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“Hold,” Zeke muttered to Carlyle, afraid she’d start shooting and get them both killed. Right now, they were outnumbered and they had to be careful if they were going to get out of this. He edged toward Royal, who was at least moving around. Wherever he’d been hit wasn’t a fatal wound. Not yet.

“Never met me, huh?” the gunman said to Zeke. “Maybe North Star hotshots weren’t as tough as they thought.”

So this was Brooke and Royal’s father. Not in jail. If Zeke had to guess, based on the four men surrounding them, Jeremiah Campbell was trying his hand at cobbling together some new offshoot of the Sons. He was hardly the first. In his time with North Star, Zeke had helped take down at least two attempts and had known of at least three other cases.

But what these men had never understood was that any association with the Sons put a mark on their backs. Connection to the Sons no longer meant the power they thought it did. And thanks to Granger, and everyone who’d ever worked at North Star, they never would again.

Zeke had always been proud of his work at North Star, but he hadn’t been too thrilled when the group had disbanded. For selfish reasons, he realized now. Because it took this moment to understand all they had done by stopping a powerful group of men who’d hurt untold numbers of people.

Brooke and Royal included.

“Thought you were in jail,” Royal said from between clenched teeth, echoing Zeke’s thoughts. Blood seeped from Royal’s arm, but he was conscious. That was something. Andsomeonelooking for Brooke had to have heard the gunshot. They’d come searching.

Hadto.

“The idea that anyone working those jails knows anything that’s going on.” Jeremiah laughed. “I’m sure everyone thinks that’s exactly where I am, but I’ve always been smarter than the system.”

Zeke laughed. “Ah, yes. That’s why you landed in jail in the first place.Smarts.”

“I have missed going toe to toe with North Star’s brainless soldiers.”

“And losing? Because we literally had to disband. We’d eradicated the whole Sons network and there was nothing left to do. Because without your psychopath leader, you are literallynothing.”

“And yet here I am. Outnumberingyou.”

He wasn’t wrong about that, but Zeke didn’t concern himself with being outnumbered. He’d been there done that a hundred times. His biggest concern right now was that he couldn’t take the time he’d like to draw this out. Royal needed medical attention.

So, they had to get this show on the road. He wasn’t about to let Brooke’s brother bleed out on his watch.

Zeke raised his gun, pointing it directly at Jeremiah. “Guess we’re at a crossroads then.”

Chapter Twenty

Granger held on to her and led her deeper into the cave. His flashlight helped them not trip over anything, but the dark around the beam of light somehow felt more oppressive as they moved along a cold, wet cave wall.

But he was here, and Brooke had help. She still couldn’t get over it. “Why did you come?”

“I was in the area.”

She scowled at his back. “Granger.”

“It’s a long story. We’ll get it sorted soon enough. Look, right ahead.” He pointed and she saw the little sliver of natural light.

Almost there. She couldcry. Or just collapse. But she didn’t let herself do either. Getting out was only one step. Then they had to deal with the aftermath. Find the police and tell them about Leon, get back into that cave and collect the necessary evidence and so forth.

But, man, all she really wanted was to go home.

And she didn’t let herself think too deeply about the fact she didn’thavea home, but when she thought about one, she pictured Zeke’s half-renovated house. Viola.Him.

It took longer than she’d expected to get to the entrance, but they finally did. It felt blinding to step out into the sunlight, and she had to squeeze her eyes shut. Granger held tight to her, and she still didn’t know how this was possible. This whole weird day.

“You didn’t have to come.”

He laughed. “Only you would say that to me after I saved your butt, Brooke.”

She managed to blink her eyes open and not immediately shut them against the brightness. “It’s not that I’m ungrateful.”

“You don’t want to put me out. I know. I wish you’d get it through your head you’re not a burden to us. Any of us.” That was not the first time he’d said that to her, but maybe it was the first time she was really taking it on board.