Chapter 27
Owen’s life had flashed across his eyes before. Many times, in fact. In his adrenaline-fueled line of work, it happened. But nothing compared to this. He hated being at a disadvantage, and right now, on his knees with a gun in his face and Anna shifting restlessly like she was going to make a move, he was in the middle of the biggest disadvantage of his entire life.
Anna’s eyes dropped to the necklace, and he knew she was going to try to grab it. Heart stuttering in his chest, he rose to his feet, yanking her up along with him, shoving her behind him. He could feel her shaking. Or hell, maybe that was him.
“Cute,” Will said. He eyed the dead guy and shook his head. “Wow. Dad got sloppy.”
“Your dad did this?” Anna asked. “How did he even get up here?”
“The promise of money is a powerful motivator,” Will said. “And remember, he used to be in good shape. Before the booze, and then of course jail.”
“You told me he’d never discussed any of this with you.”
“I lied. Didn’t want you to know I knew anything. Didn’t want to tarnish your view of me.” He laughed, clearly not really caring what she thought. “Plus, I didn’t know much at the time of the theft ten years ago. In fact, I didn’t know anything until I went to visit Dad after he’d been stupid enough to get caught for that bank robbery. Apparently he’d squandered away most of the fortune he’d made—”
“You mean stolen,” Anna said.
“Glass houses, princess.” Will shrugged. “Anyway, I guess after your dad, who’d been out of the life for a while by then, refused to do the job, Dad found himself someone else.”
“Rico Edwards,” Owen said.
They all looked at the decomposed dead guy.
“Yep,” Will said. “Poor bastard. Tried to sneak away with the necklace.”
“Your dad killed him?” Anna asked.
Will shook his head. “That’s the crazy thing. I’m not sure he did. Supposedly they did the job together, hid the loot. Then Dad ended up in prison before he could find a fence, things were too hot. So maybe Rico took the opportunity to come back up here, maybe planning on stealing it all out from beneath my dad.” He shrugged. “My dad told me several times that Rico had a lot of health issues. A bad heart. Maybe the coins were too heavy for him and he decided to take just the necklace, but died before getting too far.”
Convenient... “Or... your dad killed him before going to prison.”
Will shrugged.
“Or you did Rico yourself,” Owen said.
Will shook his head. “I didn’t know where he’d hidden the loot, he wouldn’t tell me.” His face darkened. “He didn’t trust me, can you believe it? I’d long ago given up looking for it. So thank you for your service.” He nudged a chin toward Anna. “Get the necklace and bring it to me. Slowly. That black box as well.”
“How did you even find us?” she asked.
“After your visit to my work, I put a tracker on your truck. I’ve been watching your dot, knowing you would make a move eventually. The necklace, Anna.”
Owen started to reach for it, but Will shook his head. “Not you. Her. Now, Anna.”
She started to move, but Owen tightened his grip on her. Anna met his gaze, her own filled with worry, stress, and fear. Fear for him. “He won’t shoot me,” she said softly.
Owen wasn’t willing to take that risk. “Put the gun down, Will. This is more trouble than you want, and the authorities are already on their way.”
Will laughed. “Even if that was true, I’ll be long gone before they manage to get up here.” He moved a few steps closer, gun aimed at Anna’s head. “Move it.”
Owen didn’t let go of her as he spoke to Will. “So far you’ve only been stupid but haven’t committed an actual crime. You willing to end up in a cell next to your dad for the next few decades?”
Will snorted and eyed Anna. “I bet you don’t even know that this self-righteous prick came to visit me.”
With a start of surprise, Anna looked at Owen.
Owen winced inwardly. “Anna—”
“Oh, this is gonna be good.” Will laughed, pleased with himself. “Can’t wait to hear the lies come out of Mr. Perfect.”
Owen watched uncertainty come into Anna’s eyes, and damn if that didn’t sting worse than having the gun in his face. “He’s full of shit, Anna.”
Will tsked. “Lying to the little lady already? Not a good sign, man.” He smiled at Anna and flashed her his phone. “I’ve got him on my doorbell cam.”
“That’s because I did go see him,” Owen said.
“Without me?” she asked in disbelief. “Were you ever going to tell me?”
“Look, there was nothing to tell.” Shit, he knew the moment the words were out of his mouth, he’d stepped in it. “I went to see him to tell him to back the fuck off of the drunken, late-night visits.”
Anna stared at him. “I told you I could handle myself.”
“I know,” he said tightly, incredibly aware of how much Will was enjoying this. “And later, we can discuss it at length.”
“Seriously? You could’ve just said, ‘Hey, I went to Asshole Will’s house to tell him to back the fuck off.’”
“Wow,” Will said. “That hurts.”
Anna, not taking her eyes off Owen, ignored Will. “This isn’t over.”
Oh, but it was. She’d even told him so on the way up.
“I think you should dump him,” Will told Anna. “If he’ll lie about the small stuff, why would he be honest about the big stuff? It’ll be your dad all over again.”
She sucked in a breath and looked at Owen.
God, he hated the doubt on her face. “You really believe after everything you’ve been through that I’d lie to you?”
“Omitting is lying.”
“Couples counseling’s over, kiddos. The necklace, Anna.”
She turned to Rico’s body. Her face was pale, her eyes glassy, but her hand was steady as she reached out and grabbed the necklace, then glanced at the cliff.
“Throw it and I’ll blow your boyfriend’s head off,” Will said.
Owen could see in the guy’s eyes that he was going to kill them anyway, so he did the only thing he could. He turned to the woman of his heart. “I love you, Anna.” And then he lunged at Will.
The last thing he heard was a deafening bang and Anna’s scream.