Page 118 of Silver Linings

Stiff arms wrapped around her and slammed her body hard into the floor. No, no, no. She had been so close. Her eyes snapped to Paul’s as he laughed, caging in Sloane.

“What do you think, son? Should I have this bitch suck my cock first or should I just fuck her pussy?”

Lily cringed.

“If you stick it in her mouth, she might try to bite it off.”

“True.” He seemed to think of the options as Lily dry heaved.

“Sloane, fight back. Please. Please don’t give up.” Her words came out as cries, but her friend just laid there, eyes trained to the ceiling, her own tears staining her face.

Paul laughed. “I thought you said she was going to be a challenge, James? The weak thing is already shattered. Mouth it is.”

Lily rolled to her knees, pushing against the pain that wrapped around her body from James throwing her to the floor.

“Don’t even think about it, Lily. We’ll be next.”

The bile pressed even harder for an escape. Lily turned her face away just as Sloane’s screams pierced the air.

And then there was pounding. The sound of wood splintering into a million pieces. James hauled her to her feet. And still, Sloane’s screams.

A gunshot jolted her back. Lily blinked, frantically trying to make sure what she was seeing was real.

Gage and Stone were standing in front of them as Paul’s body slumped over Sloane. They’d done it. The guys had found them. Lily waited for Gunner to come running through the door, unaware of James reaching for her.

Before she had time to run, James had her back pressed against his chest, the cold metal of his gun pressed against her temple.

“Let Lily go,” Gage said, calmly training his own weapon on James.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lily watched as Stone slowly made his way towards Paul. He pulled the body off of Sloane and felt for a heartbeat on his slumped-over form, giving Gage a small nod after a tense moment.

“Your father is laying there dead, James. You don’t have to be, too. Lily and Gunner are going to go home and be with Sage after this, but you have a choice. You surrender now and get to live, or you go out in a body bag, just like your dad.”

Lily focused on Sloane. She was whispering to Stone, shaking her head as he took off his jacket and buttoned her in it.

“No. I’m taking Lily. I’m going back to Connecticut with her and she will be my wife.”

“You know she’ll fight to get back to him no matter what. She’s a stubborn woman?—”

The sound of glass breaking was the only warning. Lily felt James press into her, so much of his weight unexpectedly shoved against her back that she fell forward. Her body slammed painfully into the floor, stunning her.

“Lily?” she heard Gage as the weight of James’s body fell away. She turned her head, looking into James’s empty eyes. He was dead. That explained the blood pooling around her.

“He’s—”

“He’s dead, Lily. Are you alright?” His eyes bounced between Sloane and Lily, respectfully keeping his line of sight on their face. When his eyes lingered on Sloane’s injuries, she saw his features switch from concern to rage. “Doc…”

“I’m right here, Tracker. I’ve got her.”

Lily’s mind was moving slowly, the blood from James overwhelming her senses. The scent of copper filled the house and she struggled to breathe.

“I’m fine, Gage. Don’t worry about me,” she heard Sloane say.

“Lily? You okay, too?”

She nodded, trying to control her breathing. Everyone sounded like they were talking through tin cans. “Where’s Gunner?”

“He’s coming. He was further out on the property. He had to take the shot.”

---