Page 215 of Perfect Pitch

Then I can get the woman I love out of danger.

His laugh is laced with bitterness. “Kid, I was in the right place at the wrong time.”

“Well, that explains why you’re there.”

I drive on the curb to avoid hitting a pedestrian, uncaring about the fact Hudson’s going to owe Marco thousands for jacking up this undercarriage.

Three.

“How did I not see this? He’s my nephew.”

“And I didn’t see it in my brother. Your point?”

Two.

“Charlie, one of us needs to stay behind,” I persist.

One.

I’m a hundred feet from turning into the circular driveway littered with cop cars. Charlie’s got his hand on the door to River View when he bellows, “Tell me why?”

I throw the car in park and stride toward him, even though a mass of guns snap in my direction. “Because if I don’t make it out alive, you need to tell her how much I love her. Then you need to bring her back to life—just like you helped her after the accident. She’ll need you—all of you—if she’s ever going to be whole again.”

Charlie fumbles. “You think he’s going to kill you.”

Shoving him back, I turn to one of the uniformed officers and flash my Hudson badge. They nod and unlock the door. “Don’t let him follow.”

“Yes, sir.”

Charlie surges forward and grabs my arm just before two of New York’s finest approach him. “Mitch. Let me help.”

I study his aging face for a moment. “You already did. You kept her alive. It’s my turn to do the same.”

“Not at the cost of your life.”

In my ear, I hear whispers about how Trevor used to watch Austyn while she slept and I turn away without a word. Even as the door locks behind me, I know the truth my brother has twisted in his head.

Austyn Kensington is worth more than living for. She’s worth dying for. Only he’s willing to kill her so no one else can have her, whereas I’m willing to die so she can live.

After I check in with Rachel, I enter the elevator. Every floor that I climb, I know I’ll do anything, endure anything, so long as Austyn manages to survive. The elevator slows, doors sliding open silently. Down the hall, his condo door is wide open. God, don’t tell me they managed to escape. Panic washes over me like a tidal wave. Then I hear a voice and my blood pressure regulates.

No, Trevor knows I’m coming for my woman.

Somehow.

Even though I want to race in, I do it right. A trace of bitterness swirls through my veins. Had I listened to her that night, maybe our Columbia wouldn’t have died. Maybe she wouldn’t have been murdered by the sick bastard just beyond my line of sight. Counting down the numerous reasons I have to put a bullet in my brother’s head, I inch along the wall like I’ve been trained to do.

My mission is to save Austyn, not to avenge her.

That can come later.

Gun lifted to eye level, I switch sides of the hallway so I don’t show in the doorway.

Then I hear her voice. “If you think I’m going to go with you anywhere willingly when I’m in love with Mitch, you’re crazier than I gave you credit for.”

That’s when a shot discharges, and I forget about my training as I run headlong into the condo. What I encounter stops my heart.

Austyn is struggling with Trevor for the gun. She spits, “I hate you, Trevor! Hate you! You stole our baby from us!”

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