“I have a huge favor to ask.I think something is going down in the drugstore, and my girlfriend is in there.”He spoke fast, making the explanation as short as possible.“Any chance I could give you a hundred bucks to hold on to my two dogs for just a few minutes while I check it out?”
She quickly turned off the car and stepped out.“My son is in there.”
Knox stopped her from charging in.“How old?”
“Fifteen.”Then with a frown, she added, “He’s a good kid.”
“I believe you, but I need to get in there.”He offered her the leashes, then for good measure, handed her his driver’s license and took a pic of her plates.“My friend is a cop.I’m calling him now.Don’t budge, okay?”
Thankfully, she didn’t seem at all worried about Maybelline’s size.“I’ll be right here.My son is wearing a Reds cap.Don’t you dare hurt him.”
“Swear I won’t.”As he again peered into the store, he called Marcus.
His friend answered with, “What’s up, Knox?”
Knox gave him the name of the pharmacy, then said, “Laylee’s in there and something’s going down.A woman outside the place is holding on to the dogs for me.Can you get some cops down here ASAP?”
“On it.”
Good friends never asked questions when they could act instead.He tucked the phone away and quietly went inside.The front of the store was now empty, so he had to presume the men had forced everyone to the back.He could hear taunting voices and the demand to “hurry up.”
Peering around an aisle, he spotted three men keeping watch on an older couple, Laylee, and the kid.In a split second, Knox saw that Laylee was trying to put the boy behind her, while he was trying to step in front of her.They were each wide-eyed with worry but holding up.Laylee, bless her heart, clutched the pregnancy tests against her chest.
Then the biggest of the bastards reached for her.She stepped back and slapped his hand away, which had one of his friends roaring with laughter.
Knox wanted to roar too, especially when the insulted guy shoved the youth back so hard that he hit the shelves, teetered, and fell awkwardly to the floor.
The instinct to attack was just below the surface, but the last thing Knox wanted to do was escalate the situation.Laylee was too close to the men, and the man she’d rebuffed looked volatile.
Three to one—not great odds for him.Then again, he could draw some of the attention away from the others.
A third guy told the others to knock it off, and when he turned slightly, Knox saw the gun he held.
Suddenly on autopilot, Knox launched himself forward.He hit the man holding the gun before he could swing around and take aim.The man went down a hell of a lot harder than the kid had, his skull cracking against a lower shelf.Unfortunately, the gun fell from his hand and skittered across the floor.
Without waiting to see what the other two would do, Knox shot to his feet—and caught a punch to the chin that sent him reeling back.
Someone shouted, probably Laylee.Blindly, he threw more punches—and took a few in return, another that dazed him.
Thankfully, Bray had taught him a few tricks, so Knox was able to get in some strikes with his knee, dodge more blows, and then throw off the man who’d jumped on his back.
His right eye was swelling, making it harder to see, and he had severe ringing in his ears.While he fought one man, another located the gun.Knox lunged for him.Together they crashed against a shelf, sending plastic bottles and small boxes scattering.
The older man swung his cane, narrowly missing Knox but hitting the gun holder right across the nose.Blood sprayed and the man’s legs buckled.Knox was trying to get the gun, but the robber wasn’t letting go.
Thankfully, loud sirens intruded, signaling that the police had arrived.
Mere seconds later the doors were thrown open and cops swarmed the place.
Marcus was one of the first in.He rushed to Knox, first relieving the assailant of his weapon and then helping Knox to his feet.
“Where is she?”Knox demanded, frantically searching for Laylee.That was when he saw her, hunkered down behind one of the shelves with the youth, her arms around the kid’s head as she tried to protect him.
Barely able to see, Knox started for her, but Marcus slowed him down.“Take it easy, slugger.You’ve got a hell of a goose egg on your head.”
Laylee looked up, saw him, and with a sob she ran to him.
He caught her close, and the knowledge that she was okay stole the rest of his adrenaline.He dropped back to lean on the wall, willing his legs to hold him.
