“What?” I looked up at Grim who merely shook his head. “Tarek?”
Instead of answering, Tarek pulled out his phone and lifted it to his ear. “Taz, we have a problem.”
I slipped from Grim’s arms and ran over to where Tarek was standing. When I looked down, it didn’t take a genius to know what was going on. Someone had strapped a bomb to my father’s back.
“This is bullshit!” I stomped my foot with tears streaming down my face. “I get him back and now this?”
“Reaper.” Tarek hunched down. “I’m going to put video on so you can see what I’m looking at.”
Grim took my shoulder and pulled me toward the door. I screamed for Tarek. I didn’t want to leave.
“Grim, leave her.” Tarek called.
He let me go but I didn’t go anywhere. I figured it was the compromise so neither of them worried about me too. Still, she couldn’t stop freaking out inside. I bit off my nails, chewed the inside of my cheeks until they were raw and picked at the corners of my fingers until I was sure they bled.
Footsteps outside the room caught our attention and we all looked toward the door.
“Tarek?” I asked.
“Grim…” Tarek called.
“On it.”
Grim headed off again and Tarek motioned for me to come to him. He quickly showed me how to use his gun and though I didn’t want to, I had no choice. The man I loved, and my father were in trouble. If I had to take down an asshole to protect them, so be it.
“Anyone who comes through that door, that’s not Grim or one of the protectors—you point and you fire. Got it?” Tarek met my eyes.
I swallowed and nodded, my hands shaking.
“I’ll make this up to you, Ellie.” Tarek’s voice was steady as he went back to what he was doing with Reaper. “I promise.”
I held onto that promise and lifted the gun to the door, trying to block out the sound of gunfire outside and the beep behind me. Footsteps, screaming was chaotic.
“Come on, Grim.” I whispered. “Please.”
“Reaper, why are the numbers counting down faster?” Tarek asked.
“Reach behind the silver line and snip the cord you find there.” Reaper told him.
I didn’t hear anything else happening behind me for in that moment, someone, not Grim, barged through the door. Unable to look, I aimed, closed my eyes and squeezed the trigger. The roar was deafening as the force from the gun shoved me backward. Someone groaned and I opened one eye to see what was happening. The man was on the floor. I’d clocked him dead in the chest.
My entire body was shaking but I had to hold on. Tarek wasn’t finished—he needed more time.
“Got him!” Tarek called from behind me.
I took a chance and glanced back to see him wrapping one of my father’s arm around his own shoulder and pushing up. My father rested heavily into Tarek’s side and without being told, I shuffled forward, gun leading me out the door.
The silence terrified me. It was better when people were fighting because I could tell where everyone was. Now, with the quiet, I worried about Grim. But he joined us in the living room, and we tumbled out the door.
A loud bang echoed through the air and a burst of fire tore through my shoulder.
“Grim!” Tarek shouted.
“I got her!” Grim replied before another explosion of noise.
“I’m okay…” I managed. “Get my dad.”
But Grim didn’t let me go. He took the gun from my hand and scooped me into his arms. My shoulder hurt like hell and it was becoming an issue keeping my eyes opened.
