A single gunshot cracked, echoing in the small room. Ronnie’s head snapped back, blood spraying the wall behind him, his lifeless body dropping heavily to the floor. Tripp lowered his weapon slowly, his jaw tight with grim satisfaction.
Rage exploded inside me. I spun around and drove my fist directly into Tripp’s jaw.
His head snapped sideways, and he stumbled. “What the fuck?”
“That was my fucking kill,” I snarled, my eyes blazing with barely controlled fury.
Tripp rubbed his jaw but didn’t retaliate, something like regret flickering briefly in his eyes before he masked it with stubborn defiance.
“She’s my sister,” he shot back through gritted teeth, as if that justified everything.
I moved toward Aubrey. “She’s my woman.”
“He’s the reason she’s here.”
“Exactly. Which means he belonged to me,” I growled.
“He was reaching for a gun,” Tripp explained.
“I don’t care.”
“You absolutely should care,” he shot back.
“I wanted him alive long enough to suffer.”
The argument kept going while I sliced through the restraints binding Aubrey. Her eyes met mine, filled with relief as I pulled her swiftly into my arms, her trembling body pressing into my chest as she clung to me.
“You’re safe now, sunshine.” I pressed my lips gently against her temple.
Her tears soaked into my shirt, her quiet sobs tearing into my chest. She was so exhausted and still fuzzy from the drugs that she passed out. Carefully, I lifted her into my arms, shielding her from any further harm.
Behind me, Tripp was still bitching. When I glanced back at him, it was clear from the look in his eyes that this was his way of keeping it together. “You punched me.”
“You’re lucky that’s all I did.”
“He was actively reaching for a weapon,” he repeated, clearly exasperated.
“You should’ve let him finish.”
“That’s not how law enforcement works.”
I glared at him as I stood, still holding Aubrey close. “You’re not law enforcement right now.”
That actually shut him up for about three seconds, then he pointed at me. “You’ve got issues.”
I rolled my eyes and moved toward the door. “You’re bleeding.”
“You’re deflecting.”
“I’m speaking the truth. You got fucking shot.”
He lifted a shoulder. “You punched a federal agent.”
“And you lied to a fucking motorcycle club. She’s the only reason you’re still breathing. ”
The glare he sent me could’ve melted steel, but I carried Aubrey out without another word.
By the time we reached the yard, the operation was winding down. Bodies were being collected. Weapons secured. Evidence that needed disappearing was already gone.
