The bullet slammed into his hand, knocking the pistol from his grip.
Two men circled behind Rafe.
Both aimed at his exposed back.
“I got them. Get Noelle.” Bishop took off so fast, I didn’t have time to answer.
Another man tried to reach for Noelle.
I tsked and shot him square in the forehead. “They never learn.” I dropped to a knee in front of her. “You’re ours, Noelle. No one else gets to touch you. Not ever.”
Footsteps warned me an instant before a man burst out from an overhead office.
I wheeled and stood, protecting Noelle and firing up at the intruder.
He flipped over the railing and landed with a wet thud.
“You can’t kill me. There are laws.” Vance’s voice had turned whiny.
I released Noelle from her zip ties and helped her to her feet.
Bishop held a gun to Vance’s head.
Rafe snorted and slapped the man across the face. “Laws? You think the law will protect you? You thinkanyonewill miss a kidnapping piece of shit like you?”
He hit Vance again, splitting the man’s lip and sending him stumbling backward.
Rafe proved all the rumors to be true when he fired a single shot into Vance’s temple.
The remaining men stopped and stared.
Rafe scanned the room. “I will kill anyone who goes up against me. Touch what’s mine. Look at what’s mine. Step foot on my property. Doanythingthat violates my rules, and this is what happens.”
He pointed the weapon at Vance’s prone body. “You have one chance to leave town. Do that, and I’ll let you live. If you ever come back, you’re dead.”
I’d never seen grown men so ready to piss themselves.
Noelle swayed from side to side.
I looped an arm around her waist and held her upright. “It’s okay. I got you.”
Always.
Forever.
I’d never let her go.
The remaining members of Vance’s gang scattered in all directions.
Less than a minute after Rafe’s declaration, the four of us were the only ones left.
Rafe shoved his pistol into the holster and stalked toward Noelle.
She stiffened against my side, then pulled away.
I hesitated to let her go, but it only took a look at her bruised face to see the determination.
She wanted to meet Rafe on her own, under her own power.
