Cash locked the door behind them as a loud burst of thunder sounded from directly above.
Shade traveled at a fast pace which was hard for any of them to match. He was the first one back at the vehicles and was waiting impatiently for them as he sat behind the steering wheel of the truck when they finally came out of the woods. As soon as King, Cash, Rider, and Viper closed the door, he peeled out of the parking lot, leaving the rest of the brothers to the other truck.
“Fuck, what’s the hurry, Shade?” Cash asked from the backseat.
“The girls aren’t answering their phones,” Shade said grimly, peeling out onto the slick road.
He expertly straightened the truck before pressing down on the accelerator to speed the truck up. He clenched his jaw.
King was hanging onto the door. Shade shot him a glance.
“Try Evie’s cell phone.”
King took his cell phone out, punching the number in, while Shade concentrated on the dark road ahead of him.
“She didn’t answer,” King told him, worry in his voice now.
Shade’s mind went to the night Evie had been raped. Brooke had been miles away that night, also.
“Cash, reach into my bag and hand me my gun. It’s in the side pocket.”
Shade heard the zipper of his backpack being undone.
“Aren’t you overreacting?” King asked when Cash leaned forward, handing him his Desert Eagle. Shade tucked it into the waistband of his jeans.
None of the brothers questioned him. As enforcer for The Last Riders, they didn’t doubt his skills; it had saved their own asses too many times.
“If I am, then we can all get a good night’s sleep,” Shade said, seeing the lights ahead which showed they were close to Treepoint. “If not, then we’re prepared. I would rather have my gun even if I don’t need it. If I need it and don’t have it, then it will be the last time I need one.”
King grunted as the truck went over a pothole, his head hitting the roof of the truck cab.
“I can agree with that.”
The truck went on two wheels when Shade turned the corner to Evie’s house. Turning off the headlights, he brought the truck to a stop.
“The lights are out,” Shade said grimly, opening the truck door.
“What? Probably because of the storm,” King said.
Shade didn’t answer; Viper did.
“They’re on in the house next door.”
Shade was out and running as soon as his feet hit the ground, heading for the front door. He took out his gun when he found it was open. Shade heard Viper and Cash running and the sound of Rider’s truck coming down the street.
As he entered the house, he heard the women’s screams from above and the crashing of a door. Shade ran up the stairs two at a time. Seeing one man enter a room at the end of the hall, Shade didn’t hesitate. He moved forward and brought his gun up as he came to the doorway.
There were three men inside, one standing over Lily as she held a crying baby.
“Please, don’t hurt the baby,” Lily begged for the baby’s life and not her own. “Please.”
Shade fired three times, one bullet for each man. He didn’t need to check to see if they were dead. He didn’t miss.
“Lily!” Shade ran across the room to her.
“Call an ambulance!” Evie screamed as the room filled with The Last Riders. “And get my medical bag out of my bedroom closet.”
A minute later, King had the bag and was next to her.
“The ambulance is on the way,” King stated, moving away.
“Beth!” Razer tried to get to Beth, but there wasn’t enough room.
The room erupted with movement as the men moved the bodies then the bed out of the way.
“Beth.” Razer’s voice broke as he managed to reach her hand.
Evie glanced up at him. She didn’t have to say anything; the blood seeping everywhere said it all.
Shade swallowed hard, lifting Lily to her feet.
“I can’t leave her, Shade.”
“You’re not. I’m just moving you so they can bring the stretcher inside.” Shade held her in her arms as the lights came back on.
Train came in soon after, and Shade knew he had been the one to fix the lights.
Lily didn’t want to give the baby up, crying as she handed it to the medical technician who wrapped a warming blanket around its body. Lily turned, burying her face in his chest.
“Angel, get some clothes and get dressed. I’ll drive you to the hospital,” he said as they wheeled Beth out on the stretcher.
Lily nodded against his chest. “Thank God you came back in time.”
“I’ve told you, I will always be here when you need me.” Shade smiled, releasing her so she could get dressed.
She nodded again, moving away to get her clothes.
Shade looked away from her, meeting King’s eyes he walked forward, holding out his hand. Shade shook it, both of them realizing they could have lost the women they loved that night. They could and would learn to tolerate the other for her.
*