Radcliff’s crew and the man himself all arrived seconds later, and it was too late.
“I see now how you escaped.” Radcliff looked at them. “How is your friend?” His sneer had Ash’s fingers itching to punch him.
“We finish this tonight, Radcliff,” Ash said.
“You would shoot an unarmed man?”
He wanted to kill the bastard with his bare hands, inflict pain for what he had done to him and Barron, but he had his family to think of. He could not step out of the line. He had to keep them safe. Especially her, the woman who held his heart.
“I would shoot you in the heart, Radcliff, but the target is small,” Cam taunted him.
“You do not have the numbers I do, Ash. Will you allow those at your back to be hurt because of you?”
“There are those nearby who will come to our aid,” Dev said. “Perhaps a look to the right will confirm that?”
Radcliff looked and saw Dillinger’s crew advancing. Ash then heard the sound of feet behind them and hoped they were not more of Radcliff’s men.
“Hello. I hope we’ve arrived in time,” Somer said, moving to stand beside her husband.
“Excellent timing,” Rory said.
“It is now you who are outnumbered,” Ash said, keeping his eyes on the man who had tortured and left him for dead.
Radcliff’s shoulders slumped. “I will sail away from here and you will never see me again, if you will allow it?” His tone was subdued. “I can see that I will not win this.”
“You are going nowhere,” Ash growled. “The world needs to be rid of you, and I am the man to do it.”
Radcliff pushed his hands behind his back, and in seconds had a gun. Two shots rang out. Radcliff dropped to the floor.
“Have I killed him?” He heard Dorrie’s words.
“No, I killed him,” Gus said.
Radcliff was indeed dead. Ash checked. One bullet had hit him in the chest, the other the thigh. His crew put up no further fight and simply took his body on board the ship.
“I killed him,” Dorrie whispered, turning into her younger brother’s arms.
“Dorrie, you are a hopeless shot and always have been,” Warwick said, hugging her close. “Gus put the bullet in Radcliff’s chest.”
Ash placed his hands on her shoulders, needing to touch her. He’d known fear before, but knowing she was here had terrified him. She turned into his arms. He held her tight. Ash wasn’t sure which one of them was shaking; possibly both.
“You could have been killed,” he whispered. “Even now you could be dead.”
“I was not in danger, you were.”
“I would tell you to unhand my sister but know it would be futile,” Devon said. “I will, however, see you in my office tomorrow.”
“A stray bullet could have taken you from me,” Ash said, ignoring her family. His face was in her soft hair. “I will be angry soon, but for now let me hold you until I am no longer scared of losing you.”
“And yet you did not lose her or any of us,” Gus said. “We helped save you and Baron, and Radcliff is dealt with. We did it as a family.”
“Family,” Ash rasped.
“Come, brother, we must leave,” Gus said gripping his shoulder. “It is done.”
They climbed into the carriages and made for Devon’s house. Dorrie was squeezed in beside Ash. He held her pressed to his side and wasn’t sure he’d ever let her go.
Their arrival was met by the rest of the family pouring out of the house. Ash stepped down and turned to help Dorrie.
