Page 25

Tory

A cry tore from my throat as I shot my trembling hands up and stumbled back from the cop car.

The cop thrust the gun at Jaxson’s face. “Get your hands up!”

“What the hell are you doing, Eddie?” Jaxson’s voice was tight as he raised his hands, palms out. Somehow, he kept his cool.

“Get back,” Eddie barked, flicking the barrel of the gun to force Jaxson away from the open car door. The movement was sharp and commanding, yet I didn’t miss the tremble in his hand.

Did Jaxson see it too?

Onyx growled low and deep, a rumbling sound that vibrated through the air as her sharp eyes locked on Eddie.

Eddie’s gaze flicked to Onyx. “Call off the dog,” he snapped. “Now. Or I swear to God, I’ll shoot her first.”

“No!” I blurted before I could think.

“You don’t want to do that, Eddie.” Jaxson’s eyes darted to Onyx, then back to Eddie. His jaw clenched, and the muscles in his neck tightened.

The gun jerked slightly as Eddie waved it toward Onyx. “I said, call her off ! Or I swear, I’ll put her down!”

Jaxson’s hands stayed raised and his body rigid. “Onyx, down. ”

Onyx’s growl deepened as her eyes flicked between Jaxson and Eddie. She seemed to be torn between obeying him and protecting him.

“Onyx.” Jaxson’s tone left no room for argument. “Down.”

With a low, reluctant whine, Onyx lowered herself to the ground and her ears pinned back as she continued to glare at Eddie, baring her teeth.

“Good girl,” Jaxson murmured, though his voice was tight and his focus remained on Eddie and the gun.

My chest heaved, and my heart pounded so hard it felt like it might explode. Onyx’s reluctant obedience made bile rise in my throat. I wanted to scream at Eddie to lower the gun, to leave us alone, to just stop. But fear kept me rooted in place.

Eddie sneered. “Now, back away from the car. No sudden moves!”

Jaxson stepped back with his hands still raised and his eyes locked on Eddie. “Don’t do this, buddy,” he said. “Whoever talked you into this, it’s not too late to stop.”

Eddie let out a strange, hollow laugh. “Oh, it’s way too late.”

“No, it’s not.” Jaxson’s voice hardened, his calm exterior slipping just enough to reveal the fire burning beneath it. His eyes flicked to mine, desperately pleading for me to back away . . . or run.

But I couldn’t leave him. Wouldn’t leave him. We were in this together. My legs were riveted to the ground, and my heart hammered so hard it drowned out everything else.

“You don’t want to do this, Eddie,” Jaxson said, taking another step back. His hands stayed up, his body stayed tense. “I see it in your eyes. You don’t want this on your conscience. Whatever you’re involved in, I can help you.”

From the ground, Onyx let out a low growl, her body trembling with restrained energy. Her instincts screamed to protect Jaxson, but she held herself back, waiting.

Jaxson gave her a subtle shake of the head; a silent command to stay. She whined, paws digging into the dirt, but she obeyed.

I swallowed hard past the dryness in my throat. “Please . . . don’t hurt us.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Eddie snapped. The gun wavered but stayed aimed at Jaxson .

“Who put you up to this?” Jaxson pressed. “Was it B?”

Eddie flinched like Jaxson had Tasered him, and the gun trembled in his hand before he clenched it tighter. His expression twisted with fear and rage, and what looked like desperation. “Shut up and get back!” he spat, his voice cracking, revealing his panic.

But Jaxson didn’t back down. “I know it’s her. She’s got something on you, hasn’t she?” He took a step forward. “Is it your wife? Kids?”

“Shut. The fuck. Up!” Eddie roared, jabbing the gun forward.

Jaxson shifted his stance, muscles coiled like a boxer.

Oh God. He’s going to attack.

“Whatever it is, we can fix it. We can—” Jaxson lunged. “Tory run!” he shouted as he charged at Eddie, grabbing his wrist. The two men collided with a sickening thud, slamming into the open car door.

“No!” I shouted, jumping back from their violent tussle.

Onyx erupted into a frenzy of barking, sharp and feral.

The gun fired. Once. Twice.

A bolt of fire tore across my upper left arm and blinding pain exploded through me, radiating into my armpit like molten lava. "Shit!" My world spun and I staggered sideways, gasping at the agony.

Blood streamed down my arm, soaking into my uniform. Oh God. I’m hit. I froze, unwilling to believe I’d been shot.

The men wrestled just feet away, their grunts were raw and primal. Their battle was brutal, terrifying.

"Run, Tory. Run!" Jaxson's cry cracked through the ringing in my ears.

He doesn’t know I've been hit.

And I won't tell him. Not while he’s fighting for our lives.

The screech of the car door bending backward grated in my ears as the men fought over the gun. Jaxson fought to get hold of the gun, and the weapon clanged as it slammed against the frame.

I'm not running. Not after everything we’ve been through.

He needs me.

