Page 23 of Blade’s Edge (L.A.S.T. Defense #1)

Emi

Something’s beeping. Jasper groans, and his arm tightens around my waist. But a second later, he tears the sheets from my naked body and grabs my hands.

“That’s the perimeter alarm,” he hisses. “Get dressed. Right now.”

He throws my leggings at me, rolls out of bed, and tugs on his jeans. By the time I’ve found my shoes in the darkened room, he’s staring at a screen on the back wall of the closet. Two red dots flash in one corner of the display.

“Fuckers cut the power, but the generator kicked in. They’re comin’ from the northwest.” Jasper clips a holster to his waistband, then grabs his gun and two spare magazines from the nightstand.

“Give me the Glock.” I hold out my hand. In the dim light coming from the closet, his expression hardens. “I know you’re fixin’ to tell me to stay here. But I’m safer if I have a gun.”

The two red dots are getting closer. With a low rumble that’s practically a growl, Jasper presses the Glock into my hand.

“I only have one extra mag for this. You’re goin’ straight to the basement.

It’s practically a safe room. One way in, one way out.

Anyone comes for you there, you’ll see ‘em long before they see you. Start shooting and don’t stop until they’re dead. ”

Jasper leads me through the darkened house to the mudroom. Behind a coat rack there’s a door I hadn’t noticed earlier that leads to a set of stairs. A single light glows brightly halfway down. “Lock the deadbolt. Don’t open it for anyone but me, you hear?”

“Jasper…” Pleading roughens my tone. I don’t want him to go. “Wouldn’t it be safer to stay together? I won’t hide while you risk your life?—”

He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me in for a swift, hard kiss. “Yes, you will. These fuckers are pros, Emi. I can’t be worryin’ about you and have any hope of stoppin’ them.”

The desperation in his voice is too much for me. “Okay. Just…be careful.”

“Shoot anyone coming down the stairs, Emi. Anyone . I…” He shakes his head, and the fear in his eyes almost sends me over the edge. “I’ll keep you safe. Until my last breath.”

He steps back and shuts the door with a quiet click.

Shit. My fingers slip off the deadbolt twice before I manage to lock it. I’m alone. Terrified. With a loaded gun and a spare magazine tucked in my waistband.

Yet, I’m practically untouchable compared to Jasper. He’s going after those two men alone. In the dark. He was a Ranger. A State Trooper before that.

“I’m falling in love with you, Emmylou Marsh.”

God, why did I pretend to be asleep when he said those sweet words to me? I wanted to say them back. I should have said them back. What if I don’t get another chance?

Stop. Jasper won’t die tonight. He knows the property, he’s armed, and he has a plan. At least…I hope he has a plan.

At the bottom of the stairs, I gape at the cellar.

It’s at least half the size of the cabin.

Shelves line the walls, full of canned goods, bottled water, half a dozen first aid kits, and blankets.

There’s even a ham radio down here. I wish I had any idea how to work it.

Maybe I could get help. But…who would I call?

AJ is the only person Jasper trusts, and I have no idea how to get in touch with him. Even if there’s a burner phone on one of these shelves, I don’t have AJ’s number.

Finding a spot in the corner with a clear view of the stairs, I crouch down, chamber a round in the pistol, and pray.

Jasper

The frigid night air stings my cheeks. Keeping low, I creep away from the only place I want to be—at Emi’s side. The moon is close to full, giving me enough light to see a couple hundred yards, and I pick my way toward the fence line.

They were smart. The northwest corner of the property has the heaviest brush cover.

For what feels like an hour, but is probably only five minutes, I don’t hear anything or anyone. Until a twig snaps behind me.

I spin around, drop to one knee, and raise the gun. Two shadows in my periphery. But one moves off to the right, and I lose him in my blind spot.

The first bullet hits the guy on the left. He goes down—hard. A dull pop comes from behind me. Bark explodes inches away. A shard slices my cheek.

Fuck me. There’s a third man.

Who am I kidding? There could be an entire army surrounding the cabin right now.

Another shot grazes my bicep. I tuck and roll, coming up and firing twice. No telltale grunts. No falling bodies.

Focus!

