Cassel nods. “Let’s do it.”
We rush down the ramp and the second I see a man dart between two cars with a gun drawn, I know we picked well. My gun is up, but before I can even take the shot, the man’s on the ground and a gun is pointed at me.
“Shit, you scared me,” Sophia says.
Tavish steps out. “I think we got them all. That was the last one, right?”
“I counted nine and I see nine bodies,” Everly announces. “We need to vacate this area immediately. Micah, you need to get to a hospital.”
“Me? I’m fine,” Micah says while blood runs over his eyes to the point that I’m not even sure how he can see. “Unless… you would like to baby me. I will take some babying.”
Fury rushes through me upon seeing the people I hold closest to me hurt and bleeding. It makes me want to tear that man apart and give him exactly what he wants. He wants me to be the old Sandman? I can be the old Sandman.
“You guys okay?” Jackson asks.
“Yeah, Sophia saved our lives,” Tavish says as he hurries up the ramp to collect Ellis. “She felt like something was wrong after a man walked by the van. She said that they were trained how to make bombs, so she got out to see if he’d thrown something under it. Since her suspicions were proven to be right, she quickly got all of us out of the vehicle.”
“You guys don’t look good,” Cassel comments while he examines Jeremy. He seems to have a burn on his arm, but otherwise he appears to be okay.
“Cassel and Jackson, get them to the hospital and gather everything you have on the Barlow family,” I say.
Cassel responds, “Yeah, of course.”
“Good. I’m going to go check on the van, but I’ll call you a car to get you to the hospital.” As I walk out, I call Henry, who answers almost immediately.
“There was an attack. I believe those who attacked us belonged to the Barlow family but were sent here by this Colby guy,” I say. “Can you get here and get this lot to the hospital? Cassel and Jackson are helping.”
“Fuck. Anyone seriously injured?”
“No, but please, don’t let them leave any secure locations,please. I can’t have them get hurt.”
“And where will you be?” he asks.
I hang up and send him a pin of this location before I begin pulling on every car door until I find one that isn’t locked. I slip inside and set to work starting it, glad I had a bag of tools on me since I didn’t know what I’d need to break into Colby’s place. It also makes it easier to take the car now that it’s gotten dark out and most eyes are on the van that firefighters are trying to put out.
The car starts, and I throw it in reverse before slamming on the brakes when my taillights light up a person standing behind me. I debate backing up in the hope that doing so will make him step to the side so I can take my leave, but he’s a stubborn man who will stubbornly stand his ground.
“I’m getting in this car or you’re getting out,” Jackson demands.
I grit my teeth but as he comes around, I let him get in. “Please stay here.”
“I will not get in your way,” he assures me, like that’s the problem with this.
“Jackson… I adore you, I love you, you’re my whole world… but that’s also why I need you to stay here.”
Jackson watches me with a steady gaze. “He wants to see the old Sandman, and if that’s what you have to show him, then so be it. But you’re not alone any longer. We’re going to do this together.”
“You’re not…” I bite back my words, unsure how to even say this. WhatdoI want to say? You’re not brutal enough? You might not like the person I become when pushed this hard? He’s seen me kill… but has he seen me be completely ruthless?
“Why are we wasting time? Let’s go,” Jackson orders.
And with that, I reverse out of the parking spot and start to drive.
“You know who it is,” Jackson states.
“I have a speculation,” I say.
“How?”
