I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “No. I think he was going to though. I saw him hit you with his gun and I’m guessing he hit Jamie, too.”
“Go over there with Jamie. I’m going to kill that fucker,” he growled.
Quietly, I told him, “I already did. I shot him when he came in there after me.”
“Aww, baby.” He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me to him. “I hate that you had to do that, but you did good, baby. You sure you killed him?”
I nodded into his chest. “Hit him in the gut, the chest, and between the eyes. He was gone before he hit the floor.” My breath hitched with the last few words and the sobs started all over again.
Dash stepped back and placed both hands on my shoulders. He bent down so we were eye to eye. “Listen to me. I need you to pull it together. I don’t know what is going on and we can’t afford to waste any time. Now, I need to go up there and check Pete’s pockets. See if he had a phone or something that might tell us what he was up to. I’ll grab your bags while I’m up there. I need you to grab the go bags and help Jamie. Copper and his crew are on their way, but we don’t know if anybody might be ahead of him. Get me? As soon as I come back down, we’re moving to the bunker.”
“Got it. Go. Hurry.” He took off up the stairs while I grabbed the bags and went to Jamie. He was still on the kitchen floor, but he was now sitting up, propped against the cabinets.
He smiled sheepishly when he saw me, “Knew you’d be okay.”
I gave him a small grin, though it probably looked more like a grimace. “I’m glad you knew it. I sure didn’t.” I looked him over from head to toe. “Do you think you can stand?”
“I’m going to have to.” He inhaled deeply and heaved himself up, using the counter as support. “Damn my head hurts like a mother fucker.”
“I’m sure it does. You okay otherwise?”
“My vision is a little blurry, but I think that’s to be expected. I’ll be all right. We heading to the bunker?”
I nodded. “As soon as Dash comes back down. He’s checking Pete’s pockets for a cell phone or something that may tell us why he turned against us.”
Right on cue, Dash entered the kitchen with my bags and a few other items in his hands. “Come on, let’s get you to the bunker.”
“I’ll take the bags if you can help Jamie. His vision is still a little blurry and I think his legs are a little weaker than he is letting on,” I informed him.
I took the bags, Dash slid his arm under Jamie’s shoulders, and we all quick stepped it to the bunker. Once we were sealed in tight, I sagged into one of the chairs, feeling the first inkling of relief.
Dash handed a drink and some pills over to Jamie before dropping down into a chair beside me.
“Did you find anything on Pete?” I asked.
“Yeah. A phone that isn’t one he’s supposed to have, his wallet, and this weird necklace.” He tossed all of the items onto the table.
The necklace slid to a stop right in front of me. I covered my mouth with both hands and rose to my feet. Dash was quickly on his feet, too. “What’s the matter?”
I stabbed my finger at the necklace. “That! It’s an Octavian Crest.”
“A fucking what?”
“An Octavian Crest!” I shrieked. “He was one of Octavius’s men!”
“Son of a bitch!” he cursed.
We both turned to Jamie when he spoke, “Son of a bitch is right.” He had Pete’s phone in his hand and was scrolling through it. “Looks like he sent a text out about the time you got back from the check in.”
“Who was it to? What did it say?” Dash demanded.
“I’m guessing to Octavius. It’s saved as ‘8’. It says, ‘signal received. Will unload extras and secure main package for pickup. See you soon.’”
“Fuck!” Dash grunted, now pacing the room. “Anything else?”
“Yeah. A response from 8. ‘You have two hours. Be ready.’”
Dash grinned and said in a menacing tone, “We’ll be ready. That’s for damn sure.”
