Page 33 of Stone Cold Savage

“Let me lead then. Fall in behind me.”

Coy didn’t wait for an answer. He simply moved ahead and proceeded toward the house where they knew trouble awaited them. It didn’t take long to clear the space between the tree line and the house, and they were inside before they knew it. It was almost too easy with unlocked doors and what felt to them like a roadmap right to trouble. The ease of the breach only heightened their alertness and made them more strategic and careful in their mission; using hand signals and body language to communicate, they advanced through the space in roaring silence.

“Don’t move.” Came a familiar voice. “Hands up where I can see them.”

Coy and Kenzie complied, squinting to make out the figure standing in the shadows.

“Charlotte?” Coy questioned, staring down the barrel of her weapon.

“Shit, Coy.” She said, peering around him. “Sheriff? What are y’all doing here? You scared the ever-loving daylights out of me.”

Charlotte lowered her weapon and waved them into the room she’d been staged in.

“We’re here to get you.” He said.

“Well, I left Nash a note and said I’d be back shortly.” She went on.

“You aren’t supposed to leave alone, Charlotte.” Coy scolded.

“I came to look for answers. I’m safe here. Daddy has this place set up like Fort Knox. Surprised you didn’t get caught in any of his booby traps.”

“Boobie traps?”

“Well, I think he’s graduated from snares to laser technology for security, but still.”

“Your dad sounds paranoid.” Coy chided. “Interesting detail.”

“He’s always been a little… cautious,” Charlotte admitted. “We aren’t alone here. I was getting ready to leave, and I heard someone. I think they’re in Daddy’s den. I was nearly there when I saw y’all creeping in.”

“It’s probably Nash. He came looking for you. That’s why we’re here.”

“Oh, that boy. I suppose it’s better that it’s him and not someone looking for trouble. Come with me.” Charlotte said, leading them out of the space, seemingly with her guard down.

As they crept down the hall toward their target, a loud crash and gunshot could be heard in the distance. They weren’t alone after all, and Nash was in trouble.

“Get behind me,” Coy demanded, and Charlotte complied.

He led them through the maze of hallways in the large stately compound until they found their target, right where Charlotte had warned it would be. The sound of a scuffle on the other side of the door raised concerns. Nash wasn’t the only other person in the house. Danger was indeed present, just as Coy had suspected. He could hear grunts as skin met skin in a hand-to-hand battle.

“Where is she?” Nash could be heard saying.

“Oh my God. Nash.” Charlotte gasped quietly under her breath. “He thinks someone hurt me.”

“Kenz, stay with Charlotte,” Coy whispered. “I’m not walking you both into a trap. Wait here. You understand?”

Kenzie and Charlotte nodded in agreement. Before Coy could breach the door, the sound of shattering glass filled their senses, followed by the sound of more gunfire. Then, silence.

Coy broke every rule in the book and rushed in, gun ready, and scanned the scene, immediately training his weapon on the only target he found, which wasn’t the one he was looking for. Nash stood alone and breathing heavily, wiping blood from his mouth on the back of his hand.

“Took you long enough,” Nash said, kicking a chair out of his way as he traipsed through the room. “Son of a bitch jumped through that picture window and ran. Let’s go. I need to find Charlotte.”

“She’s safe. Right outside the door with Kenzie.” Coy said, following him out of the room. “What the hell happened here.”

Nash looked over his shoulder and waved a handout as if presenting the roughed-up room as evidence, “Isn’t it pretty clear?”

“Are you hurt? Shot?”

“No, I’m the only one who got shots off. Ambushed that asshole and knocked his gun out of his hand as soon as he walked in.” Nash shared, just as Charlotte entered the room and rushed to Nash’s open arms. “There you are.”

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