Don’t Play With Odin by Cynthia Eden

Chapter Eighteen

“Get the fuck out of my way!” Ramsey bellowed.

Jinx didn’t move. Odin knew he’d always been good at standing his ground. “Can’t let you go in,” Jinx said, his raised voice drifting to Odin as he barreled toward the house. “Because if you go in, you’ll do something stupid like try to kill the guy.”

“I won’t try.” Ramsey grabbed Jinx’s shirtfront. “I’ll succeed.”

The door behind Jinx flew open. Clay gaped at the sight before him as the porch light glared down on the scene. “What in the hell is going on?”

Odin rushed up the porch steps. “Get back inside, Clay. Lock the door. Stay there.”

“I don’t take orders from you!” Clay snarled as he shoved Jinx to the side and strode onto his porch. “I don’t—”

That was as far as he got. Because Ramsey was on him. He drove his fist into Clay’s jaw and sent the man stumbling back. One hit. A second. Then Clay was down and Ramsey was crouched over him, holding a knife to Clay’s throat.

“What did you do to her?” Ramsey asked, voice hollow. “What did you do to my Whitney?”

“Stop!”Maisey’s frantic shout as she flew up the porch steps. “He didn’t do anything! I was wrong. We’re all wrong! It wasn’t him!”

A drop of blood trailed down Clay’s throat.

“Let him go,” Odin ordered. “I don’t want to have to hurt you, Ramsey. Let him go!”

“Nothing else can hurt me. She’s gone.” Ramsey stared down at Clay. “I don’t think you’re innocent. I looked at your past. Saw the skeletons. I see the lies beneath your skin.”

“The man who took Whitney just called me!” Maisey yelled.

The knife jerked. Clay whimpered.

“He just called,” Maisey added, voice softer but still strained. “We have his location. Odin and I are going there now. We don’t have time to waste because he could be gone if we screw around. We need backup. You can come with us.”

Odin’s head whipped toward her. “Uh, Maisey…” That’s a terrible idea.

“It gets his knife away from Clay’s throat!” she threw at him, as if reading Odin’s mind. “We can’t do this. We can’t just waste time. He called me. We have him, we just have to go. Now.”

Ramsey angled his head so he was looking back at Maisey. His grip on the knife didn’t waver. “Are you telling me the truth?”

“Yes. He just called. Odin traced the call. We have him.”

Jinx glanced back and forth between Ramsey and Maisey. “I don’t think she’s lying, man. And do you really want to slit the throat of the wrong guy? That shit will be hard to live with.”

“I’ve lived with worse.” Ramsey’s flat response.

Odin got ready to attack him.

But Ramsey pulled the knife back. “Give me the location.”

“No.” Odin reached for Maisey’s hand. “You follow us. And when we get there, you stand back until we know what we’re dealing with.”

Ramsey’s mocking laughter told him that wasn’t gonna be the case.

“Jinx,” Odin said with a quick incline of his head. “Stay with him. Keep him in check.”

“Are you kidding me?” Jinx demanded. “I have to ride with the obvious psychopath? How is that fair?”

“What in the hell is happening?” Clay shouted.

Odin stopped. Lasered his stare on Clay. “Maisey just saved you from dying. Now we’re going to destroy the man who took Whitney Augustine. Lock your door. Stay inside.”

“I’m calling the cops!”

“Good idea.” Odin started moving. “Send them to Armageddon, would you?”

***

No cops were at Armageddon. Actually, no one seemed to be there. When Odin pulled his Jeep to a stop near the bar, the street was empty and the bar appeared shut down. Closing time had been at one a.m., and it looked as if everyone had already cleared out.

“We’re too late,” Maisey said as she leaned forward to stare at the building.

No, they weren’t. The bar was dark, but the second level in the building wasn’t.

“There’s a light on upstairs.” In the Trouble for Hire office. A light that shouldn’t have been on. No alarms had gone off. No alerts had been sent to him. Someone disabled our system. “I’m checking it out.”

She grabbed his arm. “You mean we are checking it out.”

Not like he was going to leave her behind with Ramsey due to arrive any moment.

“Don’t worry,” Maisey rushed to assure him. “I will stay close to you. There is no other place I plan to be.”

He checked his gun.

“Please, be careful,” Maisey urged worriedly. “If you get shot right in front of me, I am going to lose my mind.”

“Not planning to get shot.” But he would be shooting at anyone who threatened them. “Come on.” They moved quickly across the street. There were exterior stairs that led up to the Trouble for Hire office, but if someone was up there—and it sure as hell seemed someone was—then Odin wanted to catch the perp off guard.

