Page 97 of Anchored to the Storm

A bat? What about— His gun was in our weapon bag. Johnny’s people had that.

I signed to Seb, Take her to Finn’s room.

With only a nod, Seb scooted past the foot of Sarah’s bed, past Finn, and was out of sight with sleeping Bluebell on his shoulder.

That’s when Finn finally noticed Sarah. He mouthed, No! witnessing her active night terror. Her life, literally, was being put in danger twice in one night.

Determined to save her, I gestured to Ethan. If she screams, run with her. I’ll stay and fight. Then I stepped into the hallway, facing the stairs with Finn. My plan was to tackle anyone coming up, push them back down the stairs, to buy Ethan time to get Sarah safely behind the mirror.

That’s why my mouth gaped when I looked back in her room to see Ethan leaning down to kiss her. Now wasn’t really the time for a goodbye kiss, right?

However, her head stopped thrashing. Her legs stopped kicking. Her eyes opened. Her lips smiled against his until she jolted as if she understood this kiss was a silent warning. None of which I understood. But I sighed in relief as she nodded to Ethan.

He lifted his mouth from hers, then practically yanked her from the bed.

Of course, she went straight to Bluebell’s but quickly saw it was empty and let Ethan lead her out the door. As he got her up Finn’s stairs, Finn and I backed toward them, not taking our eyes off the staircase.

We both froze when seeing someone, but it was Dale. At the end of the hallway, delivering a glare with such flat lips, I knew an intruder was the least of my problems if I didn’t get up to Finn’s room.

We had already put him through hell tonight. It felt insolent not to do as he asked.

Plus, if Kristen had texted us, that burly biker and his friends would help us, too, right?

Heart racing faster than the speed of light, I headed up a few stairs, Finn following. Seb and Ethan were at the top, appearing to be on the edge of more than a step. Their rage was a clear sign of who they worried for the most.

Halfway up, I stopped. They were right. We needed a line of defense if anyone got past Dale or the biker and discovered our hiding spot.

I turned to face Finn. He had already slid the mirror over the entrance and was slowly closing the door at the bottom of the stairs. When he saw my stance, poised to fight, he understood the assignment, quickly putting his back to me and staying near the door.

Peering over my shoulder, Ethan liked what he saw. He licked his teeth, then stepped a couple of steps down. There were four young men to get through. May seem like an easy win to some, but we weren’t ordinary. We had faced trials that would put most on their knees.

In silence and devotion, we waited…

I think we all stopped breathing when Dale yelled out, sounding irate at seeing a stranger in his home. I think we all took a step forward to help him when the sounds of a scuffle filtered up to us. I think we were all nodding in agreement when Finn reached out for the door.

We had to fight.

We had to help our father.

That chance was taken from us when we heard a gunshot. It was the second of a night that just wouldn’t end. Had we caused all this because of decisions we made? Going to the pastor’s house? Seeking revenge?

We didn’t move.

Suddenly, sounds of more scuffling echoed within the walls we had come to treasure.

Then more silence.

Again, we didn’t move. I don’t know for how long.

My stomach plummeted. Dale or Harmony would’ve been telling us everything was okay by now. If it were.

Blood and adrenaline raced even harder when seeing Finn take a step back from the door, lifting his bat in a space far too small for a deadly swing.

I made fists, promising to fight harder than ever before as I heard the mirror slide open. I took deep breaths, giving all the needed oxygen to my muscles so I could battle and protect the girls.

As the doorknob turned, there was no longer a need to be quiet. So, I said, “Give ’em all the hell you got, my brothers.”

East Ten