Page 136 of Vengeful Guard

When I get nothing, I run to the Escalade.

Aiden and Jeremy are both on the floor, unmoving.

Feck, feck, feck, I’m too late to save them too.

The bullet wounds on their chests tell me all I need to know.

I fall to my knees next to Jeremy.

He’s a good person, takes care of his two siblings since their parents passed just after graduation. Declan had given him a job right after, and he’d always been loyal to the Burkes.

I take a shaking breath, trying to figure out what to do, where to go.

This has to be Murphy’s work. No one else would dare to try and kidnap a Burke.

No one else is stupid enough.

A low groan makes me look down at the man on the other side of the Escalade.

I get up and run to him.

“Aiden—”

He coughs and tries to move, maybe to sit up. “Don’t. Just lie still. I’m calling for help.”

I take my phone out of my pocket to call 911.

His hand grabs mine. “Murphy…”

“Don’t try to talk.” There’s blood trickling from his mouth. That doesn’t bode well. “I’ll call the ambulance.”

“No need. It doesn’t hurt anymore.” He smiles, and there’s blood on his teeth that makes me shiver. “I had a coach in high school. Know what he always said? If it doesn’t hurt, you're dead. Turns out he was right."

“Aiden—”

His hand leaves mine, and he points toward Paige’s car. “They went?—”

“It's okay, Aiden. Don’t speak, I’m calling for help now.”

He smiles at me as I hold my phone to dial, and his face just goes slack.

“Aiden?” I try to feel his pulse, on his neck, on his writs, I press my ear to his chest.

Nothing.

Aiden’s gone, staring into space, and I shudder, closing his eyes.

What a waste. These were good men.

Paige.

I have to find her now more than ever.

What do I do?

I should get the cleaners here, but if I do it now, Murphy will know I’m on to him. I should do it anyway, right?

Or should I call Declan and Gray first? Will they even pick up this time, or will I just be wasting even more time? Paige’s out there, in Murphy’s claws, and I don’t need anyone telling me to stay away. I won’t stay away. Not now, not ever again.

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