Page 80 of Owning Emma

Chapter 40

SHAW

“That sure asfuck wasn’t fun,” Roman panted as he pulled himself up by the edge of the counter. He was in rough shape. Really rough shape, and I knew it wasn’t from being weak. It was because he was strong enough to hold out until he knew we could get Emma out safely.

But when I got there, after Troy and I took out the slew of men staking out the bakery from various vantage points, and I looked into the window, I nearly died seeing his body sway as he kneeled in front of them. Blood trailed down his tattooed skin and dripped onto the floor, and Troy had to hold me back, my rage all-consuming.

“If you go in without a plan, you will ruin everything and possibly put both their lives in danger.” He scowled.

“Both their lives are already in danger,” I shot back.

He tilted his head to look me in the eyes. Most people were significantly shorter than I was, and they feared telling me how things were. But Troy? Troy was probably the only person I knew who feared nothing. Nothing at all. “I said we need a plan, Shaw. Are you going to help me or do I need to knock you out to accomplish our shit?”

I took a deep breath. “A plan.”

It was a confirmation of participation, and Troy nodded right as the gravel crunched and a bike approached. The bike parked next to Troy’s Hummer far enough away to not be detected from the inside, then the rider got off, leaving his helmet behind and strolled to where we stood by the window. He peered in and grimaced.

“He looks fucking awful.” I fucking knew it without Eric reminding me. He pulled back. “We need a plan.”

Troy let his fucking carefree grin surface at that, and I was seconds away from strangling him. “We are one step ahead of you kid.”

Troy laid out his plan and we set it in motion. Each of us ready to play our parts but prepared for everything that could go wrong. Then, I was in. My hands held high in the air as I entered the bakery, a few of Krank’s men sitting back and watching the show.

I wanted to destroy them. I wanted to break those fuckers in so many damn pieces that it would be impossible to reassemble their bodies. But I held back. Holding my body in a carefree surrender as I entered the room Roman was in, the guns at my back a constant and real reminder of the trouble faced.

I tried to avoid looking at Emma, trusting that Eric had her covered, that even if we never made it out, Eric would have still set her free and gotten her to safety. Instead, my eyes found Roman’s, speaking to him without words, hoping he understood what I was saying and trusted me.

“Well, well. Speaking of the ox. So nice of you to join us.” I fucking hated when I got called that, but I didn’t let my fury show. We would get our payback. Of that I was positive.

“The pleasure is all mine, really,” I said casually even though inside, I felt anything but casual at hearing the prick’s voice.

“It seems your boss is nothing without you by his side.” I smirked at his words. Roman wasn’t my boss, we were always equals. I just chose with who and where I interacted. “He has no fight in him.”

“Is that so?” I taunted. “Because it seems to me like maybe you’ve misjudged.”

Krank kicked Roman in the stomach and Roman’s hands flexed at his side. Calculated. Timed. He knew the plan. Just a few more feet and Eric would reach Emma. That was all we were waiting for. “Misjudged? Misjudged how weak he was? Hardly lifting a finger, no will to fight back? Doubtful.”

“Misjudged that allowing you to think you were winning, only bought him time for a plan B,”” I said, seeing the sudden uncertainty in Krank’s face.

Krank shook his head, “Plan B? All he had left was you, and look where you are at. Everyone else left town for the holidays. Jack confirmed it. We were coming for you next, you know, but it was nice of you to stop by, save us the trip out to your . . . I mean, my compound.”

Both Roman and I snorted in unison at his bold declaration of ownership. Then I lowered my hands. “Did everyone leave, though?”

Eric reached Emma, and it was about fucking time too. I gave him a moment, letting him free her before I reared back into the gun at my back, at the same time Roman jolted his body forward, using all his strength to slam Krank into the wall. It was all a flurry of mess from there.

Bodies flew in every direction attempting to stop Roman and I, completely unaware Eric had sneaked in, let Emma out and blocked their exit, gun drawn. Oblivious to the fact that through the tiny crack in the window, the one that Mike had left to vent out the room, one of the best guns around sat poised to pick them off.

It took longer than expected to take everyone out. His men using whatever they could find as shields to protect themselves from Troy and Eric’s guns, while Roman and I used pure strength to take Jack and Krank on. Well, until one of Krank’s men’s poor aim took Jack out for us.

I took in a deep breath, trying to breathe through the adrenaline that coursed through my veins. It was over now, and all that mattered to me was safe. This wasn’t like the Christmas Eve of my childhood, where I sat back like a coward and watched the person I loved most in this world fall. I blinked a few times, trying to clear the image. No . . . I came and I rescued. And they were all safe.

I leaned against the counter, my legs shaking, but I was trying to hide it. My eyes locked on Roman’s body, so damn abused but still, he kept going. “You okay?”

“Emma?” His voice was rough, but I got it. I felt the emotion of the situation too.

“She’s fine. Eric sent her to Troy.” I leaned my back against the same counter my palms were leaning on, wishing I could just sit instead of pretending to be strong. “I asked you if you were okay.”

“Sore, but I’ll live.” His eyes watched me intently while his hand reached up, his palm cupping my cheek as his thumb grazed against my skin. Emotion swam in his brown eyes, and I felt a lump form in my throat. I’d waited what seemed like my whole damn life for Roman to look at me like that. To show me something beyond a damn friendship. Something more.

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