Page 71 of Claimed by the Lawman

Chapter 24

KACE KICKED IN the door at Ruby’s establishment and held up his shot gun as he moved in, followed by all four of his brothers who were packing heat too. The place was crawling with men watching the stage where a half-dressed woman slid seductively down the pole. Once the patrons gathered what was happening, they jumped up from their chairs and scattered, while the naked women screamed and disappeared into the back room.

There was one person Kace wanted to speak to.

He rounded the bar, grabbed the shaking bartender by the collar and dragged him around to sit on the end stool. Sweat dripped from the man’s brow.

“Jimmy, right?” Kace only lowered his gun slightly. “I’m guessing you’re more than a bartender. You’re the eyes and ears of this establishment. If you don’t want to go down as an accomplice to murder and a handful of different counts of criminal activity, this is your moment. Where is the woman? Where is Tyler Posey?”

With a shaky hand, the bartender slowly lifted his hand and pointed to the back.

“You’ll have to do better than that,” Kace said.

“In the basement.”

Kace pointed at the young man. “Listen, if I find out that you’re lying to me, I’ll come back and I’ll shoot you. Got it?”

The man gave a jerky nod.

Not bothering to alert his brothers, Kace headed for the hallway, wanting to rush, but knowing he needed to take his time. He’d bank that he’d encounter some of Bane’s men standing guard. After Ruby confessed and told Kace that he could find Tyler here, he and his brothers wasted no time in coming to the strip club on the outskirts of town.

As Kace made his way down the darkened corridor with his back pressed against the wall, he came to a doorway to his left. Expecting an ambush, Kace didn’t even blink when the man popped out from the room, gun aimed. Quick as lightening, Kace aimed his weapon and fired, hitting the man in the shoulder and knocking him to the floor.

Feeling a touch on his arm, Kace swirled around and came face to face with Zander Cade who said, “Whoa there, bro. I’ll take care of the man from here”

Kace nodded and continued down the corridor to a closed door. He turned the knob and it was unlocked, and sure enough, there he found a set of steps. Slowly, he descended, gun held against his chest, aware of his surroundings until finally he stepped onto the concrete floor. Looking around the room lit by a nearby furnace, he finally saw what he was looking for and instantly his heart fell into his feet.

“Tyler.” He hurried over to her. She was bound to a chair and had a bloody cheek. “I’m here now, sweetheart.”

She blinked twice as if she didn’t believe he was real, and then her puffy eyes widened. “Kace, watch out.”

Quickly, he turned and aimed his gun. The man across the room had his pistol targeted directly at Kace.

“It’s time we finally met, Sheriff Cade. I’ve heard so much about you that I feel like I already know who you are,” the man in the suit said smugly.

“How about you lower that weapon and we’ll get properly introduced.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Sheriff.”

“I didn’t think so. You should know this isn’t going to end well for you,” Kace said lowly.

“The way I look at it, at this close range we’re both going to have a bad day.”

“Take the shot.”

The gun blasted, hitting the suited man in the head. He was dead before he hit the concrete. Kace looked up at the stairs where Cullen lowered his smoking gun. “You owe me one, bro.”

Kace smiled. “Let’s call that even.” He dropped his gun and pushed it into his waist, then hurried to Tyler, quickly untying her and dragging her into his arms. He’d never felt more relieved in all his life. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He pushed her back slightly so he could visually examine her. She looked like heaven.

“I’m okay. He was going to brand me until he heard the commotion upstairs,” she said in a breathless tone. “Bane is involved, Kace. He did all this.”

“I know. We’ll get him.”

“He’s already captured. We found him cleaning out the safe in Ruby’s office,” Cullen said.

“I always guessed that man’s greediness would be his downfall,” Kace said, lifting Tyler into his arms and heading up the stairs.

“Thank you, Kace. Thank you for saving me.” She dropped her head to his shoulder.

“I’ll always be here. Always.”

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