“Now,” Hunter said, kicking in the door. He went low and left, while Raider wenthigh and right.
Louise fired, hitting the glass part of the door, spraying shards in every direction. One cut into Hunter’s neck, but he kept going, searching for Jackson.
Jackson tackled Louise to the floor, and agun discharged.
“No!” Hunter yelled, sliding across glass to reach his brother. He rolled Jackson over, and blood burst across the kid’s chest. “Jackson. Hold on, buddy.” Oh, God. Hunter panicked, lookingfor the wound.
Raider rushed by and flipped Louise over, pinning her hands behind her back. The sheriff ran inside and tossed him handcuffs, which he quickly slipped into place.
She struggled and cried as Raider yanked her to her feet.
Hunter frantically searched for the bullet hole. Jackson’s entire chest was covered with blood.
Louise looked down, sobbing. “Jackson? My Jackson?”
“I’m not yours, you crazy hag,” Jackson moaned, slapping at Hunter’s hands. “Dude. Stoppushing on me.”
Hunter ripped open the kid’s shirt and slid his hands through the blood, finding the wound in the upper right shoulder. Thank God. Okay. He pressed against it tostem the blood.
Jackson winced. “Stop it. Geez. As a brother, you suck so far,” he gasped.
Tears burned Hunter’s eyes. “I’ll get better. I promise.” He looked over at Raider, who was bleeding from glass in his forehead.
Then Faye came inside and rushed over, dropping to her knees. She set her hand down and winced as glass cut into her palm. Her brown eyes were panicked and her blond hair mussed. She looked perfect. “Is he okay?” A siren sounded in the distance.
“He will be,” Hunter said, keeping his hold firm. Okay. Almost everyone he loved in the world was in the room bleeding. But they were all gonna be okay. He’d make sure of it.
Epilogue
Faye sat on the sofa as Miss Angelina fussed around, making sure there was enough sweet tea and cookies. The elderly woman had dressed in her best mint green suit and hat today, and it was apparent she had an announcement to make. Or perhaps she was waiting for one. Either way, it was a nice spring day, and Faye was enjoying herself.
“You pick those classes yet?” Miss A asked.
Faye nodded happily. “Yep. Landscape design, and Mr. Moriarty said I could already start working with him while going to school.” Moriarty’s Landscaping was the best around. “He’d like to retire sometime, and since his kids both became lawyers,he’s thrilled.”
“Good.” Miss A nodded, her eyes gleaming. It was like she’d had aplan all along.
Jackson sat in a chair by the fireplace, his arm in a cast and a puppy on his lap. He’d been released from the hospital the day before, back into Miss Angelina’s custody, since she’d had him last. He’d been quiet most of the morning as they waited for Hunter to return, but his face had lost that pinched and worried look. And he was on his third cookie.
Hunter came in the front door and wiped off his boots, even though there probably wasn’t anything on them. He wore dark jeans and a blue button-down shirt that made his eyes appear deep and mysterious. He filled it out like it had been made for him, making him look strong and sure.
Jackson tensed and sat up straighter, his face turning pale. “Did you get Raider off okay?”
Raider had to get back to that crazy deep ops group and go undercover, which Faye was not happy about. She’d figure out a way to get him safe once they had Jacksonall settled in.
Hunter nodded. “I stopped by the courthouse as well.”
Faye set down her tea. Her stomach turned over. “Whatdid they say?”
Jackson looked down at his hands.
Hunter shut the door and waited for Miss Angelina to take a seat before he continued. “The prosecutor has reviewed all the evidence and has agreed to grant Jackson immunity if he testifies against Louise.” Hunter looked at his younger brother. “The fact that you let those people go and then tried to save me worked stronglyin your favor.”
Jackson swallowed. “Testify against Louise?”
“You just have to tell the truth,” Faye said, reaching over to pat his hand. The puppy licked her,and she smiled.
Jackson nodded.
