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Zack’s footsteps pounded against the cement.
Hudson opened the door and slid inside, then grabbed the handle.
Zack took another step and gripped the corner of the door, yanking it open. “Not so fast,” he grunted.
“Watch me.” Hudson put one foot on the curb and threw a fist.
Zack grabbed Hudson’s wrist and pulled it behind the guy’s back.
Hudson let out a shout.
“Zack, watch out,” Naya called.
He looked up, right into the barrel of Roger’s gun.
“Police! Stand down!” Basuto yelled.
Roger backed away from the vehicle, then he swung his weapon and fired.
Zack dropped to the ground with Hudson.
More shots rang out, and officers swarmed the area.
Roger bolted back to his car and yanked open the driver’s door. Ramble hopped over the hood of the car and tackled Roger to the ground.
Hudson was yanked from Zack’s grip. “I’ve got him.” Tazwell pulled her cuffs and snapped them on Hudson’s wrists.
“Uncle Roger is to blame. He made me do it.” Hudson shouted and writhed in Tazwell’s grasp. “Told me I had to kill Will and take out this nosey hooligan.” He stared at Zack.
Zack took a step back and held up his hands. Lights flashed and people raced around.
Ramble pulled Roger up from the ground and restrained him. Then the officer escorted him over to the sidewalk.
Zack’s buddies raced back and forth to the building with hoses spewing water.
Where was Naya?
Zack spun around and nearly toppled over when Naya wrapped her arms around him from behind. “Are you okay?” She turned to face him.
He gulped. “Yeah. And you?”
Tears poured down her face. “I will be.”
Zack wrapped her in his arms and tucked her head to him. Her heart beat a steady rhythm against his chest. They were both alive and unharmed. He never wanted to let go. Never wanted her to leave.
“That dirty reporter is going to write lies. None of it’s true,” Roger snapped. His face was a dark shade of red.
Naya stepped out of Zack’s embrace but wrapped her arm around his.
“It’s over. Give it up, man.” Zack shook his head.
Ramble and Tazwell put the two men in the back of their cruisers, and Basuto walked over to Zack and Naya.
“I’ve got evidence from my dad that Roger is behind everything,” Zack said.
“I don’t doubt it. We got prints back from the abandoned truck by the cabin, and Sylvia confessed too. Said she was the one behind the shooting that day and had been ordered by Roger to take care of Powells after Roger killed him.”
“She was willing to confess to everything?” Zack raised his brows.