Creighton’s eyes flashed, but somehow they looked even more dead. Like a demon’s. “Because I don’t give one fuck about him.”
I wet my lips. My throat was so dry. Desertlike dry. When was the last time I had any water in my system? I had coffee this morning and alcohol last night. Water during one of our sex breaks. I almost started laughing at the oddity of that thought. “They said you took some of their people.”
He didn’t reply. Which was a response in itself.
My chest lifted. “You and I made a deal.”
“We’ve made a lot of deals.”
My eyes flashed. “There’s a specific one I’m talking about.”
He didn’t respond.
I growled. “You know which one I’m talking about.”
He edged out, “That wasafter.”
“Are they alive?”
He kept quiet.
Lassiter broke out, “They’re alive.” He jerked forward, ignoring Creighton’s warning look. Lassiter raised his hands in the air, his knife still tucked against his palm. “They’re unharmed, and they’re close.”
“Last.” Creighton promised so many ways to die in that one word. “Shut up.”
Lassiter’s eyes flickered, his hands began to lower, but he looked up at me, stared, went to Levi, and lastly, his gaze fell to Spence’s body. His hands lowered all the way after that, as did his shoulders. His head too. “You might not believe this, Creight, but Iamdoing this for you.” He raised his head once again and moved to face him. “They will kill her. You took family members of theirs. Look at them. They’re ready to die if it means bringing those family members back to their women. Blake is everything to you, but she’s just a weapon to use in their arsenal against you. She dies, everyone dies. That part, they don’t get, but I do. I know what you’ll do, and you won’t care about Levi or me. I love you too, you know. That’s why I’m doing this.” He abruptly turned and spoke, “They’re in a vehicle one block over—”
Creighton’s eyes flared, and he moved his gun, aiming it at Lassiter.
I ceased breathing. “Eight, No!”
Everything happened so fast.
Creighton pulled the trigger, but Tristian West knocked him to the side. His shot went wide. Lassiter’s eyes got big, paling at the significance of what Creighton almost did.
I lunged forward.
Walden released me.
I darted forward, had the forethought to slam the jail cell closed behind me, locking Walden and his guard inside. There was a thud from inside, and as I glanced back, out of the corner of my eye, a body had fallen to the ground from inside.
Levi was also on the ground, grimacing in pain.
But I was across the room, and as Lassiter shook his head, clearing it, he moved to intercept the other three guards that were three steps away from us.
Creighton and West were fighting, and not sure what to do, Lassiter yelled at me, “Guards, Blake.”
Right.
A gun was on the ground. I swept it up and aimed at one of West’s guards. Lassiter cursed, let his knife drop, and pulled out two guns from his back. We stood shoulder to shoulder, our three guns stopping the guards from getting any closer.
Walden had a gun, but I was hoping he wouldn’t risk a shot into our circle. He could shoot his best friend.
There were three distinct thuds before it quieted behind us.
Then, a gentle hand touched my waist, pulling me against him, and once I was there, my arm faltered. The gun dropped—I was hoping the safety was still on, but I ceased caring. I turned around and molded myself against Creighton’s chest. His arms wrapped around me. His head went to my neck, and he held me as we were both shaking.
And Lassiter stood there, guarding us.