The bullet wound burned like a branding iron. But clenching my jaw, I fought the agony as I ducked behind the car door.

Pressing my back against the metal, my heart pounded so hard I felt it in my teeth.

Blood pulsed between my fingers as I studied the jagged gash.

It’s just a flesh wound. It won’t kill me.

Just like my dislocated finger won’t either.

Nausea wobbled in my stomach as I willed myself to stay upright and conscious. To stay alive.

I’m okay. I’m okay.

I sucked air through my teeth, fighting the urge to vomit.

Another gunshot cracked through the air.

“Jaxson!” I screamed, my voice breaking.

One of them shrieked in agony.

My heart stopped. “No, no, no!”

Another shot was fired.

I burst out from behind the door, gravel skidding under my bare foot. I didn’t care about the pain or the blood streaking my arm, I had to see him.

Another crack tore through the air, so sharp it felt like it was aimed straight at me.

Jaxson had Eddie pinned against the driver’s seat, inside the car door, and they were both locked in a brutal fight for the gun. Eddie kicked wildly, his face twisted with rage and desperation.

I searched around me, frantically looking for a weapon.

The best I could find was a half-buried rock in the dirt the size of my fist. After kicking it free, I gripped it in my good hand, ready to swing at Eddie’s head with everything I had.

But the men were a chaotic blur. Punching, kicking, bodies jerking violently.

Eddie’s ragged breaths rasped like sandpaper. But Jaxson growled with absolute rage.

I jumped forward, rock raised, ready to smash Eddie’s head.

“Tory, run!” Jaxson snarled as he slammed Eddie’s arm against the car door with a sickening thud.

Another shot fired.

Screaming, I jumped back.

Jaxson slammed Eddie’s arm down, and the gun clattered against the car door.

“Onyx! Attack!”

Onyx became a blur as she lunged forward and bit into Eddie’s ankle .

Eddie screamed, high-pitched and raw as he kicked his leg, trying to dislodge Onyx.

The gun fired again. Once, twice, three times, and each shot was a cannon blast, punching into the car door.

Eddie swung a wild punch, hitting Jaxson’s nose.

“Fuck!” Jaxson growled as he twisted away and rammed his knee into Eddie’s ribs.

Onyx snarled viciously, tearing at Eddie’s leg. Eddie screamed, kicking hard. His boot slammed into Onyx’s ribs, and she yelped, then bit into him again.

Both men crashed to the ground in a violent tangle.

The gun was trapped between them. I couldn’t tell who had control. I couldn’t breathe.

Jaxson yanked Eddie’s arm so hard it cracked.

Eddie howled.

The gun fired.

Both men slumped to the ground. Eddie on top of Jaxson.

“No. No, no, no!” Clutching the rock, I rushed to their side. “Jaxson!” I dropped to my knees. “Oh God. Please, no. Jaxson!”

He released a faint groan, and it shattered the terror gripping me in place. “Oh, thank God.”

Jaxson’s face was pale as he gasped for breath.

I tossed the rock and shoved Eddie’s limp body off Jaxson, dragging him a few inches away.

Groaning, Jaxson sat up, resting his back against the car’s rear door.

Onyx snarled, still tearing at Eddie’s leg.

“Onyx, release,” Jaxson rasped. “Down girl.”

She backed up, tongue lolling like she expected praise.

“Jaxson,” I choked. Tears pooled in my eyes as I raced to him and threw my good arm around him. “Thank God you’re okay.”

He pulled me into his chest. I leaned into him, and his heart pounded like a drum.

As we clung to each other, gasping and shaking, Onyx edged closer, nudging Jaxson’s arm.

“It’s okay, girl. I’m okay.” He rustled the fur between her ears .

Jaxson glided his hand over my hair, threading his fingers through it like he was fascinated. “I knew you wouldn’t run,” he murmured.

A sob-laugh tore from me as I gripped his shirt tighter as though letting go might shatter me. “Bloody hell. I thought—” My voice cracked, and I eased back just enough to meet his eyes, my vision blurred with tears. “I thought he shot you. I thought . . . I thought . . .”

“Hey,” he said softly, brushing a tear from my cheek with his thumb. “I’m okay. Are you?”

His tenderness pierced through the chaos, making it almost impossible to focus on anything but the warmth in his eyes. My arm throbbed with a fiery pain that made it hard to breathe, but I couldn’t tell him. Not now. Not yet. We were still trying to process the fact that a cop tried to kill us.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a nod, easing back slightly. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

His gaze dropped to Eddie’s crumpled body on the ground, and his jaw tightened.

Jaxson winced as he shifted upright, his movements slow and stiff.

With a sharp motion, he kicked Eddie’s shoulder, and his heel connected with a dull thud.

“Fucking hell, Eddie,” he growled. “I can’t believe you did this. ”

Jaxson’s expression twisted in a tangle of rage and grief. “We’ve known each other for years.”