Page 31 of Run

He stopped in front of Vincent in that way that brought obedience in his men, others he ran into. His face told me he expected the same result now.

But Gage didn’t know Vincent.

Even in circumstances where obedience would have been beneficial, Vincent had struggled. My father used to joke about it, tease Vincent and tell him that it would one day get him into trouble. Each time he had, my blood had run cold because I feared that trouble would be with my father.

But Vincent had always kept his cool, pulled back just before he crossed a line he couldn’t come back from. That wouldn’t happen now, though. He was too enraged.

Gage couldn’t see it, but then again, Gage was an idiot. I saw it, though, and thought yet again this would not end without bloodshed.

Vincent met Gage’s eye, stared at him in a way that conveyed both rage and disgust and a lack of concern that should have been terrifying to Gage given how it seemed he had the upper hand.

They watched each other for a moment, Gage again thinking, trying to decide how to move forward. But Vincent continued before Gage could speak.

“I got a lot of shit to take care of today, and I’m feeling generous, so I’m going to do you a favor,” Vincent said.

Gage lifted a brow, and Vincent continued.

“You have no idea who I am and no idea what you’re doing. So just forget about this. I’ll take Kelly here, and we’ll get out of your hair, leave you and your men to handle your business.”

I was surprised by the offer. The Vincent I’d known before had never been patient, and though I’d never seen him in these circumstances, I hadn’t expected to see patience now. Of course, it wasn’t all roses. The way he said “business” was more like a curse, but in the next moment, Vincent’s already granite demeanor hardened further still.

“Step aside and let us out of here now, or you won’t live to regret it.”

Vincent went silent then, watching Gage. Gage stared back, and for a split second, the air in the room was so thick and tense, I could hardly breath.

Then, Gage broke into a boisterous laugh, one so loud, it rattled the glasses arranged behind the bar.

“You hear this shit?” he said, looking at the man who stood next to him now, his gun trained on Vincent. “This motherfucker is threatening me. Doesn’t he realize we’re the ones holding the gu—”

Before Gage could finish speaking, Vincent was moving. He ducked low, moving out of the path of the gun that had been pointed at his head. Before any of the others could react, he threw a hard elbow into the stomach of the man closest to him and at the same time, wrenched the gun out of his hand.

Vincent pointed the weapon at Gage, who stood wide-mouthed, brain still trying to process what he’d seen. Vincent gave him no time to recover, moving faster than Gage’s men, who seemed to be going in slow motion as they groped for their own weapons.

“Gun,” Vincent said, gesturing toward the man who still held a weapon, though he’d dropped his hand to his side, had frozen in his spot just like the others.

Gage stood silent, his men doing the same.

The bang of the gun going off filled the room and was followed by an ear-splitting scream. I’d covered my ears and bent at the waist when the shot went off, but I straightened and looked at the screaming Gage, my eyes drawn to the mangled, bloody mess of what was left of his hand.

“That was for touching her. Now drop your guns. All of you,” Vincent said.

The clattering of weapons hitting the ground was the next sound to fill the room.

He looked at me over his shoulder.

“Kelly, wait outside,” he said.

I moved without pause. His voice was serious, told me now was not the time to argue. But I didn’t have the desire to either. I didn’t have to be inside to know what was happening, and as I stood just outside the bar door, my mind racing a mile a minute, I considered my options.

I could do as I had intended, leave and not look back.

But as quickly as the thought arose, I pushed it aside. Some small part of me was exhausted at the thought of running, but even that was not the reason.

He could take care of himself, but I needed to see him, needed to know that he was okay. Nothing else mattered.

Less than two minutes later, I heard three more shots fired in rapid succession.

Five seconds later, Vincent came out of the bar.

Without a single word passing between us, we began to walk.