My arm burns. Thank God it’s only a scrape. Dropping to my belly, I hold my breath and listen.

A slight rustle to my left. Another twig snapping a few yards in front of me.

“Give it up, Blade. If you put down your gun, we’ll make it quick. Painless, even,” a man shouts.

Big mistake, shit for brains. Now I know where you are.

My boots find soft, muddy soil. Perfect for muffling my steps. The clouds are closing in, and the first snowflakes swirl in the air.

We’re too close to the cabin. Too close to one of these assholes making it inside to Emi.

Someone stifles a curse, and I take aim. The moonlight is almost gone, but I can see the vague outline of his shoulder against one of the tall trees.

Two shots. One to the head, the other to the chest. He falls with only a soft exhale.

But then the cabin door closes with a bang. Fuck.

I’m too far away. I won’t make it to the porch without catching a bullet. I have to try, though. Emi might be good with a gun, but these guys are pros. How many can she handle before she’s out of ammo?

I take off at a dead run. Only steps from the porch, a solid weight slams into my right side. The ground rushes up to meet me, driving the air from my lungs.

A punch catches me in the jaw. I swing my arm toward my attacker, slamming the barrel of the gun against his cheek.

Blood spurts from his nose. He loses his own weapon. But he’s too close. I can’t get a shot off.

He knees me in the nuts. Stars burst in my vision. Gloved fingers wrap around my throat and squeeze.

The body’s first instinct when deprived of air is to do whatever it takes to breathe. My limbs jerk of their own accord. I claw at the man’s wrist, but he only tightens his hold.

Desperation lends me strength I shouldn’t have. I slam my fist into his gut. His grip loosens slightly.

A single, raspy breath is all I get before he doubles down. It’s enough.

My thumb finds his left eye. His scream is music to my ears. Bringing my other arm up sharply, I catch him in the wrist to break his hold.

“How many?” I hiss and jam the gun under his chin. If I didn’t need to know, I’d end him in a heartbeat.

“Fuck. You.”

Grabbing his jaw, I lean closer. “Wanna try that again? Or would you rather eat a bullet?”

“Do it. You’re dead anyway.”

Before I can say another word, shots come from the cabin.

Fuck. Emi!

This shitbag ain’t worth my time. The bullet tears through his skull, and his body goes slack.

My hip screams at me with every step, but I ignore the pain. I have to get to Emi.

Emi

Footsteps thud over my head. There were only two red dots on the security screen, but it sounds like there are at least three people upstairs. Maybe more.

The knob rattles. Someone shouts, but the words are too muffled to make out.

Do they know I’m down here?

Wood splinters above me. They’re trying to break in! Oh, God. Where’s Jasper?

The door slams open, and I adjust my grip on the gun.

A man creeps slowly down the stairs. Black boots stained with mud. Black pants. Knees. Thighs. Belt. Two more steps, and I fire.

My first shot goes wide. The second and third hit him in the leg and the gut. He collapses, falling down the last few steps to the concrete floor.

Blood spreads out in a pool around him.

Another man shouts, “She’s down here!”

Heavy steps race from another part of the cabin. I think there might be two more of them. I have enough bullets. I think.

I’d give anything to know where Jasper is. If three of them got inside…

Swallowing my sob, I focus on the stairs. He’s okay. He has to be.

It’s so quiet. Why haven’t they come down already? One of the stairs creaks. I take aim, though my hands are shaking so badly, how am I supposed to hit anything?

Something hard bounces down the steps and rolls into the center of the room. I stare at the metal cylinder, confused, until a deafening boom fills the basement and light sears my eyes.

My ass hits the floor. I can’t see. Can’t hear. Can’t think. My hands are glued to my ears. Where’s the gun? I don’t remember dropping it…

Rough hands grab my arms and haul me to my feet. Acrid smoke burns my nose. I try to pull away, but someone backhands me. The pain is like nothing I’ve ever felt. My entire face throbs with each beat of my heart.

“Where is it?” a voice snarls close to my ear.

“Wh-what?” Tears brim in my eyes. Shadows loom over me as my vision starts to clear.

“The recording, bitch!” The thug shakes me, hard. “Of Trowing’s confession. You sent a copy to the FBI. Where’s the original?”

