Page 56 of Out to Find Freedom

“Mattie, just don’t.”

“I have to.”

My phone rang. I held up a finger to Mattie and looked at the screen to see Talon’s number. “Gotta take this,” I told Mattie, who frowned. “Yeah?”

“Blue caught movement a block away, four guys dressed in black. They’re coming in fast. Get back inside.”

I ended the call, grabbed Mattie’s upper arm, and, on the walk to the house, I said, “Could be some threats coming in fast. Get in the house. Go to Emmie’s room with Julian and stay there until one of us comes to get you.”

I was surprised when I didn’t see Mattie pale in fear. His jaw clenched as he nodded and opened the door.

“Poppet?” Julian asked, standing from the couch.

“Emmie’s room, now,” Mattie said. “Grab the bat and my gun.”

I stepped in and shut the door, locking it. I pulled my gun free from its holster as I turned off the living room light and peeked out from behind the curtain. “Get the light in the kitchen, Mattie.”

He did and came back in when Julian reached the living room. Julian handed Mattie his gun. Something Talon would have gotten him because it didn’t look legal. Mattie took hold of Julian’s hand and led him down the hall.

As I glanced out from behind the curtain again, I heard Emerson’s startled cry before one of them reassured her. Someone came up the front walk, a flash of light passing over a vest. Killer.

I unlocked and opened the door quickly.

“Get her in the living room. We’ll surround her. Burrows is with the group.”

“Fuck.” I advanced down the hall and opened the door to Emmie’s room. Music played softly as Julian sat on the bed with her while Mattie stood by the window, keeping an eye out.

“Everyone in the living room,” I said. I let my gaze drift back over Emmie. She looked pale, and her body trembled a little. She wore only a tank top, and when Julian flicked back the blanket, I caught pink panties.Damn.I quickly turned and went back down the hall.

It wasn’t the time for pink panties to be burned into my mind.

I also had to wipe away the image of the scars I saw. It wasn’t that they made her look bad. She never could. It was the thought of how she got them, what she went through, that had anger rising, along with the fury already burning over the fucker Burrows disturbing what could have been a peaceful rest for Emmie.

I stood by the hallway door. Julian came through first, then Emmie in—fuck me—my hoodie and track pants, followed by Mattie.

“On the couch,” Killer ordered from where he stood near the front door. “Blue’s at the back. Griz has Emmie’s bedroom window, Talon the other. We should be covered.”

“It’s going to be okay, dovey dove,” Julian told Emmie, pulling her down to the couch. I moved off to the kitchen and stood in there, looking out the back window into the dark night.

I glanced back to the living room to find Mattie standing over Julian and Emmie. Emmie had her feet up, her arms curled around them as Julian wrapped his arms around her. He whispered in her ear. She nodded. Then her eyes came to me.

I quickly turned back to the window and saw a shadow move across the way.

A shot was fired outside. I ran to the back door and pulled it open. As I stepped out, I heard Emmie’s cry of “Ryan.” I wanted to look at her, but I had to steel myself and have my head in the situation.

Blue had a guy on the grass who bled from the leg. A gun lay on the garden not far from where they were.

One guy. Three to go.

“Behind,” Blue called.

I spun, gun raised, then ducked when a guy fired. I heard glass splintering inside. Adrenaline rushed through me. I tackled the guy to the ground, hit him twice. The crunch of my fist slamming into his flesh sounded good, but I couldn’t take pleasure in it, not while Burrows was still at large and Emmie was at risk. There was also the fact that the motherfucker was knocked out cold. Back on my feet, I ran back inside. Killer towered over a guy passed out on the ground. Out the corner of my eye, I saw a flash in the hallway.

“Down,” I yelled. Julian covered Emmie’s body. Mattie dove over them. I fired as soon as I saw a hand come into view. The dickhead screamed. His weapon dropped. Immediately, I stalked over, kicking it away. Nabbing the piece of crap by the jacket, I pulled him into view. A light in the living room got switched on, and I threw Burrows to the ground, gun aimed down on him.

It couldn’t be this easy. He couldn’t be this stupid.

“Why now?” I asked. “Why the fuck come here now?”

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