Page 52 of No Going Back
On cue, the room filled with people. Marcus put Hawley in handcuffs. Troy stood beside him, gun aimed at Hawley’s face.
“Get off me. I didn’t do anything. You’ve got no right to touch me. Get these handcuffs off me or I’ll have you killed next. I can do it. I’ve done it before. Let me go, or you’re going to regret it.”
Marcus shook his head. “Not going to happen. But thanks for more evidence we can use against you.”
Sean tuned out the men and turned. “Branna.”
She sat on the floor against the wall, eyes wide as she stared at him. Flynn and Joe stood in front of her, guns aimed at the asshole. They shifted to make room for him.
Graham called out. “Three more men apprehended. We’re clear, but I’ll do another patrol.” Sean knew that was in case there was another car.
The men around him talked back and forth, and Sean kept part of his attention on them in case something went sideways, but most of him was focused on Branna. Shock was a hell of a thing, and she’d just been through a huge one.
He squatted down in front of her and took her hands. “Hey, Branna. How you doing?”
She blinked and looked at him with dilated pupils and enormous eyes. “You got him.”
He nodded and squeezed her hands. “We did. We got him and three of his herd.”
Her lips curved, and he grinned at her. She was going to be okay. “Did he hurt you?” Because there was still time to make the asshole wish he’d never headed north in the first place.
“I’m okay. Thanks to you.”
“And to you. You did exactly what needed to be done, honey. You stayed calm. You dropped as soon as the gun cleared your head. Because of that, you gave me the opportunity I needed. I’m so damn proud of you.” His voice thickened, so he swallowed hard to steady it.
Branna reached out to touch him. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you? You moved so fast it was like you had superpowers. He didn’t stand a chance.”
“I’m fine. Not a scratch.”
“And you didn’t even have one of Marcus’ vests. I’m glad you talked me into wearing one.”
Everything in Sean went cold. “Did he shoot you?”
Branna shrugged. “I don’t think so. Everything happened so fast. The glass blew out, Prince flew into the room, and I heard gunshots. The force sent me back into the wall, but I don’t know if it was Prince or something else. Knocked the wind out of me, but I’m fine.”
Sean cursed loudly. “Someone turn on a damn light.”
Branna had been wearing a loose sweater to cover up the tactical vest Marcus had given her to wear. Someone flipped on the light, and he could see that the sweater was not only ripped and dirty on the front, there was blood on her shoulder.
He thought he’d been furious before, but rage poured through him. “That bastard shot you.”
* * *
Branna flinched from the absolute rage on Sean’s face. While facing down Prince, he’d had his soldier's face on. Steady, powerful, unflappable.
Now, panic filled his eyes as he looked from her to the door and back. She could tell he wanted to go after Prince, but if he attacked a handcuffed and unarmed man, he’d be in serious trouble.
Determined to stop him, she reached for his hand and tried to shove to her feet. “Sean?”
Her voice came out much shakier than she expected. Sean immediately focused on her and shouted. “We need a doctor. Branna’s been shot. Get that bastard locked away before I rip his intestines out through his ears and use them to cut off his balls.”
The image was so bizarre that she started to giggle. She wished it didn’t sound hysterical.
Sean leaned down and swept her into his arms, cradling her to his chest. “I’ve got you. We’ll get you to the doctor. Don’t worry. We’ll get you fixed up.” But his voice was as shaky as her own.
She patted his chest. “It’s okay. I’m fine. We’re okay.” But the world was spinning again, so she leaned into his strength.
“Branna. Stay with me. Open your eyes. Look at me.”