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“Look at her, B. She’s terrified. You know how that feels, don’t you? Remember how it felt to be so helpless, under someone else’s control who wanted to hurt you?”
Oh, this guy was good. Appealing to her as a victim herself rather than the vigilante who killed those responsible.
She looked at the woman, really looked at her. I saw it the moment Hudson’s words rang true.
“I didn’t mean to,” she whispered. “What happens now? I won’t… I refuse to go to jail. You know how they’ll treat me. There’s only one way out of this, Hud. You know it and I know it.”
Her pleading eyes fixed on his.
“Put the gun down and we can talk about it, B.”
Slowly, the gun lowered and the arm restraining the hostage loosened. The moment she was no longer held up, the woman slumped to the floor. Eyes still open, she was a human puddle at Beth’s feet, probably a few seconds away from passing out cold. Wanting to help her, I took a step closer, but Hudson’s forearm snapped out, holding me back.
“We’ll get you help. You’re a victim, Beth. We’ll get you the help you need and deserve, and I’ll be with you every step of the way. Hand me the gun, sweetheart, and let’s get out of this unharmed, all of us. Don’t make me do what you know I’ll have to do if you decide this is the end.”
The light caught on a single tear as it trailed down his cheek. Flicking my gaze back to Beth, I held a breath, waiting for her decision.
Understanding and resolve flickered behind her eyes when she blinked away the unshed tears. Looking my way, she blew out a slow breath.
“I’m so sorry.”
Slowly, ever so slowly, she raised the gun.
Hudson called out to her, but I didn’t listen. Knowing what was coming, I sealed my palms to my ears and squeezed my eyes shut, whispering a simple apology to my guys that I’d done this to us.
That our happily ever after had turned out to only be happy until now.
37
JAMESON
Through the earpiece, I strained to hear Mott’s words as he talked Savage off the ledge, telling her to hand him the gun. It said a lot about his trust in the woman that he didn’t ask her to drop it and kick it away.
We would know shortly if that call was a smart one or not.
“All clear in here. Gun is secure, everyone unharmed except an unknown male very dead in the main bedroom.”
For half a heartbeat, I fell into the well of relief his words offered, washing away all my worry and fear.
Slade, not so much. Like a starter gun went off, the bastard sprinted toward the house.
And let me tell you, he still moved fast as fuck for an old guy.
With a curse, I chased after him, wincing every time my feet slammed to the concrete, the jolt reverberating up to my still-sore chest. Being shot fucking sucked, no matter where the bullet landed.
Loud, soul-shattering sobs greeted me the second I stepped over the threshold. Creeping down the hall, I followed the sound toward the distinct smell of blood.
My heart remained lodged in my throat until I saw Rain with my own eyes, unharmed and wrapped in Slade’s massive arms.
Instead of heading to my girl, I squatted next to Mott and Detective Savage, who was curled up on his lap, her sobs somewhat quieted as he stroked a hand along her short hair.
Careful to keep the barrel pointed anywhere but at us, Mott handed me a gun. Immediately he wrapped that hand around Savage, squeezing her even tighter against his chest. His lips moved, but the soft whispered words were lost in her hair. Which was fine. They weren’t meant for me.
Standing, I tucked the gun into the back of my pants for safekeeping and shifted my attention to the unknown woman lying on the floor. I cocked my head to the side, utterly confused about how she fit into the situation.
“She’s okay.” Rain’s voice cracked. When I looked up, unshed tears lined her lower lids. “I checked her pulse. It’s strong. She probably just got overwhelmed and passed out. Which is totally understandable. And just a heads-up, I just might join her.” I shared a concerned look with Slade, who tightened his hold around her just in case she fainted. “I’m going to have so many thought tornadoes about this one.”
Her voice had changed, the tone monotonous and the cadence off. And what the fuck was a thought tornado?