Page 48 of Havoc

“Come on! Stay behind me.” I urged Kelly to follow, and we raced across the open area. She tripped over a dead body, and I caught her before she fell. As we got close to Trigger’s trailer, I saw Minnie’s head peek up from behind a cooler. When she saw it was me, she covered her mouth. “What the hell are you doing out of the trailer?” Was she insane? “Get in!” I opened the door and pushed Kelly inside. Minnie grabbed my arm, and I looked at her.

“I heard something.”

“Not now, Min!” I lifted her off her feet and tossed her inside with Kelly. “Lock it,” I yelled. I whirled around and saw Brick, Rail, and Morgan running toward me.

Someone grabbed me from behind and pulled me between the two trailers. I twisted in his hold and saw the end of an assault rifle pointing at my face. I quickly grabbed the barrel and forced it under my arm, so it pointed down at the ground as he pressed the trigger. Bullets kicked up the sand around us, and I snapped my elbow into his face and yanked the weapon from his hand. I let it fall as I snapped his wrist. His scream was cut short by the heel of my boot as it crushed his cheekbone.

“You good?” Brick stopped short when he saw the guy on the ground. “Shit!”

“Just one got away.” Rail sucked on a cig that hung from his lips. His lungs wheezed for clean air as he held his gun and pointed.

“Call it in to the others.” I looked where he pointed and ran toward my trailer.

Boom!

I was thrown off my feet, and my ears roared. I hit the ground hard and fought the black spots that threatened my vison. Fire licked at my skin as Brick and Morgan grabbed my arms and pulled me back. It registered that my trailer just went up in flames.

Kenna!

“No!” I pushed the guys off and stumbled to get my balance. I blinked a few times and finally got the ringing in my head to stop. I raced toward the fire, but the flames had already engulfed it. A grip of steel closed around my upper arm.

“Grim, stop.” Trigger’s growl cut through my brain.

“Grim?” Minnie was suddenly in front of me with a wild expression as she tried to get me to focus on her. “Was Kenna in there?” At my nod, she burst into tears and reached out as Tess crashed into her and they hugged.

“There’s nothin’ left,” Trigger said quietly. “Fuck me.” He grabbed Tess and pulled her close.

“Fuck!” I screamed.

“Come here.” Kelly put her arms around me and started to sob as she tried to comfort me.

The sound of my dogs barking brought me out of it. I pushed her hands away and ran toward their call. Their barks grew loud as I ran through the dark. I held out my phone light so I didn’t trip and almost stepped on a dead guy. I tried to slow down as caution rang in my head. I could imagine a gun pointed at me but ignored it as I continued to run toward the boys.

“Leal,” I called as I saw him. He and his brother stood in front of a pickup truck. It wasn’t one of ours. “What is it?” I asked quietly with my weapon out as I slowly moved around the front of the vehicle. The light from my phone spread out in front of me. It suddenly lit up a man. Blood ran from what was left of his face; he was half in and half out of the driver’s seat. I heard a sound next to him and flipped the light up. I nearly pulled the trigger in reaction.

“Kenna?” My chest loosened a few notches as relief spread over me.

“Grim?” she cried, but she didn’t move. She kept her eyes locked forward, stiff as a statue. “Is he dead?” Her voice was odd, and it sent a chill up my back.

“Yes.” I looked around at the pickup truck, wondering what I was missing. I could hear the guys as they arrived behind me.

“Are you sure he’s dead?” she repeated.

“I can see inside his brain, so, yeah, he’s dead.” I pulled the body out and let him slump to the ground.

“No! Don’t do that!” She squeezed her eyes shut and tears leaked out. “Grim, go!”

“What?”

“Please,” she sobbed. “He said my seat’s rigged.”

I froze at her words then felt a strange calmness come over me. I tucked my gun away and turned to Trigger.

“Fuck.” Trigger held up a hand as he began to circle the truck.

“Just stay still.” I fought to think clearly. “I’m not going anywhere,” I assured her as Trigger carefully opened her door and leaned down to look under her seat. “Tell me what happened. Why did you leave the trailer?”

“I did what you said. I heard them at the door.” She licked her lips, and I could see her try to pull herself together. “I didn’t open it, but they pried it open and came rushing in. I shot one of them in the leg.” She sounded pleased at that.

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