Where is she?
I scan dimly lit room, blinking away the floaters from the flash of gunfire. Standing at the mouth of the hallway is Dominick and Vince. Both with guns raised. Vince’s is smoking.
“No, Jonah!” Raven’s voice comes from the hallway. Thank God, she’s alive.
The confirmation sends renewed strength to my mind and muscles.
I straighten from my tortured huddle, sucking air through my teeth. Fuck, this hurts. Then point my gun with my good arm. “Let her go, Dominick.” My voice sounds stronger than I feel.
“You broke into my home, Mr. Slade. I could kill you right here, in cold blood, and get away with it.” Dominick’s voice cracks with anger or frustration. I’m not sure.
“Dominick, please don’t.” Raven’s appeal ends on a whimper.
Is she hurt? I search in her direction, but can’t make her out in the dim light. She’s blocked in the hallway behind the bulk of the dicklicks who brought her here.
“Not true, asshole. In order to get away with it, you’d have to stay alive. And I can promise you, if I go down, so will you.” My aim is steady, head clear. I breathe deep and heavy, working past the pain.
“Well, we can put that to the test, although, I’d rather not have to deal with hiding dead bodies tonight.” Dominick’s tone sounds genuinely put off.
“Cut the bullshit.” I step closer, making sure to speak slowly so he understands. “I will not leave this place without her.”
His lips curl back over his teeth. “Oh, but you will. We made a bet. You lost.”
Waves of failure wash over me. “You had no intention of letting her go, did you? If I’d lost the fight, you’d just walk away?”
A chuckle rumbles from deep in his chest. “Brains and brawn. Impressive. And here I thought you were just a dumb jock.”
I fucking knew it. This guy plays by his own rules. I can’t believe I fell for it.
My injured arm moves on its own accord to steady my aim. “You’re de—” Dammit. Pain blazes at my shoulder.
Vince snorts with laughter. “Not so strong now, are ya? You may have taken me down in a surprise attack at the club, but I dare you to come at me now.”
Blake pulls a large hunting knife from the back of his pants. He spins it in his hand before he takes a fighting stance. He gives me a quick chin lift and focuses on the men across the room.
“Let me go.” Raven pushes at her captors, trying to get past.
My blood screams to get to her, to throw her over my shoulder and kill anyone who stands in my way. It’s my only option. I move. Dominick yanks her to his front, his gun at her head. I stop mid-stride.
“Not one more step, Slade.” His gun is pressing against her temple, her head turned away from the weapon, eyes screwed shut. Her chest heaves with heavy breaths or possible hysteria.
I push the urge to kill down deep. Right now, I need to make sure she’s unharmed.
“Baby?” I need to see her eyes, read in her expression that they didn’t hurt her. They better not have hurt her. “Baby, look at me.”
My gun is on Dominick. His on her. Vince’s moves back and forth between Blake and me.
“Jonah . . .” Desperation laces through my name as her words trail off. She blinks open her eyes and turns toward me.
Her stare is wild, the aquamarine almost glowing against their red rims. A large, bleeding gash cuts through her eyebrow. White-hot fury explodes deep in my chest. Visions of what could cause that kind of wound flash before my eyes. None of them good. I mentally shake away the possibilities of what would’ve happened if we hadn’t gotten here when we did. Going rat-shit crazy won’t help anyone and may jeopardize her safety. I need to focus on keeping her safe.
I lock eyes with her, hoping to God she sees something there that makes her listen. This shit is about to get ugly, and I need her as far away from it as possible.
“Baby, are you hurt? Anywhere besides your head?”
She shakes no. “I want to go home. Jonah . . .” Hysterical cries burst from her lips.
My stomach twists. “I know, baby. I’m here to take you home.” I pin Dominick with a glare. “Let her go.”
“Not a chance.” Dominick pushes the gun harder into Raven’s head, making her wince.
My finger twitches against the trigger.
“You don’t know what they did . . .W-What they were going to . . .” The sound of her soul-shaking sobs rip through the small room.
“I’m finished talking, Slade. Walk away. Now. Or she dies.”
I ignore Dominick. “Raven, everything’s going to be okay.” The look of terror in her eyes has me inching closer to comfort her.
The movement sends Dominick’s gun in my direction. Good.
Vince closes in. Blake follows suit. Tension boils in the air like acid. It’s a four-way standoff. Whoever shoots first, wins.
Blood drains from my shoulder in a steady drip. My vision blurs at the edges. I need to end this before I pass out. “Raven, baby.” I stagger a step. Shit.