Lock’s fingers tightened on the gun, a new anger building in his chest. An anger at himself. Because Antwan was right—he’d led the fucker straight to her.
Antwan took a step back, the pistol still pointed at Lock’s chest. “Just let us go. Let me have her.”
Have her?Like she was a pet or something? “You know I can’t do that.”
“You’re outnumbered, Antwan,” Jesse said. “Drop the gun and let’s end this.”
Antwan laughed, and the sound bordered on hysterical. “You say that like I haven’t been waiting for my time with Callie for years. Like I haven’t beenpatient.” The last word was a shout, ringing through the trees.
Lock’s gaze shifted to Callie. The fear in her eyes gutted him.
He looked back to Antwan. Despite everything, he didn’t want to shoot him…but he would if he had to. “Somewhere inside you, there’s the man who first joined our team. The man who saved our asses and considered us family. Find that man, Antwan. Put down the gun.”
There was a small flicker of his brows. “That man died with Lola. She was…fuck, she was my whole world. And I spent more of my time away, with thefuckingteam, than I did with her. I was savingother peoplewhen I couldn’t even saveher.”
“She had cancer,” Jesse said, stepping forward, weapon still raised.
“Sheshouldn’thave! Those scumbags we chased down,theydeserved to get sick and die. But her? She was good and pure, and I loved her. I fucking loved her!”
“We don’t choose who lives and who dies of sickness,” Lock said softly.
“It’s not fair…”
Jesse dipped his head. “You’re right. It’s not. But it doesn’t give reason to what you’re doing.”
Antwan’s gaze shifted back to Lock, something he couldn’t place flickering through the man’s eyes. “If I’m not getting out of this with Callie, you’ll have to end me.”
The gun started to move from Lock to Callie.
“Antwan.No,” Jesse shouted.
As Antwan’s gaze shifted from Lock to Jesse, Callie swung her arm back and punched him between the legs.
Antwan growled, and the second he doubled over, Lock and Jesse took the shots. Kill shots to the head.
Lock sprinted forward, catching Callie before she hit the ground. “Are you okay?”
She buried her head against his chest. “I am now.”
Lock’swarmth permeated her side as she sat on the edge of the ambulance. People were scattered in front of the cabin. Mostly deputies. But the only person she could focus on was Lock. She barely even paid attention to the paramedic as he checked her over.
Jesse had already left after spending a good chunk of time talking to Eastern and his deputies. Aspen had picked him up. Her best friend had jumped out of the car and tugged Callie into the tightest, longest hug. And God, she’d needed that hug.
She looked up at Lock, but he was focused on the break in the trees. The same break where, just half an hour ago, a stretcher with Antwan’s covered body had been carried through.
She hated that he’d lost a friend today. And it wasn’t just that he’d lost his friend, it was that he lost the memory of him too. Because every memory involving Antwan was now tainted.
The paramedic stepped back. “Other than a few scrapes and bruises, everything looks okay. No concussion. You said you had no trauma to the abdomen or pain, so your pregnancy should be okay, but I’d encourage you to stop into the hospital and have the baby’s heart checked if you’re worried.”
She touched a hand to her belly. For peace of mind, she’d definitely do that. “Thank you.”
Lock helped her off the ambulance just as Eastern stepped out of the cabin. His features were grim, eyes going straight to her and Lock before heading their way.
When he reached them, he looked at Callie. “How are you feeling?”
“As fine as I can be after being kidnapped.”
Lock’s arm tightened around her.
