A chilling smile spread across Eight Ball’s face. “I can’t wait to get my hands on you. Maybe we’ll nail you to a cross. Seems like a good way for a man called Priest to die.”
“No!” Rae’s wails grew softer. I hoped that meant they were forcing her to head out the back.
“My buddy’s got a gun trained on your girl’s head. As soon as you step inside, he’ll redirect his aim.” Eight Ball motioned me closer. “Come on. Be a good little soldier.”
“She’s clear.” Bear’s voice boomed from the back of the building.
Tension seeped from my shoulders. She was safe. Nothing else mattered. I stepped through the doorway, ready to take my chance and put all my military training to use for what might be the very last time.
CHAPTER13
RAE
“Do something!”I pummeled my fists against Bear’s chest. “You can’t leave him alone in there.”
Bear grabbed both of my hands in one of his. “You’ve got to have faith. He wouldn’t go in there without a plan.”
A truck screeched to a stop by the curb. I ran over and grabbed onto the first man I reached. “Priest is inside. Somebody needs to do something.”
He nodded. “We’re aware. Best thing you can do right now is get in the truck and stay out of the way. He’s got back up now.”
A sob wrenched free from my chest. I couldn’t lose him. Not now when we’d finally come together. “Then go in. He’s inside and they’re armed. Somebody needs to do something.”
The men stood there like they were sharing gossip at a water cooler. Every second that ticked by was another second Eight Ball and Razor might be hurting him and Ashley. If the MC club wasn’t going to do something, it would be up to me. I’d never shot a handgun in my life, but I’d had plenty of practice hitting tin cans with a rifle.
I grabbed the gun tucked into the back of Bear’s pants and ran toward the front door of my apartment.
“Rae, no!” Bear hooked me around the waist and tossed me over his shoulder. “Priest can take care of himself. The last thing he needs is you running in there and putting yourself in harm’s way.”
“I love him, and I can’t lose him.” My fists landed on Bear’s back, but he didn’t appear to feel a thing.
“I’m going to set you down now, but you’ve got to promise no more stunts.” He gently set me upright, then wrapped one of his big hands around my arm to make sure I stayed put. “Two minutes is usually all it takes for?—”
A shot rang out. The guys sprang into action. One crashed through the front door, another went through the window. Bear let go of me to run toward the door. I followed.
Please let him be okay. Pleeeeeeeeeeease. I needed that man like I needed oxygen. My feet pounded through the snow, then I flung my body through the door.
Priest stood against the far wall. Alive.
Somehow, I stumbled across the room to reach him. “You’re okay.”
“It’s going to take a lot more than that to do me in.” He pulled me in tight. Snug in his arms, I turned my head and found Eight Ball crumpled into a heap a few feet away.
Razor was surrounded by guys from the MC. They’d forced him into a chair, and he sat at the table with his hands splayed in front. Ashley stood in the corner. Mascara streaked down her cheeks.
“I’ll be right back.” I gave Priest’s hand a squeeze and went to comfort my friend. “Come here, girl. It’s going to be okay.”
She buried herself in my arms, hugging me so tight I could barely breathe. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
“Shh. It’s over now.” I squeezed her back. She was most likely in shock. Both of us probably were.
Priest signaled me that he needed to go talk to one of the guys. I kept an eye on him as he moved closer to where Razor was sitting. I didn’t want him anywhere near the man who’d threatened him.
A flash of metal caught the light from the overhead fixture. One second, Razor was sitting at the table with his hands resting in front of him. The next, he’d pulled a knife out of thin air and buried it deep inside Priest’s chest. I ran toward Priest as he went down. Something hard hit my head. Then everything went dark.
* * *
I blinkedagainst the bright light. Beeps and the whir of some sort of machine came from nearby.
