Page 114 of Love and Memories

Switchblade. Switch. Gunner’s friend was named for his weapon of choice.

That left Bella with one of the other club members, and from what she’d told him about them, he didn’t want a single one touching her.

Travis had to get to her, but first, he had to get rid of the guy at his window who was raising his blade to stab him again. Grabbing the wrist that held the blade, he twisted until the grown man released the knife and let out a high-pitched scream followed by a growl.

“You’ll pay for that,” the man snarled as he grabbed for the knife on the ground.

Travis reached into the back seat and pulled out his own weapon of choice–the aluminum bat he’d used for batting practice with Asa’s son last week.

He stepped out of the truck and didn’t bother closing the door behind him. The man clamored for his knife in the dirt as Travis raised the bat over his shoulder. “No, you’ll be the one to pay.”

43

ISABELLA

The moment her arm ripped from Travis’s grasp was the moment her hope died. The dim daylight filtered through the canopy above them, revealing a ghost.

Gunner.

The shock of seeing him was quickly eclipsed by the terror that gripped her arm and sucked the breath from her chest. She hadn’t killed him. In fact, she’d only killed herself.

And Travis. She hadn’t gotten a look at the other man, but it had to be Switch. The two friends had a bond between them born of violence and sickness. They’d killed together before, and they were here to do it again.

Gunner pulled her out of the truck before she could get her feet beneath her. Her knees hit the ground, crunching the dry leaves covering the forest floor. He held tight to her arm, pulling her up before she could gain her balance.

“No! Stop!”

Gunner’s strong arm wound around her front, jerking her back against his chest. A hoarse scream tore from her throat, but Gunner’s dirty hand clasped over her mouth, cutting off her cryfor help. A gritty, metallic taste hit her tongue as she tried to pull away.

“Shut up!” Gunner snarled against her ear before calling her a string of obscenities through clenched teeth.

His hand covered half of her nose, preventing her from breathing. Panic rose higher, overflowing inside her.

The arm holding her to him disappeared, and she squirmed as much as she could, trying to break the hold he had over her face.

A second later, something hard poked her back.

The barrel of a gun. There was no mistaking the brand that seeped through her coat and sweater. It was his favorite way to torture his enemies. She’d seen him use it before without an ounce of remorse in his eyes.

Gunner’s mouth was at her ear again. His hot breath sent a chill running down her spine.

“Walk.” The word was steady and controlled, leaving no room for argument.

Hearing Gunner’s voice only stirred the panic in her more. She’d been afraid she’d killed him, but now she was terrified to know he was alive.

Her escape had been temporary this whole time. He’d probably been looking for her or waiting in the woods for his moment to strike.

No. Nathan would have known. He would have warned her.

A shot rang out from the other side of the vehicle, and Bella jerked to a halt.

The gun at her back prodded hard against her spine. “Walk!”

There were more grunts and shots as Gunner led her away from Travis. Her nostrils flared as she fought back sobs. She had to help him, but she couldn’t even help herself.

They walked a few more steps before she stumbled. His grip on her face slid off as she tumbled to the ground. Sticks and debris bit into her palms as she caught her fall.

“Travis!”

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