Page 29 of Splintered Security (Aspen & Evergreen #2)

silver linings

Ren

If they’re not at Adrienne’s… if they’ve taken her somewhere, I don’t know how in the world I’ll find her.

But I wonder if that’s the point. Make it a production so Anni has to come—bait, if you will. Or make it messy, so if she has to identify the remains, it leaves the residue of brutality that haunts nightmares.

Liam: Anni’s mom is not okay. When you’re done with whatever, check in with her.

Liam: I spoke with her. It’s not good, brother. Do you need me to handle it?

Both messages arrive while I’m en route. I manage to shoot off a text as I enter Adrienne’s subdivision.

Me: Stay put. Protect my wife.

I pass her house. It’s littered with motorcycles, two of which I recognize. They belong to Giltenhouse and Conyers. Three others flank them.

I take precious seconds and puncture the front tires of all of them, enjoying the satisfying hiss of air releasing. I circle the house and peer in the windows as I pass. The blinds are drawn on all of them until I get to the rear of the house.

Adrienne is tied to a chair in the center of the kitchen, though from the looks of it, I don’t know that it’s necessary. It doesn’t appear that there’s much fight left in her. Blood covers her face and pools on the floor below her.

I don’t think. I act.

I throw open the back door and walk straight into the fray. Giltenhouse’s eerie smile is the first thing I see after a cursory glance verifies my mother-in-law is still breathing. In that split second, I hear the unmistakable rack of the metal slide on a handgun.

I turn, drawing my pistol, and put a bullet in the forehead of the underling who thought time—or fear on my part—was on his side. He was wrong.

“I didn’t miss. I won’t next time either. Leave.”

The two unknowns scatter like cockroaches in a floodlight.

Giltenhouse twists backwards and forwards as he yells, “You do not take orders from him. Hold your ground.”

Neither listens as they bolt through the kitchen door, not looking back, as Giltenhouse’s face reddens in anger. “You’ll pay for this. And so will your families.” His voice rises on every word.

“Eh-eh-eh,” I tsk. “ You’ll be the one to pay. ”

From the corner of my eye, I see Conyers lunge for me, a glint of light playing off the steel in his hand.

I turn with his movement, collecting his forearm with my elbow, and use my other hand to snap his wrist backward.

The pop of bone breaking is one I never wanted to hear again, but can’t help but be thankful for in this instance.

“You fucker!”

His words are barely out of his mouth before I take his knife and plunge it into the shoulder joint of his good arm. “Stay.” I extend my hand like I would to an errant puppy as he squirms on the floor, attempting to grab his shoulder with his useless hand.

Giltenhouse looks between me and him and draws his own weapon, pointing a forty-caliber pistol directly at Adrienne’s head.

Her eyes hit mine before leaning forward to push her forehead into the metal barrel.

“You and your bitch daughter asked for it.” His finger wraps around the trigger, and I draw.

“That’s my wife you’re talking about.”

He turns his head in utter confusion. Those are the last words he hears before I squeeze, putting two in his ass.

Two to the head would’ve been more satisfying. The splatter of gray matter would’ve taken down the anger that boils over in my gut. I kick his gun from his hand where he fell and use a boot to keep him in place while training my firearm on Conyers .

I quickly dial nine one one, giving my name and the address.

“My mother-in-law was attacked. She’s badly injured and needs an ambulance.

Please send police. Have them come armed.

Two of the attackers are still here. Two escaped.

One is dead. All have gang affiliations.

” I listen to the operator repeat back my words to dispatch.

“The remaining two will need medical attention as well. I incapacitated them.” I listen for a moment.

“I had no choice when one put a gun to her head.”

I disconnect after being cautioned not to, and pull zip ties from my pants. I roll Conyers onto the wound where the knife still protrudes and twist both hands behind him, binding them.

Giltenhouse tries to put up a fight, but I slam a boot to his ass, and he blacks out long enough for me to do what I must.

I rush to my mother-in-law and cut the ties binding her. “Adrienne. Adrienne, wake up.”

She murmurs something unintelligible.

“An ambulance is on the way. Stay with me. If not for me, do it for Anni.”

One eye is swollen shut. The other, she opens by a fraction. It’s maximum effort if her grimace is anything to go by.

The resolve I see there says it all.

“Your daughter is tough. She gets that from you. Need you to stay tough with me for a little while longer.”

She nods but groans as she does.

“I’ll rain down hell on you,” Giltenhouse says, the strength gone from his voice as he attempts intimidation from his position on the floor. Stupid fucker.

