Page 107 of A Twisted Arrangement

That’s all I need to see before I rush through the empty hallway, fisting my phone in my hand. The tracker isn’t perfect, but I can still see the approximate area she’s in. If I can just get to the other side, I’ll be able to see her. My breath grows rapid, and my chest aches. I need her to be okay.

Five men enter the hall in front of me, cutting off my path. I fire round after round, running at them head-on. Their eyes are wide, fear throwing their aim off. Whoever they are, they’re definitely not used to live combat.

Xander and Bash are close behind me, each taking out men ahead. It takes seconds to clear the hallway. The sound of boots comes crashing down the stairs, and my brothers position themselves to face the attackers.

“Go find our sister,” Bash yells just as the first man steps out in front of him, taking a shot between his brows.

I hesitate for a second, not wanting to abandon them.

“We’ve got this. Just go,” Xander calls over the sound of gunshots as they mow the men down. The attackers made a tactical mistake coming down the stairwell. It only allows a few to exit at a time, making it entirely too easy to take out. Like shooting fish in a barrel.

No part of me feels bad for them—they fucked up when they came after my wife.

I glance at my phone as I turn down the next hallway, and I’m nearly on top of her dot. I suck in a breath, trying to prepare myself for what I’ll see when I open the door. I can’t lose her. No. I won’t fucking lose her.

I swing the door open, gun pointed straight ahead, finger resting on the trigger, then come to a halt.

Scarlet’s standing around three dead bodies, a wide smile across her lips. She’s dripping with blood, but from the way she’s smirking, I don’t think it’s her own.

“I told you I can take care of myself.” She points to the carnage she created, and I’ve never been so happy that she’d spent the last ten years learning how to defend herself. She’d told me once she’d never be in the same position she was in back then ever again, and she meant it.

“Fuck, Little Sparrow, I love when they underestimate you.” I’ve never been so proud of anyone in my entire life.

My feet are moving without me telling them to, closing the distance between us. I drop my gun as she runs and jumps into my arms, burying her face into my chest. For all of her bravado, her body’s shaking, and I tug her closer to me, trying to push all of my strength into her.

I kiss the top of her head. “You did good.”

“Did you doubt me?” Her voice is light as she murmurs into my vest.

“You are so much more than I deserve,” I say shakily.

She pulls back, tears pooling in her eyes. “I was scared. I tried so hard to hide, but they were too fast.”

“Me too, Little Sparrow. I was terrified.” I grip both sides of her face. “I can’t live without you. Do you understand? My life is nothing without you in it.”

I bury my face into the curve of her neck, closing my eyes and breathing in her scent.She’s okay. She’s okay. She’s okay.

I say the words on repeat as shudders roll through me. Rationally, I can see she’s fine, but my body hasn’t quite caught up yet.

A scuffle on the floor has me lifting my head just in time to see a man lunge in to stab her. Rage fills my veins, and I move without thinking, switching Scarlet’s and my positions.

Pain radiates through me as the knife sinks into my lower back, but all I can feel is grateful that it’s me and not her.

Two gunshots ring out before I can turn around, and warm liquids splatters the back of my neck.

Damon’s voice booms across the open room. “You couldn’t fucking wait for me, could you?”

I raise a brow at him. “Like you can talk.”

When Misty had been in danger, he’d lost his mind.

He looks us over. “You okay?”

Scarlet breaks free of my hold and gasps at the sight of my back. She places two trembling hands against the wound. “You’re hurt.”

“It’s just a scratch, Little Sparrow.” I try to ease her mind.

She glares up at me. “You are not okay. We’re going to the hospital.”

---