He slipped inside Armageddon, using the keys War had given him. Then Odin and Maisey accessed the private stairs inside and crept up to the second level. But as they climbed, he heard shouting. Distorted at first. Damn. Whoever was up there didn’t seem concerned about staying quiet—

“Help!” A sudden, sharp shriek that was clearly discernable. A woman’s voice. Terrified. “God, please, help—” The words were choked off.

Odin glanced back at Maisey. “Stay here,” he ordered. “I’ll see what’s happening. Jinx will be running in any moment.”

Another high-pitched cry. Pain-filled this time. Gripping his weapon, Odin stopped creeping up the stairs and flew up them. He kicked open the door to Trouble for Hire. Rushed through the small hallway and turned to find a woman standing in his office. Her back was to him, and her shoulders were shuddering with sobs. He recognized the short, blond hair, and his gaze swept around the room as he looked for threats. “Heather?”

She jerked. Turned her head to look at him. He could see the tear tracks on her face.

“What’s happening?” Odin barked. “Are you hurt?” He took two fast steps toward her. Her arms were wrapped around her stomach.

“I’m hurt so badly,” she whimpered.

He didn’t see her attacker. Was she holding her wound, was that why she was hugging herself so tightly? He began to lower his weapon.

“I’m hurt…” She slowly angled her body toward him. “But, not as badly as you’ll be hurt.”

He stiffened and aimed his gun at her. “What the hell are you talking about?”

With tears on her cheeks, she smiled at him. “Just where is Maisey? Did you leave her all alone?”

Fuck. He spun and ran for her. “Maisey!”

But when he got to the stairs, when he peered down them as fear twisted inside of him, Odin realized he was too late. The lights were on in the stairwell, shining brightly when it had been dark moments before. Maisey was still on the stairs. She’d followed his instructions. Stayed where he’d thought she’d be safe.

But Maisey wasn’t alone.

Steve was with her. The asshole boyfriend? He had a gun pointed at Maisey’s head.

Steve lifted his brows. “I’ll need you to ditch the weapon or I’ll have to shoot her.”

***

“So, this will be hard, but I’m going to need you to not be a psychopath, okay? For just like, ten minutes or so.” Jinx turned to Ramsey. “Do you think you can handle—”

Ramsey jumped out of the car—Ramsey’s SUV, though Jinx had been driving—and ran toward Armageddon and the PI office.

“Wonderful,” Jinx sighed. “Obviously, ten minutes was too much to ask for. I should have just gone with five.” He leapt out of the vehicle and gave chase. It was apparent that Ramsey wasn’t stopping, so Jinx launched at him. Tackled the guy to the ground. “We have to play this scene right,” Jinx snarled at him, trying to keep his voice low. “You go in there all crazy, and who knows what the hell could happen.”

Ramsey heaved Jinx aside. Mostly just because Jinx let him go.

Lightning flashed overhead in the dark sky, and in the distance, thunder rumbled.

“I know what will happen.” Ramsey’s hands fisted. “Someone is going to die.”

“Yes, well, I don’t want that someone to be a friend of mine. Calm your ass down. We’re handling this the right way.”

“There is no right way!”

“Debatable.” Why had he gotten stuck with the hothead in this scene? He tried to figure out how to calm the crime boss down.

A gunshot rang out. One followed by a shattered, desperate scream.

Jinx lunged for the building, leaving Ramsey in his dust.

***

“What in the hell are you doing?” Heather fumed. “We have a plan for this scene, and that plan doesn’t involve you shooting random shit!”

Maisey’s breath shuddered out. They were in Odin’s office—the same office where she’d met him just a few short days ago. Steve had forced Odin inside first, after Odin had dropped his gun in that stairwell. Then Steve had dragged her inside.

He’d made Odin take up a position near the wall, then the guy had raised his weapon and fired. Maisey had grabbed Steve’s arm and shoved as hard as she could because he’d appeared to have been aiming at Odin. The shot had blasted and a broken scream had torn from her.

But the bullet had missed Odin.

Steve laughed as he swung the gun back toward Maisey. “Just a warning shot. Wanted to see how scared he would be.”

The shot had missed Odin’s head by about a foot. The bullet had thudded into the wall.

Odin didn’t look scared. His blue eyes gleamed with an icy rage that promised retribution.

Steve shoved the gun’s muzzle into Maisey’s side. He had one arm around her neck, and the other hand held the weapon.

