“Noooo…” I can’t let them take me. Thrashing with everything I have, I manage to get free for all of two seconds before they slam me into the nearest wall.
My bicep stings, and within seconds, my entire body starts to tingle. A gloved hand waves a syringe in front of my face. “Say goodnight, bitch.”
They drag me up the stairs, one man gripping each arm as I struggle and scream for Jasper. My legs are so heavy. Like I’m stumbling through the deep end of the pool.
The walls pulse and spin. Dark spots float all around me. “Guillermo’s bringing the car up now. Get her into the trunk. I’ll take care of that Ranger asshole.”
Jasper. He’s still alive. I need to tell him…I think…I love him.
One of the men drops my arm, and the other spins me around to face him. I slam my knee into his groin. He yelps, but I wasn’t strong enough. He doesn’t let go.
Tears stream down my cheeks as he throws me over his shoulder. It’s too hard to keep my eyes open now. I don’t even try.
Cold air hits the back of my neck.
Outside. No. Can’t.
“Let. Her. Go,” Jasper shouts.
His voice gives me a burst of strength. I kick my legs and twist.
Falling. Pain. Then…nothing.
Jasper
I unload six shots into the first asshole’s chest. He doesn’t make a sound as he collapses into a heap. Emi lies on her back, unmoving.
The second fucker shoots at me from inside the cabin. I dive in front of the black car idling in the driveway.
The guy in the driver’s seat pulls a gun from a shoulder holster, but I put a bullet between his eyes before he can aim.
I have to get to Emi before the second shitstain does. But he’s got a fuckton more firepower. A hail of gunfire hits the car, each shot plinking off the metal closer and closer to me.
The bullets stop, and I peer over the hood. No line of sight. The solid oak door opens another few inches. A hand snakes toward Emi’s ankle.
Not today, fucker. Not today.
My shot blows off his pinky finger.
His strangled moan is sweet relief. And all the distraction I need.
I take all four stairs at once, jump over Emi, and hit the door. My boot lands in a pool of blood. Off balance, I go down, my bad knee slamming into the hardwood. Pain races up my leg all the way to my hip.
The fucker knocks me sideways against the door jam. My shoulder pops. A punch snaps my head back. A second catches me in the temple.
“Jas! Down!”
I dive for the floor. A deafening blast rocks the walls of the cabin. Blood sprays the back of my neck. I don’t wait for the guy to hit the ground. I can’t. I have to get to Emi.
AJ and I reach her at the same time. Thank God my brother knows better than to get in my way.
Gathering her in my arms, I smooth her hair away from her face. “Open your eyes, sweetheart. Please.”
She’s too still. But she’s breathing. Slow and steady. Her cheek is bright red and hot to the touch. Blood stains her lips.
“EMS is on the way,” AJ says. He takes a knee, pulls a switchblade from his pocket, and snaps the zip tie around her wrists. “How bad are you hurt?”
“Emi’s all that matters. Get the first aid kit from the kitchen. I need the smelling salts.”
