I spotted a flash of pink and saw her arm being dragged by James. “Son of a bitch!” I took off at a full run, which was difficult as fuck to do with my head low. I rushed straight through the gunfight, noticing one brother clutching his arm and cursing up a storm. “Stay down and slide back,” I shouted and kept moving. Gunshots sounded all around me and I just hoped I could get to Viv before one struck.
“Let me go!” Viv shouted, her voice thick with anguish as she tried to break free of his hold.
“Stupid, stupid bitch. Did you really think you could set me up?” he let out a dark laugh. “I told you, Vivian, I hold your entire future in my hands.”
Her brows dipped low as if the other pieces of the puzzle started to slid into place, but this wasn’t the time or the place for those thoughts. I circled around the cars, knowing that grabbing James from behind was the safest way for Vivian.
I stood behind him, my eyes glued to Viv when I caught a flash of movement from the corner of my eye. A tall-ass Russian held my woman in his sights, the barrel of his gun aimed at the back of her head. Without thinking, I pulled out my piece and took aim, watching the bullet as it hit his chest and sent a sea of red spreading across his white dress shirt.
More bullets flew my way, distracting me from rescuing Viv from her ex. I had no choice but to return fire, taking down two more Russians before I turned back to her.
“Viv!” I yelled.
She looked at me and relief flashed in her eyes but it left as soon as James grabbed a handful of her hair. “No!” she cried out, grabbing his wrist with one hand as he started to drag her away.
My arms and legs pumped harder to get closer, but James was moving fast towards his car. “Viv!”
She paused, letting him drag her as she dug inside her pocket, wrapping her hand around whatever was in there. “James, let me go,” she cried out as she pulled out something silver and shiny, stabbing it into his forearm and dragging it down.
“You fucking bitch!” he cried out and released her, dropping to his knees.
“That’s my girl!” I told her when I was close enough to grab him by his fucking hair, dragging him to the street where two prospects had a van idling at the curb. “Get him to the clubhouse,” I said in a low voice before slamming the door shut and turning back to Viv. “You okay? Please tell me you’re fuckin’ okay, Viv.”
She nodded and dropped the scalpel as if it was suddenly too hot to touch. “I’m… okay. I’m good,” she answered, her hands shaking and teeth chattering. “How?” she began and shook her head.
“Stay behind me,” I ordered. “Say it back.”
“Stay behind you,” she repeated back to me.
“Good girl.” I turned back to the where the Russians had Rocky and Maverick cornered. I emptied one clip and then another while Rebel did the same until our brothers were free. Safe.
The area was plunged into silence, thick and deafening.
The Russians weren’t all dead, but they were the walking wounded which was good enough for now. We got what we needed—James—and now it was time to get some fucking answers and get ahead of this shit show.
Chapter Eighteen
Vivian
“You did good back there, babe.” Falcon stood in front of me so that he was all I could see, not the van that carried James somewhere I couldn’t see, just him. His big hands cradled my face so gently it was a stark contrast to the warrior I’d seen just minutes ago. “So fucking good,” he growled and kissed me, hard and intense. “Are you really okay?”
“Physically, yeah,” I nodded and licked my lips. “I think it’ll take me some time for the rest of it.”
His jaw clenched. “I’m sorry, Viv. I fucking promised.”
“Stop,” I insisted, grabbing his chin between my thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. “I’m here. I’m safe. You did everything you promised you would, so this is where I say thank you, Falcon.” I pressed my lips to his in a kiss that probably said too much about what I was feeling, but I needed him to know I was relieved and grateful. And falling hard. “Thank you.”
He flashed a grin that I felt all the way down to my toes. Despite the blood and the carnage, I found myself aroused. Maybe it was the tenuous nature of life and death, maybe it was that panty-melting smile or maybe it was something else, but my nipples were hard, and my panties were damp. “Anything for you, Viv.”
“Doc, we need some help,” Gio called out in a strained voice that brought me back to the present.
“Coming right now.” I took a step back, reluctant to leave Falcon but I knew I had to. “Be safe. See you later?”
He nodded, watching me with a serious expression that did nothing to tamp down my arousal.
I turned away and took a deep breath, washing away everything else so that I could deal with the blood and chaos that had been heaped onto these men because of me. I stepped inside the clubhouse and the quiet unsettled me. This room was always a mix of rock music, laughter, loud conversations, and the distinct sound of children playing. Now it was quiet like a morgue and that made my legs shake.
Shake it off,I told myself. It was my fault these men were hurt which meant I needed to get past my own shit to take care of them. “Hey, what do we have?”
