Frost activated the loudspeaker, “Out of the car! Or I’ll rip it to shreds with you inside it … just like they did Bonnie and Clyde!”
“Whaddaya say, pard?” Tex turned to Tiger. The man seemed completely unfazed by the fact that a killing machine blocked their way A machine that could turn them all into ground chuck in seconds. “This is your li’l party.”
“Well, with that damned hand cannon he has, he can certainly do what he says. If he unloads on us with that thing … hell, they’ll be burying us in sandwich baggies.”
“Well, I say we go down swinging then.” Tex reached for his Westchester rifle, which he’d leaned against his right leg, ready for quick use. “OK Corral time!”
“Wait!” Tiger stilled him by putting a hand on the barrel of the gun. “I gotta feeling about something.”
“About what?”
“I dunno,” Tiger murmured, as he looked back to Amber, who now held the pulse rifle at the ready. Like Tex, her first instinct had been to shoot their way out. Deep down, he knew they were outgunned with that hand-held lead-spitter Frost had. He had the firepower of six men just on his right arm. He didn’t like their chances against it with only a pulse rifle, a lever-action and a Starhawk.
“I said … Out of the car … Now!” Frost’s amplified voice bellowed again through the night. “I will not say it again. You’ve got ten seconds to comply or die. Choice is yours.”
“Ok!” Tiger looked to Tex and then to Amber. “I’m getting out. Whatever I do or sa—”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, hoss,” Tex cut him off. He didn’t like it and neither did Amber. She sprang forward and threw her arms around his chest, as if attempting to restrain him.
“No, no! Listen to me! Now I need you two to go along with me … Is that understood?” He peeled her arms off and looked to both of them, probing deep into their eyes. “Is that understood?”
“It’s your drive, cowboy,” Tex nodded, albeit reluctantly.
Satisfied with Tex’s answer, he looked to Amber. “Understood? I’m counting on you to back my play or we’re all dead.”
The scowl on her face let him know she was totally opposed to whatever he was going to try. She wasn’t going to be as quick to acquiesce as Tex was.
“C’mon, girl,” he pleaded, knowing the clock was running out. “I got you this far.”
You got me this far? She couldn’t help but chuckle mentally. I guess the part where I rescued you from Tex and his shotgun had nothing to do with it. Or the part where I took out four of these bastards. But, you wouldn’t know about that, would you?
The mirth faded quickly, as she looked at him now in a different light, all determined and courageous. Still, you’ve known me less than a day, lost everything because of me … and even now, you lay it all on the line for me. You truly are my knight in shining armor, Tiger Thomas! And a great lover to boot!
With a sigh of consent, she nodded.
***
“Time’s up!” Frost yelled. “And so’s my patience.”
“Hold on!” Tiger shouted back, as he opened the passenger side hatch. “Hold your fire!”
He stepped out and faced Frost, but he was careful to keep the door between him and the bounty hunter. Not that it would hold up long to a fusillade from the spin cannon, but it did offer some semblance of protection.
“Did I not make myself clear?” Frost grew immediately agitated when he realized that the other two had no intention of getting out. At least not at the moment. “I said everyone out, Thomas! Are you trying to piss me off?”
“I don’t reckon,” Tiger shrugged. “I don’t even know who you are, although you’ve obviously figured out who I am.”
“Like it was a chore … whaddaya think I am? A two-bit private dick?”
“Well, if I said I thought you were just a dick … period … I’m afraid you’d shoot me.”
“You got a pair with hair, I give you that much, Thomas.” Frost’s demeanor remained even, but his eyes could cut diamonds. “However, I’m still gonna have to insist the other two get their asses out of that car now.”
“Or what?” Tiger said calmly, almost defiantly.
This seemed to catch Frost off-guard. After all, he did have a virtual shredder at his fingertips. Who’d this fucking space tramp think he was? Chuck Norris?
“It’s very simple … I’ll kill you all and that will be that,” he replied. “It doesn’t have to be this way. I just want the vixen. I got no use for you. You don’t have to die.”
“And who are you? The man who’s going to kill me? Don’t I deserve to know?”
“What do you think this is?” Frost was almost incredulous. “A game? With rules and honor and shit? I don’t owe you anything and if that furry bitch ain’t outta that car now, I’m gonna shoot you down where you stand. If you think that car door’s gonna protect you, you’re sadly mistaken.”
“Do what you gotta do,” Tiger thrust his jaw out defiantly. “But whether I live or die, she’s not going with you.” He cocked his head slightly to