Me: Adrienne is safe. It’ll take me a while to get home. Thank you for today.

Liam: I won’t say ‘anytime’, but you’re welcome.

I’ll call Anni in a minute. For now, as the sirens approach, I have one last bit of salt to rub in the wound.

“You know…” I pause to enjoy the moment, leaning to get in his face.

“Smith was working his own angles. He’s not a narc, but he’s been using club resources for his own gain for a while. Do with that what you will.”

Giltenhouse’s face is practically purple. I smile in satisfaction knowing I’ve made his day a little worse. For my shit to go this pear-shaped, it’s about as good an outcome as I could ask for.

The front door crashes open and more police than I can count swarm the house, their guns trained on me. I twist my wrist, setting my pistol on the counter, and slowly raise my hands above my head.

“I’m Lorenzo Gallo. This is my mother-in-law’s home. I called in the disturbance.”

“Turn around and kneel.”

I do, putting my hands on my head. “Knife in my front right pocket. ID and concealed carry permit in my wallet in the back right.” I speak clearly and loudly. “Former Army.”

Colorado Springs may be home of the U.S. Air Force Academy, but they’re military strong .

My arms are twisted behind my back and the ratchet of cuffs tings through the room.

“May I stand?”

“Yes.” The officer lifts at the same time he gives his verbal ascent.

The whole time, Giltenhouse is screaming, making wild accusations.

“Adrienne is my mother-in-law. I was here visiting at my wife’s request. This guy came in here wild and waving a gun and hit her.

My buddy”—he tilts his head to Conyers—“had to come as back-up since he shot me and wouldn’t let me leave. ”

The police look between us as SWAT and paramedics swarm the kitchen.

“I’ll tell you everything, but please see to my wife’s mother.” EMTs work to load Adrienne onto a stretcher and wheel her unconscious body out.

Giltenhouse and Conyers get the next two ambulances. Heath’s face when he sees his bike on its side has me fighting a smirk. Silver linings and all.

Anni

“Your mom’s going to be okay,” Liam said, right before he left… five hours ago.

I haven’t heard a thing from Ren. And, I’m pissed .

Why in the world my husband thought it was a good idea to relay info about my mom to an almost-stranger while leaving me in the dark is beyond me.

I’ve sent seven text messages since the one about my car. All have gone unanswered. He hasn’t answered my calls. Have I mentioned I’m pissed?

I don’t know where he is. I’m just sitting here, stewing in my anger. I can’t eat, can’t drink, and I could wear a pattern in the hardwood with my pacing.

I’ve scoured the kitchen drawers and the spaces in the mudroom for keys to that stupid bike in the garage. I’d call for a Lyft, but I don’t have any idea where to go.

When the garage door lifts on its tracks and headlights sweep the front of the house, I’m fit to be tied. He said he wanted me to give it to him straight. He’s about to get what he’s asked for.

I stomp to the door and throw it open, watching him slide out of the driver’s seat. I storm over to him and put my hands up to shove his chest. Instead, he folds me into his arms and kisses the top of my head.

“Glad to be home, Sunshine. You game for getting out of the house?”

“You just said you were glad to be here.”

He squeezes me from the circle of his arms. “ You are my home, Annika. And you’re safe.” He pulls back and bends to take my mouth. It’s passionate but tender, his soft lips forming against mine, parting mine, and slipping his tongue inside .

“Nothing I want more than to bury myself inside you, Wife, but I bet you want to see your mom even more than I want you, which is saying something. We need to get back to the Springs to the hospital.”

I pull back from him, gazing into the warm, inky pools. “When can we leave?”

“How long before you can be ready?”

“I’m ready now.”

He looks me over top to toe. “You’re in your pajamas. I’ll pretend I’m okay with you being in your pajamas with Liam Murphy here.” He turns me in his arms and gives me a shove toward the steps. “I’m not, by the way.”

“I’ll pretend I’m okay with you going radio silent for sixteen or seventeen hours. I’m not,” I throw over my shoulder.

A light tap hits my ass. “Get ready. You keep throwing sass, we might smell like sex visiting your mom, and I don’t think you want that.”

I stop dead and turn to him, planting my hands on my hips.

“Don’t threaten me, Ren Gallo.”

“Don’t tempt me, Annika Gallo.”

His smile is teasing and sexy. That jaw with more than a five o’clock shadow. The black brows slanted across his forehead. Damn, my husband is gorgeous.

“The look in your eye says you think we have time.”

My face morphs. I can feel it. My anger melts into worry as I return to his body—so safe and so broad—and faceplant into his chest. “Is Mom okay? ”