I had to stop.
For her.I had to stop.
But it’d be so easy to hold on for just a little longer. We were almost there—just a little longer, and then it’d all be over. For good.
I was panting as Cade appeared in front of me, his hands carefully sliding against mine, pushing me out of the way. “He’s not going anywhere,” Cade murmured softly. “Carter, I have him.Let go.” I met Cade’s gaze and gasped as his hands took over, falling backwards.
“We’ve got this, he’s not walking out of this room.” Theo promised and pushed something into my hands. “You know where to go, a doctor is already on his way.”
I was panting wildly as I wiped my wet hands against my pantsand shakily pushed up, as my gaze finally drifted to Sara—who was just staring, stunned at what I’d done. Almost done.
“Don’t look at that, sweetheart, look at me.” I commanded softly.
Her eyes slowly lifted, and the look she gave me hollowed me out three times over. Now she’d seen me for what I really was, and her reaction was exactly what I’d expected. Horrified.
I extended a shaky hand. “We need to go.” But she stumbled back, something devastating flashing through her eyes, and I knew what I had to do. “I’m sorry.” I croaked, dropping a shoulder low to push into the mass of white fabric as I softly took her arm.
“Carter, please.” Sara protested tearfully as I tipped her over my shoulder in a gentle motion, doing my best to avoid her injury. “Why?” She demanded.
“I’m so, so sorry, Sara.” I muttered, feeling her go limp in submission and defeat—feeling shockingly grateful as I felt her shake against me, crying, because that meant she was still conscious and I had no idea how much blood she’d lost, how much time we had.
Theo closed in on Taggart, checking his watch. “Lucky for you, Taggart, my schedule just opened up.” Theo cracked his knuckles. “You should know, walk-ins are my favorite.”
“I—can pay you.” Taggart countered, wheezing hoarsely—hardly able to speak.
“We know you never had the funds to complete the transaction.” Liam hummed calmly as I hurried up the steps—and I suddenly recognized the lethal cold rage in his voice, knowing that I had mere seconds to get Sara out.If that.“They were going to come for you one way or another, and you didn’t honestly think you could get away with this, did you?” Liam mused calmly, far too calmly.Oh God.“This is the second time you’ve laid hands on my sister, and you don’t have any idea how much you’re about to regret that.” He laughed humorlessly. “There’s something you should know about me, Taggart—I’m a professional butcher.I carve up all kinds of flesh all day long, and now,you waste of a human carcass,I’m going to carve you up.” Liam promised darkly, his voice fading in the distance. “Don’t worry though, I’ll be right here with you every step of the way.You can count on that.”
We were only halfway up the stairs when Taggart started begging. “Cover your ears.” I pleaded with Sara, sprinting hard, because a moment later, the screaming started.
Outside, the crunch of my footsteps against the crushed stone was practically deafening against the tense silence between Sara and I.
Gently setting her down on the steps of the circular stone fountain, I carefully cut open the side of her dress to inspect her wound, and she begrudgingly let me. I stared at the injury for a beat and then my head dropped in relief as I blew out a slow steady breath—furious that she’d been shot, grateful she’d only been grazed. The bullet had taken a chunk out of her side, and she’d definitely have a scar, but it didn’t appear life-threatening, thank God. I didn’t even want to consider what would have happened if the shot had been an inch to the right. Headlamps bobbed behind me as someone handed me fresh gauze, and I wiped down and then quickly packed Sara’s wound.
I took Sara’s face in my hands, feeling sick to my stomach as I gently examined the bruises, and a hard lump settled into my throat. “Did he hurt you anywhere else?” I asked hoarsely, “Touch you—” My voice cracked, hardly able to even ask the question.
She shook her head no, looking at her hands, and I released a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Thank God.” Brushing a strand of hair out of her face, my heart broke when she pulled away. “Let’s get you a hot shower and something to eat.” I offered her a hand that she ignored when she pushed up, but when she swayed, I scooped her up into my arms in the next instant, ignoring her scowl.
She was quiet as I loaded her into the car, shoving too muchfabric in with her. “You know, no one would have guilted you for actually shooting the guard. It would have been self-defense.”
“I tried to.” She admitted quietly, “Turns out, I just have shit aim.”
I realized the halo of shots around his body weren’t mercy shots at all, shehadgone for the kill shot. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. She’d fought for herself, and I was damn proud of her for it, but knowing she was alive, that she was going to be okay—I couldn’t help but find her shit aim a tiny bit humorous.
“If you laugh, I’m getting out of this car.” She muttered.
I looked down quickly, concealing an amused huff of air. “I’m not laughing.”
“Sure you’re not.” She scoffed as I closed the door. At least her sense of humor was intact. It was a shred of proof that she was going to be okay. That maybewe’dbe okay. I hoped.
I rounded the car, climbing into the driver’s seat and stared at her, pure curiosity washing over me. “I have to ask, howdidyou manage to get the gun?” I was dying to know how she could have possibly outmaneuvered her guard, especially injured. I honestly couldn’t figure it out.
She stared out the window. “I promised him a kiss if he shared his whiskey with me, the rest was only a distraction.”
Now that—I did not like. Not a single bit. Not even if she was clever for playing to her strengths.
CHAPTER 57
Bread and Butter
