The guard slowly lowered his weapon, but then Tanner heard the unmistakable sound of another weapon being cocked behind him, and then another, and then another. With very few places to take cover, they were basically sitting ducks out here. They were the fish in a barrel that Ned’s goons could pick off one by one without wasting a single bullet. Tanner spun around in a full circle, as more armed men entered the courtyard. Echo had led them into an ambush, and was now nowhere to be found. Then Tanner spotted Ned standing just outside the building opposite the one they’d come out of.
The situation was dire with them being surrounded on all sides, but it was the death grip Ned had on Violet’s arm that made Tanner see red.
“Ned, please don’t do this to her,” April begged. “She’s just a little girl. You can’t ask her to defend herself against all these guns.”
Ned barked out a laugh. “These guns aren’t aimed at her, April. They’re aimed atyou. I told you what would happen if you crossed me. And you’ve done it not once, but twice now. Jail would be too good for you. Death is your only way out now.”
“Noooooo!” Violet screamed, punching and kicking out. She must’ve hit Ned in the balls because he made an incoherentsound and shoved her away as he hunched over. His hands went to his groin area as Violet fell, landing on her backside. She recovered quickly though, got to her feet, and ran toward April. “Aunt April!” She yelled, coming full speed ahead at them.
Tanner wanted to go to his daughter, but keeping her safe was his number one priority. He kept his weapon trained on the guards, as did Caden, even though they were severely outnumbered. More armed men were emerging from the surrounding buildings. If they started shooting at them, Tanner and Caden would be taken down in seconds. It was a sobering thought, but there were much worse ways he could think of leaving this world than dying for his daughter and the woman he loved. Ever since meeting April and finding out Violet was his, there had never been a doubt in his mind that he’d do anything for them. Even give his own life.
The door behind them opened. Luke, Garrett and Blake came out, weapons raised. “We saw what was going on from a window on the third floor. We called for backup and came down as fast as we could,” Luke said, just as Violet collided into April. She scooped her up, planting quick kisses on her cheeks and head.
“Aunt April,” Violet whimpered, wrapping her arms around April’s neck. “There’s too many.” Her words hit Tanner, and he quickly glanced at Caden, who judging by his expression, had also heard what Violet said. He gave their friends an almost imperceptible shake of his head and everyone fanned out, trying to take cover behind the columns, planters, and even a metal trash can.
Tanner carefully backed April and Violet behind the retaining wall of the fountain, using his body to shield them and hoping the wall held up against gunfire. But the reality was, they had almost no chance of making it out of here alive.
The first shot came from one of the guards, then several more shots came in quick succession. It was raining bullets in thecourtyard as the guards shot up the place. Tanner and his friends returned fire, hitting a few of the guards, but missing others who were using the remaining cement planters, columns, and other things as shields.
When Tanner looked over at April and Violet, his heart broke at what he saw. Violet was peeking over the ledge of the wall from behind April, her eyes darting from him to his friends as she stopped and dropped every bullet that came their way. “Violet, Honey, you can stop,” Tanner called out as he returned fire. There was no way she was going to be able to keep this up for much longer. “You’re going to kill your own stepdaughter, Ned! How can you live with yourself?”
Ned laughed again. “I have no intention of killing her. Violet will reach her limit, and once that happens, my only goal will be to kill all of you. And I’ll start with April, so Violet finally learns her lesson.”
“No!” Violet screamed just as bright red blood dripped from her nose. April tried to pull her back, but she knocked her aunt’s hands away. “You can’t kill Aunt April. I love her.” Violet wiped the blood from her nose with her sleeve, but wouldn’t budge from her spot. “Please stop shooting. I’ll do whatever you want. Just please don’t hurt Aunt April.”
Ned held his hand up and the shooting stopped. “Is that right, Violet? You’ll do whatever I want?”
Violet hiccupped and nodded, then as if realizing she had to speak, she came out into the open with April on her heels. “Yes. I’ll do whatever you want, but you can’t hurt Aunt April. Promise?”
Ned seemed to think about it for a moment. “All right. Come over here,” he ordered, pointing to his feet like she was a dog.
Violet stood unmoving, clearly considering his words. “You promise you won’t hurt her?”
“I said get over here,” Ned roared, making Violet jump. She started toward him, not looking back.
“Violet, no!” Tanner yelled, but Ned glared at him and the guards opened fire, again. Tanner dove on top of April, shielding her with his body as bullets rained down around them again. But none of them touched him, April, or any of his friends.
Anger boiled over on his daughter’s behalf. Violet was out in the open, and too far for him to reach her. But she wouldn’t be able to protect them much longer. She was starting to slouch, her nose was bleeding, and her little hands were starting to shake. She was losing strength quickly, and that was exactly what Ned was waiting for.
But to her credit, his incredible six-year-old daughter didn’t budge. She stood in the middle of the courtyard, stoic and determined, despite the ground around her being littered with bullets. “You promised,” she accused, and Ned was suddenly airborne, just like Echo had been in front of Garrett’s house.
If that had startled or scared Ned in any way, he didn’t show it. “I promise that if you don’t put me down this instant and get over to my side right now, none of them will survive the night. How about that?” Ned glared at her. “You can either keep me up here or you can save them. Your choice.”
Violet shook her head and Tanner’s gut sank. She was too exposed. If she stopped shielding herself, the guards could easily hit her, even if by accident. His first instinct was to get her, but by exposing himself, he’d only be making himself an easier target, putting an even bigger strain on Violet who was determined to protect the people she loved.
“Violet, come back to where we can protect you,” Tanner pleaded.
“I won’t let you hurt Aunt April,” Violet screamed at Ned. She was either the most stubborn kid in the world or she didn’t realize or care how much danger she was in at the moment. “AndI know you won’t hurt me. So, I don’t have to do what you say until I know Aunt April is safe. Now, let her go!” Violet screamed at the top of her lungs, glaring up at the man who was levitating about ten feet above the ground.
Tanner had to hand it to his daughter. She was a force to be reckoned with, and he was damn proud of the way she was handling herself. If only she didn’t have a few dozen semi-automatic weapons pointed around her, he might even be able to take a deeper breath past the knots in his chest and throat.
“I have a better idea,” Ned said. “For every second you keep me up here and aren’t at my side, I’ll have my guards firing at your Aunt April and all her friends. Let’s see how fast that gets you to do as I say.” He gave his guards the signal and within seconds, the fountain wall collapsed in front of them as every gun was trained on it.
Tanner quickly moved April behind a column next to Blake, before lunging for Violet. He fell short as a bullet tore through his calf. Violet didn’t miss him going down and immediately let Ned fall to the ground, though he seemed to be unharmed. Violet was once again keeping most of the bullets from hitting their targets, but she was fading fast. More and more bullets were destroying the surfaces his friends were using for cover.
Slowly, carefully, he dragged his injured leg as he pulled himself up on his good knee, determined to get to her.Violet had likely used more energy than she could spare holding Ned suspended for as long as she had. It was going to cost her, and Tanner wasn’t about to let her get hurt because she was trying to save him and his friends. Violet could’ve easily killed Ned, letting him fall the wrong way and break his neck, or throwing him against a building, but his sweet little girl didn’t think like that. Despite all the violence she’d endured, her heart was still good and pure, and Tanner would protect it no matter what.
Violet’s nose was now streaming blood down her face and dripping down her chin. Her hair was soaking wet with sweat as her little hands fisted at her sides. Several more shots rang out. Her legs wobbled. Her face contorted, and she cried out. Whether in frustration or agony, Tanner wasn’t sure. Then he watched in horror as her body finally gave out and she collapsed in the small puddle of her own blood.