“Wasn’t a warning,” Odin said. His voice was gravelly. Cold. “You just can’t shoot for shit.”

Steve’s hold tightened around her neck. “I’ll show you what I can do, you bastard!”

Odin…laughed.

Was that a normal thing for him? Did he laugh in the face of danger or something? She should know, for future reference.

“Why is he doing that?” Heather demanded. She stalked close to Maisey. “Doesn’t your boyfriend get that you’re both about to die?”

Maisey wet parched lips. “I don’t think he believes that will be the outcome.”

“He should believe it. We’ve been steps ahead of you all along.” A smirk. “We got you here, didn’t we? Steve suspected your phone was being monitored. Told me that was like, PI 101 or something. So we just made sure that you traced us back here. We wanted you here. We got you here. And—”

“And what?” Maisey cut in to demand. “You obviously don’t want me to just die here or I’d already be dead. You lured us here because this part of town is deserted at this time. Fine. Got it. But before you go patting yourself on the back too much, you should know that the cops are coming.”

Heather shook her head. “No, they’re not.”

“Uh, yes, they are,” Maisey fired right back. Had Odin just taken a step forward? She thought he had. She needed to keep talking and distract Heather and Steve. If she could keep their attention, then Odin could figure out a way to attack. A way that did not involve him getting shot. “We left Clay and told him to call the cops! They are on the way here now.”

“Clay isn’t calling the cops. He can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because Clay doesn’t have a landline. Steve knocked out his internet earlier, and when I was there, I managed to swipe his phone.”

Maisey switched gears. “He can just get in his car and go for help.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Odin take another step. “Did you not consider that obvious move in your master plan?”

Heather’s face hardened. “Why would he want to help you? You think he’s a killer. Your boyfriend attacked him. I took his phone as a precaution, but in the end, we both know Clay won’t do a damn thing for you.”

“Granted…” Maisey lifted her hands and tugged on Steve’s arm. His hold on her neck was starting to hurt. “I did think he was a killer, but he’ll do the right thing.”

“No, he won’t. People don’t do the right thing. I learned that working with Whitney. Seeing the cases she studied. Give them a chance, and anyone will screw you over.” Her chin notched up. “She was gonna screw me over. Me and Steve.”

Odin’s hands had clenched into fists. “You killed her?”

Heather’s head swung toward him.

Dammit! Why was Odin drawing their attention? Maisey had planned to be the distraction.

“I didn’t kill her,” Heather clarified with a slight shift of her shoulders. “We just left her to die. There’s a difference, you know.”

“No. I don’t think there is.” His eyes glittered.

Steve’s hold on Maisey’s neck tightened even more. “She saw me making a deal. She shouldn’t have even been in that bar, but she was. She saw me, and she was going to tell the dean at Dunson. I would have been kicked out of school. I would have lost everything I’d worked for!”

“I couldn’t let that happen.” Now Heather’s stare flew toward Steve. “She wasn’t going to do that to him.”

Right, okay, so…these two had faked the fight scene at the college. It had been a trick. They were a deadly duo, and they had to be stopped. Or else Maisey had the feeling that they would be leaving her to die soon, too…Her and Odin.

“We waited until she was vulnerable.” Apparently, Heather was in the mood to confess all. A bad sign. “We hit her in the head, knocked her out. Then we made sure she vanished.”

“How.” From Odin. Not a question. A demand.

“Steve’s dad has a boat. We took her out, drove as far as we could, then dumped her over the side. She was just waking up,” Heather hurried to say. “So she was alive when we put her in the water. We didn’t kill her—”

“You just left her to die,” Odin finished coldly. “Right. Heard you the first time.”

Maisey’s stomach was in knots. “Is that supposed to make it better? That you didn’t kill her with your own hands? Because drowning isn’t better! It’s not like she just slips under the water and that’s all there is!” Rage poured through her. “How could you do that to her? How could you make her suffer like that?”

“We didn’t.” From Steve. He seemed much more controlled than Heather. Cold. “Clay did. At least, that’s what you thought, isn’t it? And that’s what the cops will think, too.”

Heather gave a jerky nod. “When I took his phone, I made sure to leave Whitney’s earrings at his place. Those will be part of the evidence we use to nail him for Whitney’s death. Later, we’ll plant evidence that ties him to you, too, Maisey.”

Because they are going to leave me to die.

“He’s the perfect fall guy,” Steve said. His body trembled the faintest bit against Maisey.

He’s not as confident as he appears.

