Carlisle shifts closer to me, and a ripple of unease moves through the men.
Abruptly, I reach for Lance and twist his arm behind his back. He doesn’t say anything as we step forward, and I scan the docks carefully, my heart hammering as a slew of cars pulls up.
Michael Everett gets out first, and I zero in on him.
“If you don’t make sure they clear a path for us, I’ll tell my man to put a bullet through your brother’s head and dump his body in the water,” I warn. “I’ll make your sister watch, of course. After that, I’ll have my fun with her.”
“I don’t believe you,” he replies.
“I’m getting out of here either way, so it’s up to you if you want his mangled remains to be found or not. Clock’s ticking.”
Lance goes quiet, and I wonder if I’ve pushed too far.
Michael approaches us, and his steps falter when he sees the gun pressed to Lance’s temple.
“This feels like old times,” I mention. “As much as I’d love to continue this trip down memory lane, I have somewhere to be.”
Michael blocks my path. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Behind him, I see Carlisle and two of my men creep up. In a few quick moves, they take down the closest of Michael’s men, giving us an advantage. Suddenly, Michael spins around and starts shooting.
I release Lance and dive behind the nearest dumpster as bullets sail through the air.
The smell of gunpowder and sweat hangs heavy in the air as all hell breaks loose.
I peek out and fire off a few rounds, smiling when one of them lands in Michael’s side. He howls, and his eyes widen. He fires back at me, missing my ear by an inch. Adrenaline pumps through me as I drop back behind the dumpster and check my gun.
Carlisle’s left eye is bleeding, and he’s covered in sweat when he finds me.
Back to back, we hurry across the docks and over a few inert bodies.
The car materializes out of the smoke, but I also hear Michael just behind us. I wheel to face him and aim for his head. I curse as the bullet sails past him and lodges into the man behind him. Michael’s face is dark with fury as he reaches for the gun and aims.
Carlisle steps in front of me a minute too late.
Pain shoots up my leg, and I see my blood dripping onto the ground. I blink, touch the wound, and rub my fingers together.The gun in my hand falls to the ground with a clatter, but I quickly reach for the dagger tucked into my sock. It sails through the air and hits Michael squarely in the chest.
His mouth forms a surprised O as he crumples to the ground.
I don’t have time to gloat as more men pour in from the shadows and smoke.
Carlisle and I throw ourselves into the back of the car, and the wheels screech as we drive off to the Payne estate.
My father is waiting at the top of the stairs when we return, a scowl on his face.
I ignore Katia and Carlisle and make a beeline for the study, where Doctor Ackles is waiting for me. I pour two drinks and hand him one. London materializes in the doorway as I sit down and roll up the hem of my pants. Another sharp pain races through me as I grit my teeth and focus on a spot over the doctor’s shoulders.
Doctor Ackles says nothing as he cleans the wound.
Katia pours me another drink, and I finish it in one gulp.
I’m used to the pain, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t piss me off.
You should be out there, making sure Everett’s lying in a ditch somewhere, painfully bleeding out.
I shift as Doctor Ackles leans over me, his eyebrows knitted together in concentration. The smell of disinfectant fills the air, and I see a flash of silver. Carlisle shifts closer to me, and I grip my armchair with both hands, forcing myself to count backward from ten.
Pain blossoms behind my eyelids.
