Page 116 of Crush

We were surrounded. I couldn’t even check to see if Amber was OK. If I moved, would they shoot me? I could hear her shouting from inside the car. I sure hoped that the fucker hadn’t done anything to her in that short space of time he’d had her.

“The sodding Irish,” I heard Harker mutter under his breath. The gun he held shifted between us but I could see his hand was shaking.

I think you're surrounded you little prick.

“Good afternoon gentlemen,” Kinlan began in a calm, reasonable voice. He glanced over at the battered vehicles before removing his sunglasses and pocketing them. “Had a little accident?”

I had no idea what his agenda was, I could only pray that he had decided to accept my deal.

“Kinlan,” Harker suddenly said and my spirits dipped. He’d recognised him. Fuck. They knew each other. I was so screwed.

“David Alexander as we live and breathe. I heard you were dead.” So, Harker went under another name. That shouldn’t have surprised me. But were they friends or enemies? Damn it! This was so messed up. I eyed the limo again when I heard fists pounding against the glass.

So did the other men.

“Go get the girl,” Kinlan instructed as Harker or Alexander or whatever the fuck his name was lowered his gun. “Wise decision.”

The beast that had been lying dormant inside me growled as I helplessly watched one of Kinlan’s goons shoot the lock of the rear car door.

The sound of the bullet forced a scream from inside the limo. Amber!

That fucker was sure to terrify her but I felt a hint of relief as he re-holstered his gun and forcibly extracted my woman.

“Let go of me,” Amber cried out as she was dragged from the back of the limo by one of Kinlan’s men. My fingers wrapped tighter around the bat and I made to move towards them. Thoughts of Harker momentarily forgotten.

“Get your hands off her!” I growled. The goon was holding her against his chest with his hands wrapped around her arms. She was struggling and I went to lunge towards them but Harker raised his gun, thinking I was going for him.

“Max,” I heard her pant as I glared at Harker.

“You move, you die,” he barked and I lowered the bat, keeping my eyes on the man who held the woman I loved so tightly, her back against his massive chest. She looked so tiny and helpless and the beast in meroaredits frustration. I had never felt so useless.

“Max, what’s going on,” Amber shouted, clearly in pain, her eyes darting towards the scary-looking mobsters. “Who are these men?”

I twisted my head towards Kinlan, “Tell him to let her go, he’s hurting her.”

“If you hadn’t interfered, we’d be long gone by now,” Harker piped up.

“What did you say to me, you little prick?” I said, turning on him, rage coming off me in waves.

“You heard me. Amber would be safe if it wasn’t for you.”

“Safe by being kidnapped, I don’t think so you sick fuck,” I snarled as we squared up against each other again, both our weapons raised. I knew it was foolish, a bat would never compete with a gun but I was too far gone.

A full-on slanging match ensued as we cursed each other out and threw threats.

"Enough," Kai Kinlan yelled after discharging his weapon in the air. "It's like watching two bullies squaring off in the playground."

I turned to stare at him with flagrant disbelief. I held a baseball bat and Harker had a gun; what type of scary-ass school didhego to?Cosa Nostra Grammar quite probably.

"Drop the gun and the bat and get the fuck over there,” Kinlan commanded with a sour expression.

We both just stood there, not moving, eyeing each other with a frustrated wariness.

“Did I stutter? Now, bothof you," he repeated, waving his gun towards where he told us to go.

I waited until Harker dropped his weapon before I threw the bat down. Uncertainty thrummed through me. We were surrounded by men in black with their guns aimed at our heads and so my options were limited. I wondered why Kinlan hadn't just shot the fucker Godfather style, considering our arrangement.

Nudging the discarded bat with my foot, I stepped over it and walked towards what was left of the stables, shooting Harker a look of pure evil. I couldn't wait to get my hands on him.

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