“Heather found out about his past. Heard Whitney talking one day about how tragic it was. When we needed to take her out, I came up with the idea of just making sure she vanished, instead of having her body turn up.” Steve sounded quite proud of himself. “Knew that if anyone asked too many questions, we could point back to him.”

And she’d asked questions.

“When Clay got promoted to her job, it was even more perfect. Suddenly looked like he had a motive.”

Yes, it had.

“Didn’t think you’d get a freaking PI, though,” Heather muttered as she cut a glance toward Odin. “That screwed things up.”

“So sorry,” Maisey choked out around Steve’s squeezing arm. “Didn’t mean to mess up your murder plan. My bad.”

“Do you think this is some kind of joke?” Heather lunged toward her.

Steve tightened his arm even more. Maisey couldn’t suck in a breath.

“You’re hurting Maisey.” Odin’s voice was guttural. “Ease up on your grip. Now.”

Steve’s hold jerked in automatic response. Jerked, then eased, just for a moment…

The moment Maisey had been hoping would happen. She knew that Odin had given that order deliberately, and Maisey wasn’t going to waste a second. Odin had taught her how to get out of this exact hold. Granted, a gun had not been involved at the time, but she didn’t have an option.

Can’t let them kill Odin. Can’t let them do this!

Heather and Steve thought they could use her to control Odin. They were about to see how wrong they were. No one could control Odin.

And no one controls me.

She shoved back with her elbow. Dug it into Steve’s ribs as hard as she could even as she shoved her heel toward his ankle and kicked down hard.

He screamed and let her go. A reflex. She surged away from him.

“You bitch!” Steve yelled.

Maisey saw the horror on Heather’s features and knew Steve was aiming his gun at her. “Don’t shoot her!” Heather yelled. “We’re supposed to dump them like we did—”

Bam. The bullet exploded from the gun. Maisey froze, but she wasn’t hit. She whipped around and saw that Odin had slammed into Steve. The gun had been tossed toward the desk, and Odin was pounding his massive fist into Steve’s face. It only took two blows before Steve crumbled and didn’t get up.

Maisey jumped for the gun.

“No!” Heather’s cry.

Maisey scooped up the weapon and whirled to aim it at Heather. But Heather had run for the door…only to be blocked by Ramsey and Jinx.

“What the fuck?” Ramsey glared at Steve’s prone form. “I know that little asshole. He got kicked out of my bar because he thought he could sell his shit drugs in my place.”

Heather whimpered.

Ramsey turned his stare back to her. “Who the hell are you?”

“She’s the woman who killed Whitney,” Odin said as he strode toward Heather.

Ramsey’s eyes blazed. He grabbed for Heather.

“Don’t.” Maisey’s yell. “I’m the one with the gun, and I’m telling you all—stop. I want the cops here. I want Heather and Steve going to jail. I want this to end.” But she could see the killing rage in Ramsey’s eyes. “Whitney wouldn’t want you doing this,” she added desperately. “Ramsey, just…stop.”

Ramsey didn’t see it, but Jinx had moved behind him. She could tell that Jinx was about to launch at the guy.

“What did you do to her?” Ramsey snarled to Heather.

“She was alive when I left her!” Heather cried out. “I swear, she was!”

Alive, but sinking beneath the waves of the Gulf of Mexico.

Ramsey wasn’t going to stop. Maisey could see it. And she—she couldn’t shoot him. Odin was too close. So was Jinx. What if she hit one of them?

A wild cry broke from Ramsey as he surged at Heather.

Jinx grabbed him from behind. Shoved into the nearest wall, and when Ramsey came up with his fists flying, Jinx pointed a gun at him. “Don’t.” Low. “I am not your enemy.”

“You are now,” he vowed.

In the distance, a siren shrieked. Either Clay had finally gotten somewhere so he could use a phone or someone had heard the gunshots and reported them to the police. Hell, maybe Jinx had called them.

What she did know…it was almost over. Odin had just pulled cuffs out of a drawer, and he was slapping them around Heather’s wrists. Heather was crying, saying that it was all Steve’s fault. Steve was unconscious, and from the look of things, he’d probably be that way for a while.

Odin glanced up at her. “I can take the gun.”

“That would be great, thank you.” Her fingers were quivering so badly that she was afraid she might accidentally shoot someone.

He took the gun from her trembling grip. “Baby? You okay?”

He’d almost been shot in front of her. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t. Not ever.”

The siren’s call was growing louder. “I love you.”

His eyes flashed. “I fucking love you, too.”