The third shot goes off, and it’s close.
Too close.
I shove my fear down and sprint, ignoring the burn in my thighs. My lungs battle for air, but my mind is focused and locked on one thing.
Erin.
We round the corner.
Everything stops.
Brodie has Erin by the neck and is dragging her backward toward a clear path behind him, a gun jammed into her ribs. Her heels scrape through the gravel, dust spraying up around them.
Rudy skids to a stop next to me.
Brodie jabs the gun harder when he sees us, and Rudy lets out a half tortured, half murderous yell that guts me.
I glance around.
Bella isn’t here.
Where the hell did she go?
“Drop the gun, Brodie,” Brax commands, moving past me as he keeps his attention focused on his brother.
Brodie doesn’t flinch.
Erin’s worried eyes find mine.
“I’m here, sweetheart,”I mouth.“I won’t let him hurt you.”
“You’re surrounded. There’s no way out. Drop it, little brother,” Brax says.
“Or what? You’ll drop me?” Brodie sneers. His gaze flicks to the officers forming a protective boundary line behind Brax. He doesn’t show a lick of fear.
“If I have to,” Brax replies, his attention undeterred.
Brodie’s eyes flicker at Brax’s admission. I can’t tell from what exactly.
“Order them to lower their weapons or she gets hurt,” Brodie shouts.
Brax gives the command, and guns hit the ground in a chorus of thuds.
Brodie nudges his chin at Brax’s men. “Now get them to leave.”
Within minutes, the officers are gone. Just the five of us remain—me, Rudy, Brax, Erin and the man I barely recognize as my friend.
“Now yours,” Brodie orders, referring to Brax’s weapon.
“No can do, brother.” Brax’s voice is tough as steel. “Final warning—take your fucking hands off our sister.”
My head whips to Brax. Rudy’s does, too.
Sister?
I don’t have a damn clue what he’s talking about or how to keep up with the information that keeps coming to light.
Brodie smirks, as if this is old news. Erin doesn’t look shocked, either.
