“You don’t even work for Crosshairs,” I said.
“Exactly why Woodson brought me in. Now that he’s dead, our timeline has to move up. I’m taking Crosshairs for myself, and Medina’s on his way out. You’re going to tell me how much Medina knows. Did he mention me at your meeting yesterday?”
I wondered which answer would satisfy Garrett more. Hearing that Medina knew about his involvement? Or should I lie and say Medina didn’t know his name at all? Garrett’s ego probably wouldn’t appreciate that. I didn’t want to make him angry again. Not yet.
“Let my sister go, and I’ll tell you everything Medina said. Stephie has nothing to do with any of it. She’s a kid.”
“How about this? You tell me everything, and I’ll kill you first. So you don’t have to watch your sister die.”
“Bastard,” I said through gritted teeth.
There was a noise at the back door. Breaking glass. Hope lifted my heart.
Garrett’s head snapped toward the sound. “Go check that out,” he ordered the man behind Stephie.
The thug moved immediately, heading toward the kitchen. Garrett pressed his gun against my head, the cold metal digging into my temple. “Don’t even think about it.”
There was a thump from the kitchen. A wet, gurgling sound. “Fuck,” Garrett muttered, while the other man tensed, and Stephie’s eyes darted around as if trying to decide what to do.
I had no idea what was happening, but I realized this wasthe best chance I had to strike against Garrett. Maybe myonlychance.
Just moments ago, I’d been terrified to have that gun barrel against my head. This man had tried to kill me before and almost succeeded. But now was the moment to be brave.
For my sister.
I exploded upward from my knees, driving my shoulder into Garrett’s gut. He stumbled backward, the gun jerking away from my head. I grabbed his wrist with both hands and twisted hard, using my body weight to torque his arm. He grunted in pain and his grip loosened.
I wrenched the gun free from Garrett’s hand and rolled away from him, going to one knee.
The thug behind me was already moving, raising his shotgun. He would’ve fired at me before if Garrett hadn’t been blocking the shot. I aimed and pulled the trigger of Garrett’s handgun. The thug jerked, red blooming from his chest as he fell and dropped the shotgun.
“Stephie, run!” I screamed. “Hide!”
Stephie scrambled off the couch, sobbing. Garrett lunged after her. He grabbed Stephie before she could reach the door. She screamed and kicked at him, but he was too strong. He yanked her against his chest, one arm locked around her throat.
“I’ll snap her neck,” Garrett snarled. “Drop the gun.”
My hands shook. The gun felt impossibly heavy. Stephie’s eyes were wide with terror, tears streaming down her face.
Then Dean stepped into the room, moving like a shadow. His SIG Sauer, complete with its suppressor, aimed squarely at Garrett. “Let her go.”
Garrett’s eyes were wild, darting between Dean and me. His arm tightened around Stephie’s throat. She made a choking sound. “Back off or she dies.”
I couldn’t get a clear shot at him with my sister so close.Garrett started to squeeze her neck harder, his face twisting with rage.
Dean fired.
The shot hit Garrett in the shoulder. He screamed, and his grip on Stephie loosened. She crouched and covered her head.
Dean fired again, this time hitting Garrett’s leg. The man screamed again and collapsed.
I ran forward and grabbed my sister, dragging her away from Garrett. She was crying hysterically, clutching at me. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight.
Stephie pulled back from me, her face pale and streaked with tears. “Colby. Where’s Colby? They took him too. Please, is he okay?”
A young man dashed into the room from the back of the house. “Stephie!” She launched herself at him and they collided.
So that was the boyfriend.
