When that doesn’t happen, we move in and take the fight to them.
I’m not sure how I get boxed in. I hunker behind a low-level garden wall as two guards take shots at me.
“Blue, any chance you can get rid of them for me?” I ask, watching my brothers disappear into the house. Screams, shouts, and gunshots echo in the darkness. “Blue, I’m pinned down in the south garden. Two of them. I can’t move.”
“Hang on,” Blue replies. I hear him take a shot, but it’s not at either of my guys. “I can’t get a clear shot of them, Nickel.”
“Fuck,” I mutter.
I leopard crawl slowly along the wall to find a better position. I’ve barely moved when they fire at me again. Ducking, I wait them out, hoping they’ll run out of ammunition.
“Stay down, Nickel,” Bee instructs. “I’ll let you know when to move.”
She’s no sooner finished talking than I hear a cry and a thump. Taking a chance, I look over the wall and see the two guards slumped over.
“Thanks, Blue,” I say, staying low as I move to another spot.
“That wasn’t me, brother,” Blue admits. “We’ve got someone else out here with us.”
“Well, fuck. Let’s hope they’re friendly,” I mutter. The shouts and screams die down. “I’m going to do a last check around the grounds.”
“Careful, Nickel,” Bee warns. “We think we know who it is, but Ramzi will confirm.”
“Understood.” I use the shadows to make my way slowly around the grounds. The dogs are still passed out with whatever Cai tranquillised them with. I check them quickly to ensure they’re still breathing. All their guards are dead, so I don’t bother to check on them.
It's a decision I quickly regret.
I’m almost back where I started when one of the guards looms in front of me. He raises his gun, points it towards me, and pulls the trigger.
This is it, then.
I close my eyes and I wait for the bullet to enter my body, thinking about my mother and how my death will affect her.
“Dude, what the fuck? That’s the second time I’ve saved your arse tonight,” a husky, irate, and decidedly feminine voice berates me.
What the fuck indeed?
Surprisingly, my cock twitches in my pants. Surprising, because I’m not one to be led around by my dick.
I open my eyes to meet stormy grey ones. I smile. “Hi.”
She rolls her eyes and growls, “Seriously, dude, what the fuck? You checked the dogs but not the guards?”
She’s right. I fucked up. But my brothers and the Skulls are crack shots, so I didn’t think to check them as I assumed they were dead.
“You’re right. I fucked up. I should’ve checked them. Thanks for saving my life.”
Surprise flashes across her face before she quickly masks it. “You need a keeper,” she mutters, expertly checking her weapon before surveying our surroundings. “Where are the Skulls? They told me to meet them here. Oh, and you should answer Bee. I can hear her from here.”
I suddenly realise that Bee is shouting in my ear, asking me if I’m all right. I was too caught up in this woman, who appeared out of nowhere, and the instant attraction I felt for her that jump-started my cock.
“I’m okay, Bee.”
“Fuck’s sake, Nickel! You nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought she was going to shoot, but then I recognised her. Seriously, I was wondering how the hell I was going to break the news to your mum.”
“I’m sorry, Bee. You and my Old Lady are right. I’m a fucking idiot.”
There’s stunned silence.
