Page 18 of Psycho Saviors
This was where I was meant to die.
Cristian spun us around, lurching off the ground as Julian did the same, and we dove behind the upturned van as Cristian hissed, gunfire sounding off all around.
Had he been hit?
“It’ll be okay kitten, no one gets to hurt you but me, got that?” Cristian stared down at me as he pressed me up against the bottom of the van, his body shielding me as people shouted, more booming gunshots ringing out.
I couldn’t look anywhere but those dark eyes that devoured me, clinging to him like he was my only lifeline in this mess. He was insane, but right now, I was eternally grateful for him as he held me protectively, his jaw set.
“Cris, you’re hit,” Julian hissed as he clutched Kenny to his chest and knelt by us. “Scar, you okay?” He reached over with one hand, his eyes scanning me as Cristian grunted. Julian’s hand ran over my legs and arms, while Cristian didn’t look away from me.
Julian’s searching hand left a tingle in its wake as he made sure I was unharmed, which touched me.
“You’re hit?” I whispered as I stared at Cristian, my heart skipping a beat at the thought. He wasn’t showing any pain or discomfort as he held my gaze instead.
“It’s nothing, kitten, flesh wound,” he assured me.
“You seem to have a few of them,” Julian muttered as he glanced over his brother, now content that I was unscathed.
“I’ll live.” Cristian didn’t bat an eye as he lifted me higher, pressing his lips to my forehead. “Can’t go losing you now that I have you, right?”
I sucked in a breath, my emotions a mess as the gunfire dwindled around us. It was probably only a couple of minutes before the shooting fell silent, but it felt like a lifetime as I clung to Cristian.
“Think we’re good?” Julian hissed as the silence cocooned around us. A few faint gurgles and sputtering surrounded us, but no more gunshots.
“No clue,” Cristian said honestly as he finally broke his gaze away. “Bravo team, you copy?” he called out.
“Copy, sir!” A voice rose up on the other side of the van. Were they part of our SWAT team?
Cristian’s radio crackled, and then Tyrone’s voice cut through, striking down my fear in an instant.
“You all better be fine, or God help me,” Tyrone said through the radio. “Has anyone got eyes on my brothers and Scarlet?”
My heart fluttered that he was concerned about me as well.
“We’re fine, we’re taking cover. Nice shooting,” Cristian said into the radio, a wicked smile spreading across his face. “Scarlet is safe.”
“Good. I’m coming to you, don’t move. My team will make sure it’s safe.” With that, Cristian and Julian sighed, relaxing a little, although Cristian didn’t turn away from the van, keeping me pressed against it while in his arms.
“He shot them?” I whispered.
“He’s a good shot. We take care of one another,” Cristian said as voices rose up in the distance. It sounded like a team was calling out as they cleared the area.
“How did you find us?” I asked.
“Thank Julian and his love for that damn cat. He’s chipped with one hell of a tracker. Tyrone remembered that,” Cristian stated.
“Guess he saved our lives then,” Julian said as he absently patted the little feline.
I didn’t say anything else as I tried to calm my frantic heart, and I reached over to Julian, stroking Kenny’s head as his dilated eyes flicked around uneasily.
The two brothers exchanged a look, finally standing when the team called out and rounded the corner.
Sure enough, Tyrone was with them, his weapon raised as he scanned the area like a hawk.
His gaze moved to us, trailing over all of us, and settling on me in Cristian’s arms. There was something in those dark eyes that made my stomach flip, but he just nodded at his brothers and I.
“The medic will patch you up and look over all of you. Let’s get out of here before backup arrives.” Tyrone’s gaze returned to mine, and Cristian’s arms tightened around me as we moved off with the new SWAT-looking team surrounding us.