Aaron
A gunshot cracked through the air. Missed. I spun around, heart pounding-where the hell did that come from? My eyes snapped back to Joan.
She closed her eyes, and I lost it. I pressed the trigger, hitting the leg of the bastard holding her.
His groan echoed as he collapsed to one knee.
His crew flinched, but my men stepped forward, guns raised and ready. One wrong move, and they’d all be dead.
Hell, they’re dead already for even laying a hand on her. And if anything happened to her or our baby… God help them.
I shoved my gun into the back of my jeans and crossed the distance in seconds, catching her in my arms before the man could drop her like garbage. She felt a little heavy, too still.
My chest tightened. I hated this feeling.
The last time I felt this helpless was when she slipped into that coma. And now? If she slipped away from me… if I lost her or the baby… I wouldn’t survive it.
Killing these bastards wouldn’t be enough. I’d want them to drown in their own blood.
“Sweetheart, come on. Open those eyes for me,” I whispered against her hair. She couldn’t die on me. Not now.
Then my eyes dropped to her wrists. Red, raw slashes, angry and deep. The sight hurts my eyes.
Those bruises would be worse as time goes by.
What the hell did they do to her?
I clenched my jaw, rage surging through every vein as I pressed her closer to my chest. Someone chuckled behind me, snapping me back to the danger.
“Your lovely fiancee, isn’t she?” A rough voice taunted.
I turned, watching as a man walked in.
He was quite a huge man with long, dark hair, scars carved through his brows, tattoos crawling up both arms like snakes.
He twirled a pistol on his finger as if he had all the time in the world. A squad of armed men flanked behind him.
He radiated danger like a storm ready to break.
We were outnumbered-and he knew it.
From the corner of my eye, I saw a younger guy with dark eyes rush up beside him. He was the one in here with Joan.
“Boss, you made it,” the guy said. My stomach sank. So, this was their ringleader.
“I see you’ve handled her father,” the boss said, voice dripping with venom.
My eyes darted past him-and froze. Hanging upside down, lifeless, was Ace Knight. The man who murdered my parents.
A hole right through his skull.
And from the looks of thing, they’d made sure Joan witnessed every second of it.
She stirred weakly in my arms, pulling my attention back to her.
Her lashes fluttered. Not enough to open, but enough to tell me she was still fighting. Relief and dread tangled inside me.
I knelt and eased her into a sitting position, bracing her carefully against the wall.
Then I stood, eyes narrowing at the boss who just smirked.
“You’re whipped. Poor thing,” he sneered.
I ground my teeth, fists clenching. His smug grin only fueled the storm inside me.
“She’s ours now. Paying off dear daddy’s debts,” he said, pride lacing his words.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. I couldn’t lose control. Not yet.
“She’s yours?” I echoed, voice low. “Seems like her father’s debts died with him,” I said, nodding towards the corpse behind them.
The boss never broke eye contact. No flinch, no hesitation.
“I’m taking my wife out of here,” I said flatly, “getting her to a hospital. Then I’ll come back and finish this.”
He chuckled darkly. “You’ve got guts, boy. Thinking you’ll walk out of here alive, let alone with her.”
I kept my lips sealed, eyes flicking briefly to my men. Everything was set. We just needed the right opening.
“Aaron…” a weak voice called out.
My heart snapped at the sound as I turned around. Joan’s eyes were open, glassy with tears.
She lifted her hand to me, trembling. Blood smeared her fingertips.
My stomach twisted.
I dropped to her side, brushing her cheek with my thumb.
“Tell me where it hurts. Where are you bleeding?” I asked, voice softer now.
Her lips quivered as she shook her head.
“The baby…” she whispered.
I followed her gaze to her dress-dark stains spreading fast.
Panic gripped me. No, no, no.
“We’re losing the baby, Aaron,” she sobbed, voice breaking.
The world tilted. I locked eyes with her, seeing raw fear mirrored back at me.
I cupped her face, willing strength into my voice.
“No, no, listen to me. I’m getting you out. The baby’s going to be okay. I promise.” Even if I wasn’t sure, I had to believe it for both of us.
Tears streaked down her face, but she nodded.
I stood, drawing my gun again. Anger simmered into cold resolve as I faced the boss. His smirk widened, as if enjoying the show.
He struck me as the kind of monster who gives hope to his victims just to rip it away.
Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t a victim.
“This meeting’s over,” I said. “We’ll catch up another time.”
He raised his gun to my head. “I told you, no one leaves.”
Perfect.
I threw a look at Denzel. His subtle nod told me he saw the same thing I did. Chaos was about to break loose.
“Time to go?” Denzel asked, eyes flicking to Joan.
I gave a small nod. He sighed and lowered his weapon, signaling the others to follow suit.
I turned back to Joan, scooping her into my arms. She clung to me like a lifeline, face buried in my chest.
“What did they make you see, sweetheart?” I whispered, more to myself.
Then, without warning, a section of the building exploded. Smoke and debris swallowed the room, screams filling the chaos.
Now.
I sprinted towards the exit as chaos broke out. Gunshots rippled through the air. Joan trembled in my hold.
With one arm holding her, I fired with the other, dropping anyone who got too close.
We were almost out when a sharp pain laced through my arm. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the wetness running down my sleeve.
Joan’s tear-filled eyes met mine.
“You’re shot…” she choked out.
“I’m fine,” I said firmly. “We’re almost out.”
Another explosion rocked the building. Flames licked at the walls. We’d planted charges in key spots before this, knowing it wouldn’t be easy.
Two more detonations, and this whole place would crumble.
I just had to get Joan and the baby to safety first.
Then I’d come back-and make sure none of them walked out alive.
I could do this.