That’s what they want?

“Nowhere…you’ll ever…find it,” I manage. “Let me go!”

The second man slams his fist into my jaw. Blood fills my mouth, dribbling down my chin from my split lip.

“You’re gonna regret fucking with us,” he grits out. “Once we’re back in Austin, we’ll break every bone in your body one by one until you beg us to kill you.”

I’mso dizzy. Blinking hurts. Where’s Jasper? I need Jasper.

My arms are pinned behind my back, and something hard bites into my wrists.

“Noooo…” I can’t let them take me. Thrashing with everything I have, I manage to get free for all of two seconds before they slam me into the nearest wall.

My bicep stings, and within seconds, my entire body starts to tingle. A gloved hand waves a syringe in front of my face. “Say goodnight, bitch.”

They drag me up the stairs, one man gripping each arm as I struggle and scream for Jasper. My legs are so heavy. Like I’m stumbling through the deep end of the pool.

The walls pulse and spin. Dark spots float all around me. “Guillermo’s bringing the car up now. Get her into the trunk. I’ll take care of that Ranger asshole.”

Jasper. He’s still alive. I need to tell him…I think…I love him.

One of the men drops my arm, and the other spins me around to face him. I slam my knee into his groin. He yelps, but I wasn’t strong enough. He doesn’t let go.

Tears stream down my cheeks as he throws me over his shoulder. It’s too hard to keep my eyes open now. I don’t even try.

Cold air hits the back of my neck.

Outside. No. Can’t.

“Let. Her. Go,” Jasper shouts.

His voice gives me a burst of strength. I kick my legs and twist.

Falling. Pain. Then…nothing.

Jasper

I unload six shots into the first asshole’s chest. He doesn’t make a sound as he collapses into a heap. Emi lies on her back, unmoving.

The second fucker shoots at me from inside the cabin. I dive in front of the black car idling in the driveway.

The guy in the driver’s seat pulls a gun from a shoulder holster, but I put a bullet between his eyes before he can aim.

I have to get to Emi before the second shitstain does. But he’s got a fuckton more firepower. A hail of gunfire hits the car, each shot plinking off the metal closer and closer to me.

The bullets stop, and I peer over the hood. No line of sight. The solid oak door opens another few inches. A hand snakes toward Emi’s ankle.

Not today, fucker. Not today.

My shot blows off his pinky finger.

His strangled moan is sweet relief. And all the distraction I need.

I take all four stairs at once, jump over Emi, and hit the door. My boot lands in a pool of blood.Off balance, I go down, my bad knee slamming into the hardwood. Pain races up my leg all the way to my hip.

The fucker knocks me sideways against the door jam. My shoulder pops. A punch snaps my head back. A second catches me in the temple.

“Jas! Down!”

I dive for the floor. A deafening blast rocks the walls of the cabin. Blood sprays the back of my neck. I don’t wait for the guy to hit the ground. I can’t. I have to get to Emi.

AJ and I reach her at the same time. Thank God my brother knows better than to get in my way.

Gathering her in my arms, I smooth her hair away from her face. “Open your eyes, sweetheart. Please.”

She’s too still. But she’s breathing. Slow and steady. Her cheek is bright red and hot to the touch. Blood stains her lips.

“EMS is on the way,” AJ says. He takes a knee, pulls a switchblade from his pocket, and snaps the zip tie around her wrists. “How bad are you hurt?”

“Emi’s all that matters. Get the first aid kit from the kitchen. I need the smelling salts.”

It isn’t until my brother returns that I stop to wonder why the fuck he’s here.

“How did you know we were in danger?”

He rummages around in the metal box until he finds the small paper ampules of ammonia. “I’ve been callin’ you for hours, Jas. The two FBI fuckers Emi talked to the other day were on the take. Fowler paid each of them twenty-five grand on Tuesday, and another twenty yesterday.”

“Shit.” I break one of the ampules and hold it under Emi’s nose.

She jerks, her eyelids fluttering.

“Sweetheart, breathe for me. You’re gonna be okay.”

“Jasper?” Her voice is so weak and raspy, I have to strain to hear it. “Is it over?”

“It’s over, Emi. I promise.”