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Sixty

RILEY CAUGHT HER brEATH , her pulse throbbing in her ears. That was a close one. Too close.

The light swung away, and she covered Greyson as he moved for the boulder, which was just large enough to shield the both of them.

He slid to her position, and she grabbed his hand as he got close, helping to pull him behind the rock. Their chests resting against it, they peered over the top. Kevin joined Brent on the porch. Great. Two flashlights—sweeping in opposite directions. She prayed for her brothers to remain hidden and Jared to hold still.

She took a steeling breath, trying to settle the adrenaline shaking her limbs. “I’m going,” she said.

Greyson tugged her arm, pulling her to him, and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I love you,” he breathed.

“Now you tell me?”

“It seemed like a rather important time.”

“I love you too.” She pressed a kiss back. “Now, let’s do this.”

He nodded. “Please be as careful as you can.”

She’d do her best. “You too.” On that, she raced for the last boulder. She waited there, watching the two flashlight beams. Then she darted along the slippery earth for the sedan.

A splash sounded behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see Jared sliding unceremoniously down the mudslide. The flashlight beams converged, landing directly on him. She squeezed her eyes shut. They knew they were coming now.

Please let them think Jared came alone.

Reaching the sedan, she held, casting her gaze on the last boulder, hoping Greyson held there.

Kevin bolted up to greet Jared.

Brent remained on the porch, panning the light along the hill over and over. It hit the boulder as Jared landed at Kevin’s feet.

Kevin hauled Jared to his feet.

Please don’t let him look behind the boulder. Don’t let him find Grey.

“Anyone with you?” Kevin hollered over the dousing rain. “I know they must be here.”

She held her breath.

Jared shook his head.

Thank you , Lord .

“Why don’t I believe you?” Kevin scanned the hill. Dragging Jared with him, he winced at the motion and switched arms, his injured shoulder taut and, based on his grimace, still painful. He moved for the boulder Greyson was positioned behind.

Her heart thwacking in her throat, she aimed her gun at Kevin’s retreating back. He was giving her no choice—just like with Pete. She’d never wanted to be back in this position, but she was, and she’d protect Greyson with her life. She tracked Kevin until he was a mere foot from the rock when a shot hit the front of the boulder, shards of rock flying as the retort boomed in the night. Deckard.

Kevin turned and fired toward her brother’s position.

He fired back, and Kevin ducked. “Come on,” he hollered to Jared, traipsing through the sliding mud for the house.

Brent fired at Deck’s position, and Deck fired back, the bullet hitting the man in the right shoulder. He screamed, and his gun slid from his right hand.

Kevin shoved Jared into the house, then fired at Deck.

A shot hit the porch rail with a loud ding from twelve o’clock. Christian covering his brother, their brother.

Greyson took the opportunity to race to the sedan, hunching beside her.

Lance positioned himself to be covered by the half-open door. At least from their and Deck’s positions, but Christian had the shot if they needed it.

“What in tarnation is going on?” he yelled.

“We have company.” Brent scrambled for the house, his hand covering the gunshot wound on his bleeding arm.

Lance cursed out a sarcastic comment, then stepped back into the house.

A fourth hostile stepped onto the porch, and gunshots rang in the night as Steve sprayed the hills with his semiautomatic.

Riley moved for the back side of the house, pressing her body against the cold, wet siding.

Greyson raced to join her.

The front door creaked open, and Riley peered around the side of the house but didn’t have a view. She indicated her intended movement up the left side. Greyson nodded and indicated he’d move up the opposite side.

On three, they moved in tandem around the house.

“You want her to stay alive?” Steve hollered into the night, his voice echoing over the rain in the small canyon landscape. “Stop shooting, or I put one in her head.”

Riley reached the edge of the house. Taking a steadying breath and saying a prayer, she peered around the corner.

Steve stood in the half-sheltered doorway, a gun to Kelly’s head. Mascara-streaked tears lined her face, her eyes wide in horror.

“Please, don’t.” Jared’s voice carried from inside the house.

“Shoot again,” Steve yelled, “and she’s dead.”

Riley angled for a shot. If he’d just shift past the edge of the door, she’d have him. A hand wrapped around her neck, gripping her throat in a tight squeeze.

“Hello, lovely,” Kevin said, a muzzle pushing against her temple. “One squeeze and you’re dead. Now, we’re going to walk into that house, and I don’t want any trouble.”

Sirens wailed in the near distance. The sheriff had arrived but certainly not subtly.

“The cops are here?” Lance roared, his voice emanating from inside the house. “Someone is going to die.” A shot fired, and Kelly screamed.

Riley’s chest squeezed harder than Kevin’s grip on her neck. Jared.

Kelly wailed. “No. No. No.”

Kevin shoved Riley around the edge of the house, and they came face-to-face with Greyson.

“The boyfriend come to save you?” Kevin said.

“You’ve got that right,” Greyson said with conviction.

Kevin was positioned behind her, the muzzle to her temple. “Go for it, but you’ll kill her in the process.”

Deckard had the shot on Kevin’s back, but with his semi-automatic, the bullet could go straight through him into her.

Greyson’s gaze met hers. He was going to take the shot. She stilled and prayed.

“Now, be a good boy and lay down your weapon,” Kevin said, his gun biting into her flesh, his other hand fixed around her waist, holding her tight against him like a human shield.