Brave little kid.
The other gang member scratched his scarred chin. “I say we use them first—before we take them back. Then they can meet everyone else and start earning their keep.”
Tace’s gut rolled.
The girl whimpered.
The boy set his stance, his eyes blazing. “You touch her, and I’ll kill you.”
“Learn to shut up now, kid.” The first guy backhanded the boy, and he flew into the counter. Instantly, the kid shot up, hands in fists, body in front of the girl.
“Hit him again, and I’ll blow your head off,” Tace said, moving around the wall and pointing his gun at the guy’s head.
The boy covered the girl, whispering something and shielding her with his small body.
Raze stepped gracefully around the counter, his gun trained on the second guy. “On your knees. Now.”
The second guy looked at his buddy.
“I’m happy to shoot you,” Tace drawled. “In fact, it’d make the rest of my day a lot better if you were just dead. So make a move, and let’s get on with this.”
The guy looked at Raze, who didn’t so much as twitch. He was silent and deadly . . . and it showed.
The gang members dropped to their knees, both clasping their hands behind their heads. Obviously, they’d been arrested more than once and knew the drill. Knives and a gun were visible in their waistbands.
Tace sighed. “How many members are still in Twenty?” Last he’d heard, the gang was working with the president.
No answer.
He glanced at Raze. “Take the kids outside, would you?”
The girl buried her face in the boy’s back.
Raze frowned. “You sure? I can handle these guys. I think it’s my turn to shoot people.”
Tace knew he couldn’t be gentle at the moment, and those kids needed gentleness. “I can’t do it.”
“Ah.” Raze tucked his gun in the back of his waist and strode close to the kids. “I’m Raze, and I have the weird name because I was named for my dad, Ryan, and my uncles, Albert, Zeke, and Elton. They were all good guys, and so am I. Do you two have anywhere safe to go?”
The boy turned and faced Raze squarely, which few adult men could do easily. “Yes. We live close. Can we go now?”
Raze hunkered down to meet the kid’s eyes. “Just you two?”
“No.” The boy’s lip shook. “We have a whole bunch of uncles who all have guns.” Ah, the poor little liar.
“I see.” Raze rubbed his chin. “My friend here needs to have a discussion with these two guys in purple, and I don’t think the little lady behind you should be here for that. You get me?”
The kid’s eyes darkened. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I get you.” He turned and took the girl’s hand. “Let’s go outside, Tina.”
The girl stood and nodded. “Then we should get back to our, um, uncles.”
Tace’s heart, what was left of it, broke even more. The two kids were totally alone, and it was a miracle they were still walking. “Tina, I’m Tace.” He used his best Texan drawl. “What’s your name, buddy?”
The boy looked him over, no doubt seeing yet another predator in a world gone to shit. “Rory Samuelson.”
“Nice to meet you, Rory. I’d like to talk to you when I’m finished here, so if you’d stick around, I’d appreciate it. We don’t hurt kids, and we know of a safe place for you and Tina if you’re interested,” Tace said.
The first gang member moved for his knife, and Tace kicked it out of his hand. “Go now, please.”
