Page 35 of When He Fights (Protector & Defender #3)

Kane’s entire body tensed. His head whipped toward the building. All of the gleaming glass windows stared back at him. Still no sign of any movement inside.

“Screw that crap,” Kane growled.

Gray immediately swiped his left hand in the air, indicating for Kane to stay quiet. The black brace still covered his wrist and part of his forearm.

Sure, Kane got that Gray wanted him to settle down and shut the hell up. Again, screw that.

Kane took a step toward the dojo.

“If anyone else comes inside, I’ll have to kill Turner. Not that I particularly mind the task. The man is a failure, after all. But I’ll have to kill him. The lawyer, too,” Logan added, almost as an afterthought.

Gray stepped into Kane’s path.

Kane had already stilled.

“But maybe you don’t care if they live or die,” Logan mused. “I’m sure your friend…ah, Kane, I believe, would be quite happy to see Turner lose his life. That is him I see with you, isn’t it?”

Kane didn’t move. Not a muscle.

“And lawyers? I mean, come on, this one is as crooked as they come. Seriously, I’m speaking from personal experience.” Laughter. “But, hey, what if they aren’t the only ones inside? What if I have someone… else inside? Someone who is a friend to my sweet Anastasia?”

“Who else is inside?” Gray demanded at once.

“Come on in and find out.” Laughter. “Only you, though. You come in—you come inside within the next two minutes, unarmed, alone, and we’ll work out a deal. Otherwise, I think I’ll have to start killing people.”

A car door slammed.

Kane jerked at the sound, and he saw Emerson rushing away from a sedan.

“You tried to shut me out!” she accused as red stained her cheeks. She barreled toward Gray.

Kane reached out and snagged her, locking his arm around her waist and lifting Emerson off her feet. She elbowed him and twisted her upper body to stare at him as if he’d lost his mind.

“Oh, is that the lovely Dr. Marlowe? Now it’s just a party.” Logan’s voice was oddly delighted. “Do tell her how much I enjoyed our sessions. Maybe we’ll be chatting again. Soon.” A beat of silence. “Two minutes and counting, and then people start dying.” He hung up.

Kane released Emerson. She staggered forward as soon as her feet hit the pavement again. “What is happening?”

Gray tightened his grip on the phone. He glanced toward the dojo.“Agent Johnson!”

A young guy with light brown hair hustled toward Gray.

“Trace this number.” Gray rattled off the number that had appeared on his screen. “I want to know who owns the phone.”

“On it.” Johnson sprinted away.

Gray tucked the phone back into his pocket even as he kept staring at the dojo.

“Don’t do it,” Kane fired immediately. “It’s a trap.” Obviously. “You go in there, and you die.” He believed that with utter certainty—and that was why there was no way he was gonna let his friend step inside that dojo alone. Alone and unarmed? Oh, hell, no.

“I’m a federal agent.” Gray moved to the side, making his whole body visible as he removed the shoulder holster that he’d been wearing.

He placed it on the hood of the SUV. To show Logan that he’s removing his weapon.

“If I don’t go in, people will die. I can’t let that happen.

” He rolled back his shoulders. The brace on his broken wrist was clearly visible. “It’s not who I am.”

Yeah, right. Kane knew exactly who Gray was. His friend was the true-blue hero. Always had been. The guy would sacrifice himself to save the world.

And I’d burn it to ashes if it meant I could protect the people I love.

“You can’t go inside.” Emerson grabbed Gray’s non-broken hand. Held tightly. “Is that what you’re thinking? You’re going in there, alone? No way. You can’t. You know Logan wants you dead! I told you before that he was after revenge.”

“He has at least two people in there with him.” Gray frowned down at her hand. “Maybe even a third individual. He said something about Ana’s friend.” An exhale. “I go in, unarmed, alone, and we make a deal. I can get the others out safely.”

“No!” Emerson was clearly horrified. “You go in and you die! No one will be safe in there.”

Kane nodded. “Damn straight. Listen to the shrink.”

But Gray shook his head. “I know the risks. I also know my job.” A deep breath from Gray. “I go in alone?—

Forget that shit. He was done arguing. Kane pulled his fist back and slammed it into Gray’s jaw. He didn’t pull the punch, not even a little bit.

Emerson screamed. “What are you doing?”

Gray crumpled. Guy had a glass jaw. Normally, Gray could defend himself from a punch pretty well. This time, there was no defense, probably because Gray hadn’t expected the attack.

Kane grabbed Gray’s phone even as Emerson crouched over Gray. He dialed back the number that had just called.

“What the fuck?” Logan snarled when he answered.

“Change of plans, asshole.” Kane didn’t identify himself.

If Logan was inside, he’d see Kane. Kane was standing there, after all, big and bright as day.

“I’m coming in. You want a deal? You talk to me.

I come inside. You let the other two bastards go.

If you really have one of Ana’s friends in there, you let that person go, too.

If that doesn’t work for you, then, hey, how about this option?

How about I send in a swarm of federal agents, and they can shoot up the place? That good for you?”

Gray let out a groan as his eyelashes fluttered.

“Because I’m not Gray,” Kane bit out each word. “I don’t care about following rules. I don’t care about Turner or the lawyer. All I care about?—”

“Is my Anastasia ?” Logan finished quietly.

“She’s not yours.” Rage nearly choked him.

“ We’ll see about that.” Mocking. “I’d had other plans for you but…come inside. Now. You and Gray . Get your friend off the ground. Come inside, and we’ll make a deal. Come inside!”

Something hit Kane from behind. Not something, someone. He turned and realized Gray had just slammed his shoulder into Kane’s back.

“Asshole, that was a low blow!” Gray snapped.

Actually, it had been an uppercut.

“Come inside,” Logan bellowed, “or I will slit their throats right now!”

Gray stared at Kane. Kane stared at Gray. Then they looked at the entrance to the dojo. They squared their shoulders. And started to advance.

So this is what it feels like to walk straight into a trap.

But…

Gray snatched the phone from him. “Proof of life,” he barked. His jaw was dark red from the punch. “Give us proof of life right the hell now. You want us inside so badly? Then let me talk to Turner. Or the lawyer. Or Ana’s friend?—”

“Zuri?” Laughter from Logan. “I’m afraid she can’t come to the phone right now.

She’s all tied up. And you will talk to no one else .

Not Turner. Not the lawyer. Not until you get your asses inside.

I want to see you both. Face to face.” More rough laughter.

“You know what? I think the two minutes are up. Time for me to kill a bastard.”

Once again, the line went dead.

“Uh, Agent Stone?”

Gray whirled on the brown-haired agent who’d approached him. “What, Johnson?”

“It’s, ah, I traced the number, sir. Like you asked. The phone that called you? It’s…it’s registered to a Zuri Harris.”

Gray’s head sagged forward. “This just went from bad to clusterfuck status.”

Kane knew there was no choice. They were going in the dojo.