Page 39

Chapter 38

Woke up today, chose violence.

Colin had never had a problem being patient—until today.

But he forced himself to remain hidden as Gary Sewall, a walking dead man, ordered Mari deeper into the hangar.

Gary’s gun hand never wavered as they walked. That was definitely going to be a problem. If Colin had had a weapon on him when Bradford had called, this would be a different ball game, but he never brought it with him to work. And there had been no time to go home first.

Since Sewall was so steady even as he dug through Mari’s backpack, Colin shot off a quick text to Gino, who was hiding on the other side of the hangar behind a sport plane.

A few moments later, a small rack of paint cans upended, bouncing onto the concrete with a loud crash, one after the other.

Colin moved the instant Sewall turned around, sprinting right at him.

At the last moment, Sewall heard or sensed him, Colin wasn’t sure. Didn’t matter.

It was as if everything happened in slow motion as Sewall raised his pistol .

But there was no stopping now.

He barreled into Sewall like a linebacker. The gun went off, the explosion echoing through the hangar. He heard it clatter to the ground, but couldn’t reach it.

Instead, he slammed Sewall to the concrete, aware of nothing but the raw need to incapacitate him. End this threat to Mari.

Pain splintered through his left side as Sewall slammed a fist into his ribs. He wasn’t sure why the strike was so damn painful until he saw the blood on the concrete. Not a fist.

Fury rushed through him as he landed a punch to Sewall’s jaw, his head ricocheting onto the concrete below. Then another one, and another one.

Sewall punched his kidney, but Colin managed to roll him onto his front, pin him facedown. As he went to yank Sewall’s hands behind his back, the bastard grasped the fallen pistol. But before he could fully grab it, Mari screamed and slammed her sneaker down onto his hand.

Gino was right behind her, scooping up the pistol.

She stomped on Sewall’s hand again with another savage shout, definitely breaking the man’s bones. Sewall cried out in agony, bucking under him.

Adrenaline rode Colin hard as he finally wrenched Sewall’s hands behind his back.

“Here.” Gino handed him a bungee cord he’d gotten from who knew where, but it worked for securing Sewall’s wrists. “I’ve already called the cops,” his friend added.

“Good.” Spots danced before Colin’s eyes as he fell back on his ass, just grateful that Sewall was bound.

He thought Gino murmured, “Oh shit,” but then Mari was in front of him, her expression concerned. He cried out when she pressed on the wound in his side.

“He’s losing blood too fast. We’ve got to get him to the nearest hospital and I’m not waiting for an ambulance!”

Those were the last words he heard before blackness took over.