CHAPTER 11
“I told you I didn’t have that much money,” Demma growled as she drove back to her house in Ryker’s truck.
“Yeah, but I didn’t believe you. Still, $380,000 is better than nothing. It’ll get me out of the country. I don’t know what Langley is going to do. It’ll be up to him to get his share. This is mine.” Ellis patted the black duffle bag.
“He’s not going to accept that. You know he’s going to be pissed if you tell him there’s no money at all.”
“Damn, yeah, you’re right,” Ellis muttered.
Demma turned the big truck into her driveway and parked it in front of her house where it had sat before. Turning off the ignition, she looked at her former boyfriend. It had been dicey there for a bit at the bank. Arriving less than thirty minutes before closing, she had to convince two managers it was crucial for her to close her account immediately without alerting them to her predicament. Ryker’s life hung in the balance. If they didn’t return to her house, Langley would kill him. She couldn’t let anything happen to him. They had only known each other for a few days, but he’d already become important to her; more important than money, houses or any other possessions.
However, even after she had shown Ellis the paperwork with all the balances, he had sworn violently and slammed his fist into the dashboard. He had been quiet on the ride home. When they pulled into the driveway, Ellis grabbed several stacks of bills and shoved them into a plastic bag. The rest he left in the floorboard of Ryker’s truck. Thrusting the bag into her hands, he told her, “Keep your mouth closed.”
“No honor among thieves, huh Ellis?”
He laughed. “If he needs more, he can come back to you. I’ve got to get out of the country before the Cobras find out I’m still alive.” Ellis pushed her into the hallway ahead of him. “Remember, keep your mouth shut. This is all he’s getting.”
Slamming the door, he called out, “Langley!” When there was no reply, he pulled Demma close.
“Maybe he left.”
“Not without his money,” Ellis snarled. “What’s your boyfriend’s name?”
“He’s not...”
Ellis pulled Ryker’s gun out of the waistband of his jeans and shoved it into her ribs. “What'a his name?”
“Ryker,” she grunted as the muzzle dug into her side. “His name is Ryker.”
“What a pansy name,” Ellis laughed. “Ryyyyyker,” he sang out. “I know you’re free. Get your ass down here right now, or you’ll be attending her funeral.” He pushed the gun harder against her ribs making her hiss in pain.
Demma’s heart dropped into her stomach as a movement in the late evening shadows caught her attention. Ryker stepped into the light with his hands raised. Her eyes flew over him, checking to see if he was okay. Other than red, angry rings around his wrists and a smear of dried blood down the side of his face, he looked good. She let out a sigh of relief.
“Where’s Langley?” Ellis growled.
Ryker’s brow lowered. “He’s safe. Let her go, Ellis. We can handle this man to man.”
Ellis barked out a laugh and pulled Demma hard against his chest. “You’re the intruder here. This is between the little lady and me. Now get Langley. And start counting. Loudly. I want to know where you are every second. It gets quiet in here; I’ll fill the silence with her screams. Get me?”
Ryker’s eyes hardened. “I get you.” He turned and disappeared. True to his promise, Ryker began to count, calling out the numbers loudly. Less than five minutes later, Ryker returned with Langley behind him. With one shove, Ralph pushed Ryker to his knees.
“About time you got back. You get the money?”
“She wasn’t lying; she didn’t have much. Only eighty thousand. We’ll split it down the middle.” Ellis pulled the bag from her hands and tossed it to Langley who caught it and looked inside.
“Where’s the rest? This is freaking Demma St. John. I know what her last picture made. She has more money than this.”
“Bitch was telling the truth,” Ellis shrugged. “She didn’t have much in the bank. That’s every penny. She closed out the account. Go tie him up and let’s get the hell out of here. There’s a beach in Mexico calling my name.”
“What about her?” Langley motioned toward Demma.
“I’m going to hold onto her a little bit. Maybe get reacquainted.” He drew a dirty nail down the side of her face making her shudder with revulsion. “You’d like that, Bea? I remember how hot you were for me. Back before you got old.”
“And smarter. Getting hooked up with you was the stupidest thing I ever did.”
The sound of the strike reached her ears before the sting registered with her brain. Her head flew back and to the left. She tasted blood on her lips and glared at him as Langley held back a snarling Ryker. “Big man, slapping around a woman.”
“For God’s sake, Demma, don’t antagonize him,” Ryker hissed.
“I’m tired of being scared,” she retorted. “I’ve had enough of hiding, cowering behind closed doors. I’m sick of sleeping with a freaking night light like a five-year-old child. I’ve had my fill of it all.” She turned and looked at Langley. “He’s lying about the money. There’s more in the truck. He’s trying to cheat you.”
Langley glared at Ellis. “Is she telling the truth?”
Ellis laughed weakly. “Nah, man, she’s trying to stir some shit.” He shook Demma harshly. “Shut up your mouth before I shut it for you.”
Understanding dawned in Ryker’s face. He stood still with his hands in the air. “Aw, come on Langley. Think about it. Do you think an A-list star in Hollywood would only have eighty thousand dollars in the bank? He’s trying to cheat you.”
“They’re trying to put us against each other.” Ellis shoved the gun into her side. “Tell him the truth, Bea. Tell him how much money there was in the bank.”
“$380,000,” she answered truthfully.
“You lying son of a bitch!” Langley screamed and shoved Ryker out of the way and lunged toward Ellis. At that moment, Demma dropped to her knees and rolled to the left out of the way as Langley reached Ellis. There was a loud crack as the gun went off and Langley grunted. Red blossomed on his chest as he fell to his knees then toppled to the right.
Demma didn’t stick around to see what happened next. As soon as her hip hit the floor, she rolled back to her feet and fled. If she could make it back to her shoe closet, she should be safe. Taking the stairs two at a time, she prayed they both would make it out of this mess in one piece. She heard Ellis screaming he was going to kill her. She pushed herself harder, getting to safety. By removing herself from the equation, Ryker wouldn’t have to worry about her. He could concentrate on doing what he needed to do to ensure they both survived. As she pushed the door closed and engaged the internal lock, she let out a sigh of relief. Ryker was a kick-ass ex-Marine. He would know what to do. She trusted him with both of their lives.
***
Digger hesitated just long enough to see Demma disappear through the living room door. Pretending to stumble to draw Ellis’ attention, he disappeared into the formal dining room in the opposite direction. He sprinted around the huge table and into the kitchen. Plucking another knife from the magnetic strip over the stove, he slipped into the food pantry and quietly closed the door.
He didn’t have to wait long. The sound of someone in the kitchen drew Digger's attention. He clenched the knife tightly in his hand and balanced his weight on the balls of his feet. If Ellis came through that door, he would regret it. Digger was done with pussyfooting around. Ellis could take the money and disappear, or he could die. Either way, he wasn’t going to terrorize Demma any longer.
The door handle jiggled.
Ryker drew in a breath and let it out slowly. He could do this. He would do this - for Demma as much as himself. This ended now.
The light which entered the pantry was not enough to see clearly, but it glinted off the barrel of his Colt. Instincts took over. With one hand he grabbed under the barrel and shoved it upward as his right hand came forward and slammed the kitchen knife into the side of Ellis’ neck, severing the jugular and burying it to the hilt. In reflex Ellis squeezed the trigger, discharging three rounds into the ceiling of the pantry before falling to the floor. Digger stepped over him and into the kitchen. Quickly he kicked his Colt aside. Kneeling down, he checked the man. Ellis was dead before he had hit the floor.