Boiling Point (Crossing the Line #3)(75)

“Spare me the sap, if you please.”

Reitman chuckled. “I took a chance, bringing you out of the woodwork this way. Gambling on the assumption you could worry for anyone but yourself.” He gave Austin a disgusted once-over. “That little girl will never know your name. And it’ll be the best thing that ever happened to her.”

“Maybe. But you’re the worst.” The wire taped to Austin’s chest glowed hot. “How much are you planning on taking Isobel for?”

“All of it.” Reitman’s stance loosened, the way it did when he was bragging. “We’re the survivors of the wreckage you left behind, Isobel and I. It’s almost too easy.” He shrugged. “When I’m done, your child will be as penniless as you left mine.”

There. Along with the recorded deal made back at the hotel, that added confession was all Derek needed to arrest Reitman. In exchange for immunity and Derek agreeing to trade Austin for Polly, Austin had agreed to reveal everything about his time with Reitman, once the man was in custody. Yes, he was breaking code. Turning snitch. And given a choice every day for the rest of his life, he would make the same decision to protect Polly. Give her what she wanted.

Austin’s eyes connected with Polly for the barest of moments. God, he hated not knowing what she was thinking. When he would see her again, if ever. Once her mission in Chicago had been accomplished, would she see him as a valid reason to stick around? With a great force of will, Austin forced his attention back to Reitman. “I presume the money is in the car?”

His ex-partner didn’t flinch. “What was that?”

“The money you intended to wager on the match.” Austin tipped his chin toward the car. “In the well of the boot…stuffed in a duffel and taped inside the spare tire. Am I right?” When Charles still didn’t react, Austin laughed, but it was forced. He could see Polly casting anxious glances at Erin, where she still lay in the backseat. “We both know you have it with you. Never could go five feet without that much cash. Afraid someone like you might make off with it.”

Reitman gave a disbelieving eyebrow lift. “I assume you have a point?”

“Not so much a point, as a strong f*cking suggestion.” Austin’s voice turned to steel. “Take the money from the trunk and let the girls leave in the car. You came here for me, so here I am. You want to put a bullet between my eyes, here’s your chance.” He ignored Polly’s flinch inside the car. “You have your money, your precious revenge…and I can die with a clear conscience, knowing I’ve sent them to safety. Are we in agreement?”

There was a tense standoff that seemed to go on forever, but in reality was likely only fifteen seconds. Finally, Reitman bent to the side and popped the trunk before backing toward it, Austin still in his gun’s sights. He could hear Polly sobbing inside the car and refused to look, loathing that her obvious distress put a smirk on Charles’s face. Austin’s ex-partner was out of sight for a mere five seconds before popping back into sight, holding a black duffel bag in one hand.

Austin had no choice but to nod at Polly, his stomach pitching at the stark misery in her expression. Go, he mouthed, trying his damnedest to appear reassuring. She reached a hand out to him, but it dropped like it weighed a ton. Tears poured down her cheeks as she dived into the driver’s seat and gunned the car in reverse, barely giving Reitman enough time to move. Good girl. Get Erin to a hospital. He knew before the car even hit the avenue, she would be on the phone with Connor.

Begging fate to give him another chance to hold Polly, Austin aimed the wrath he could no longer contain at Reitman. “Letting her go was the smartest decision you ever made. One more second of that gun in her face might have signed your death warrant.” Austin took a menacing step forward. “There’s still a chance to sign it, if you don’t pull that trigger soon. I’m running out of reasons not to kill you with my bare hands.”

“So eager to die, aren’t you?” Reitman’s confusion was rife with blood lust as he caressed the trigger with his index finger. “Suits me.”

Reitman pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened.

Austin released a pent-up breath, silently thanking Erin for remembering to remove the bullets from the gun Reitman kept in his glove compartment. “Maybe next time,” Austin murmured to Reitman, just as the police van’s engine roared to life and burned rubber onto the street. Another vehicle blocked the far end of the road, giving Reitman no option for escape.

Using Reitman’s confusion to his advantage, Austin scooped up the bag of money and left the scene at a brisk pace, ignoring the insults being leveled at him via his ex-partner, who was currently being wrestled to the sidewalk by Derek. No time to stay and enjoy the sight, however. He had work to do.

…

Polly stared at the scuffed-up hospital wall, jolting when a voice droned over the hospital loudspeaker. What am I doing here? I should go home. Erin had been released—how long ago? At least an hour. She’d been diagnosed with a mild concussion, and the doctor had wanted to keep her in the hospital overnight for observation, spurring an absolute panic attack on Erin’s end. Yeah. Being kept anywhere really wasn’t the escape artist’s thing. After repeated promises from Connor—who’d looked on the verge of an anxiety attack himself—that his Navy SEAL background qualified him to care for his girlfriend’s concussion at home, Erin was discharged.