He shot his own man.
What the actual fuck!
The red-masked guy comes out of nowhere. “Joker?”
“Time to leave.”
Something passes between the two, but three others still have their weapons drawn on Rex.
This Joker character must be missing some screws because he just walks away without a care in the world. Turns his back on all of us. The red-masked guy mutters a string of curses, then follows.
I straighten. “Can't let you leave.”
Both men turn and look at me, and fuck, I’ll be having nightmares for weeks. The red-masked guy steps forward. “You kill us, more will come. And it won’t be pretty.”
Rex points his gun at the guy. “We’ll put you down before you even get close.”
Joker leans into his companion and whispers something because the red-masked guy goes a bit apeshit before turning back to us. “We won’t be back. Town’s now off limits. You don’t have to worry about seeing us here again. Though . . . you come into Jackal territory and all bets are off.”
The guy barely finishes talking when Devon slits one of the remaining hostile’s throats. To be fair, the guy was pointing his rifle at Rex. “Four of you against the four of us.”
“Devon, back away!” Rex shouts.
Joker tilts his head as if studying Devon, who mockingly waves at the green-masked psycho, that mischievous twinkle in his eyes glittering.
Jesus, take the motherfucking wheel.
Cal runs up behind Devon, pulling him back by his hood.
Joker, his red-masked companion, and the remaining two hostiles walk off. Rex follows but keeps a distance, Devon on his heels since Cal let him go to run over to me.
“Mac.” Cal stops short, inspecting my shoulder. His lips tremble and he looks pale. “Is it bad?”
“Is there a hole in the back?”
Cal walks around and groans. “Yeah.”
“Good. Much better than if the bullet was still in me.” Though shit hurts like hell. But that’s not my biggest concern.
I grab Cal and turn him around in a circle, looking over him. My hand skims his neck, hair, and body looking for any wounds.
“I’m okay.”
My thumb grazes softly over his cheek. “You certain? Can’t lose you.”
He nods. “Devon kept me safe. Rex killed most of them. But I helped. I got one myself.”
“Told you to run.”
He glares. “I’m not a scared deer. I told you that. I might not be the best, but like you made me promise—I’m not running, especially when I need to protect you too.”
I lean in and kiss him. “Just glad you’re okay. Let’s get back home.”
Chapter 9
Back at the house, Cal helps me into the kitchen, then carefully removes my shirt before treating the wound. I walk him through what to do—what better time to teach him some combat first aid. And nothing like being a damn practice dummy.
By the time we’re done and I’m on the couch, Devon and Rex come home.
