Page 128 of Clinch'd

She closes the curtain and I struggle to speak but I’m terrified of alerting anyone and resolve to wait until we’re inside. Cooper’s fingers tighten around mine, but I don’t know if it was out of reflex or the ass pucker factor of what we’re about to do.

It’s cool when we step into the darkened space, and I follow Cooper as we walk single file down a long hall. At the other side, those ahead of me pause and I stand on my tiptoes but all I can see is a bright light.

The men whisper amongst themselves, and I mourn the loss when Cooper lets me go to step up and listen. A trickle of sweat slides down my spine and I shake off a shiver as Cyn leans into my ear and says, “Got yourself a boy toy, Min?”

Although I appreciate his attempt at levity, I’m not in the mood and shaking my head, I elbow him in the stomach.

I crack a smile when he chuckles before lurching toward the wall as a loud bang rings out.

“There goes that,” Beast mutters when all hell breaks loose.

The sound of dozens of shots rebounding god knows where ring in my ears and I glance around wildly, easing when I find Cooper pushing through the group toward me.

“Run!” he barks, and I jump and spin around only to pause and look back.

Is this the last time I’m going to see him?

Cooper’s eyes burn with a message that I can’t decipher, and he opens his mouth, but another volley of shots fill the air. Shaking his head he says, “Go.”

Despite everything between us, there’s so much I want to say. Now is not the time though and as I spin away and bust through the doors breathing in the night air, I pray.

Please let him live through this.

Chapter 49

Cooper

As soon as Minnie turns, I glance at the dick who’s supposed to be guarding her. He barely spares me a glance as he and his partner rush out the door.

My soul burns to follow and make sure she gets to the vehicles, but I have to trust them to keep her alive. If Hudson is here, he needs me more but fuck me if I don’t hesitate until Beast grabs my arm.

Shaking off the feeling pressing at my chest, I nod and push past him to the end of the hallway where Hate and his crew are exchanging fire with god knows how many of them.

After crouching to the floor, I glance around, hoping to gain my bearings. Our cover is blown but there’s still a chance to find Hudson. I’m not going to waste this fucking opportunity now that I’m here.

The great room is empty but for a few chairs sitting in a circle which are currently empty. To the left is another hallway and the right, what I presume to be the front door.

Although part of my mind is focused on Minnie and my hope that she ran back through that fucking gate without looking back, I have to let her guards do their job.

If I don’t find my brother, this will all have been for nothing, and I refuse to bring home another dead child to my mother.

Above me, the man who let us in says, “That way.”

He points to the hall to the left and without waiting to discuss the particulars, I duck and run.

“Fuck,” Beast growls but I feel his heavy weight at my back.

Bullets whiz over my head and I pause when one rebounds off the wall before me. Sweat slicks my skin but I keep going because even if I wanted to turn back now it’s too dangerous.

Once we’re out of the main room, I lean against the wall to catch my breath as Beast says, “You’re fucking insane, bro.”

Maybe but I’ve already watched two of my family members die while I hid behind the counter like a little bitch. I won’t hide again. I don’t particularly want to die but I also don’t want to live if it means leaving my brother behind.

None of this I say though. Instead, I move forward counting three closed doors in an otherwise quiet space. Why aren’t there any guards down here?

Because there’s nothing to find or we managed to surprise them? Truthfully, unless someone tipped them off, I’m not sure how they knew so quickly we had arrived but I’m not about to go down that road.

I have enough sense to know Hate wouldn’t sacrifice himself for this rescue mission and I don’t understand their relationship, but I see the way he looks out for Minnie.

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