They’d all survived.
While everyone was wrapped up in reunions and tears, instinct pricked Seth. The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he whirled to where Nik stood alone, gun trained on Gene, without backup.
Fuck.
Seth pushed his way between Heavenly and Beck, racing toward Nik. “Matt, get back?—”
Suddenly, from flat on his back, Gene swung his fist into Nik’s kneecap with brutal force.
The Russian stumbled as his leg buckled. His gun wavered.
Gene took advantage of the moment and lunged toward his own ankle, yanking a small pistol from a hidden holster.
As fast as lightning, he swung it up and aimed it directly at Seth. Gene didn’t stand or even attempt to flee. He just smiled—cold, vicious, resigned.
“If I’m going down, motherfucker,” Gene snarled, his finger tightening on the trigger. “Then I’m taking you with me.”
Seth’s world slowed. His thundering heart echoed in his ears.
Suddenly, someone rammed him from the side, shoving him hard. He crashed to the floor as the gun went off—the crack deafening in the enclosed space.
Heavenly’s blood-piercing scream reverberated deep into Seth’s bones. His mother yelped.
Hudson screamed, “No!”
Heart in his throat, Seth snapped his head up to see Beck panting and ghost-white where he’d been standing a split second ago.
He fucking saved my life.
He took in Beck’s ashen face as he swayed on his feet. His hand was still pressed to his blood-soaked shoulder, but his eyes—his eyes were locked on Gene with pure, unyielding fury.
Then Beck’s knees suddenly buckled. He dropped hard, catching himself with one hand on the floor. His breathing was ragged and shallow. He looked seconds from passing out.
Seth raised his weapon and aimed it squarely at Gene’s skull as he leapt to his feet, voice dropping to lethal tones. “Don’t. Fucking. Move.”
As Heavenly raced to Beck’s side, Nik and Matt lunged forward in tandem, slamming Gene back down. Nik wrenched the small pistol from his hand with a savage twist, then shoved the barrel of his own gun against Gene’s temple.
Matt pressed his knee into Gene’s chest, pinning him. “Stay down, you piece of shit.”
Gene didn’t fight, just glared up at them, his breathing harsh, his face twisted with rage and defeat.
The bastard was finally, totally done.
Seth kept his gun trained on Gene, fury and frustration warring in his chest, silently admonishing himself for failing to search Gene. He, Matt, and Nik were professionals; they fucking knew better. But the relief of finding his family alive distracted him. And Gene had done what he did best, taken advantage of the moment. Even in defeat, the lapse had almost cost Seth his life.
It would have, if not for Beck.
Seth’s throat tightened. His eyes burned as he turned.
Despite barely being able to stand, Beck had pushed him out of the way—thrown himself between Seth and Gene’s bullet. He could have died saving him.
Over their shared love of Heavenly, he and Beck had built a solid foundation of commitment. But now?
Their brotherhood was unbreakable.
“Beck,” Heavenly pleaded. “You need to sit. Let’s get you to the couch.”
“Give me a minute, little girl,” he murmured. “Lemme catch my breath.”
