He sneered, but Francis would be able to tell he was scared. “If you shoot me, I guarantee I’ll kill her before I die.”
While he was panicking on the inside, he tried to remain apathetic looking on the outside. "I sincerely doubt that."
He pulled back the hammer. "Try me." Poppy's eyes were wide, and her hands were on the guard's arm, trying to pull it back from her throat. She looked at Francis for a moment and turned her head slowly, splaying her hand to show her five fingers.
When she got to one, she twisted her head and managed to yank her head under the grip of the choke hold, slipping out of his grasp. The guard's eyes widened and he reached for her.