For one, I’m their boss. I pay their paychecks. They wouldn’t have a paycheck for long if they leave me. Secondly, I’m their friend. You may not understand that concept because you don’t have any real friends, but my friends wouldn’t abandon me when things get rough.” Vic meant it, too. He hadn’t thought about it, but he did have good friends, even if he didn’t have many. He didn’t let many people into his personal life, but the ones that he did allow in were there for him during the good and the bad times. Plus, he knew his cousin Jagger would seek vengeance if anything ever happened to Vic. They were more like brothers than cousins. No his friends were definitely coming, he just had to bide his time until they arrived.
    *****
    He reached for his gun and held it behind his back. The other boat approached and he noticed two men plus the boat captain. He only recognized the guy who had hurt Lexi. He was obviously in charge of the men as he spoke first and stared at Stratford.
    “Nice to see you again, Dan.”
    “Ted, can’t say the same.” Dan rolled his shoulders.
    Ted looked at Vic. “You’ve done quite a bit of damage to my men, bounty hunter. I lost two of them with your little booby traps. I’m not happy about that.”
    “I’m sure you’ll get over it.”
    “Look, bounty hunter, hand over Danny boy and his pretty little wife and I’ll let you leave here alive.”
    “Lexi has nothing to do with this,” Dan said. “I’m the one you want. Leave her alone.”
    Ted rubbed the scar on his face.