Page 59 of Shrouded Past

Bryce wasn’t moving.Please, Lord. Don’t let him die.

“Take care of them. We need to get out of here before someone comes looking,” Aleksandr stared at her in disgust. “I never liked having a sniveling brat hanging around. I wanted to give you away.” Piper flinched at his directness. “But my father insisted I do the right thing like he had with me.”

???

He’d been shot.The bullet slammed into his shoulder, ripped through flesh, and burrowed deep. Burning pain shot from the contact spot. But he was alive. And Piper was in danger. His weapon had flown from his hand. If he could reach it without being spotted . . .

Bryce slitted his eyes and surveyed the room. The man Piper had called Daddy faced her with his back to Bryce. Katrina, Janine, and Rachel had armed men guarding them. He noticed the three appeared to be sending a silent message between them. They’d been disarmed. They were going to attack armed only with laptop bags and a Bible. They’d need a distraction. If he turned his head to search for the handgun one of Aleksandr’s goons would spot that he was alive.

He’d landed close to Eric. His friend’s eyes were closed. The bullet had ripped through Eric’s midsection. He was either dead or in serious condition.

While Bryce’s mind struggled with the impossible, he felt something touch his hand. He cut his eyes downward. His handgun. Eric nudged it to within his reach.

Bryce shifted his eyes to Eric’s. He was alive. No matter the pain Eric had caused, this man was his friend. He’d do his best to save him.

Once more his attention went to the Hope Island Securities women. Janine silently tapped the laptop bag. One. Two. Three. At the final count, the silent standoff disintegrated into all-out chaos.

Janine swung the laptop against the side of her guard’s head, taking him by surprise. He stumbled backward, and she grabbed his weapon before he could react, holding it on him.

“Duck, Piper,” Bryce yelled. She hit the floor without questioning him.

Aleksandr swung his weapon toward Bryce.

Bryce fired, striking the hand holding the weapon. It flew from Aleksandr’s grasp.

Aleksandr screamed and grabbed his injured hand.

Rachel had managed to disarm the man nearest her.

Katrina struggled with her target.

Bryce leapt to his feet and ran toward her. He slammed the butt of the gun against the man’s head. The man dropped to the floor.

“Thank you,” Katrina said with a relieved breath.

“We need to get them secured.” Bryce went over to Piper and helped her to her feet. “Can you search for something to tie them up?”

She nodded quickly and ran for the nearby kitchen.

“Can you keep an eye on my guy?” Janine asked Katrina. “I need to check on Eric.”

Katrina willingly agreed.

“I found rope,” Piper told him when she returned. “And I think I have a sat phone.” She held the phone out to him.

“Thank You, God.” Bryce was able to get the call to go through to the police station. He reported their situation. “We need immediate medical assistance as well, and there’s a fire next door.”

The dispatcher assured him help was coming.

“Take this, and if he tries anything, shoot him.” Bryce handed Piper the handgun while he led Aleksandr to the kitchen and secured his hands behind his back around the chair.

“Ouch, that hurts. I’m injured.”

“You’ll get help,” Bryce muttered. “Just keep your mouth shut.”

Soon the rest of the men were tied to chairs, including the guy Bryce had knocked unconscious. While Rachel and Katrina guarded their prisoners, Bryce and Piper went to the living room.

“How is he?” Bryce knelt beside the man who had cost him so much and tried to understand what had driven Eric to cause so much harm.

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