Page 58 of Rusty's Command

“Soda, take!” Rusty pointed at the fleeing target.

As Rusty dashed toward Sienna, Soda took off like a black missile, covering the stage in three bounds. The kid’s scream pitched higher as Soda slammed him face-down on the stage and growled as she pinned him with her bared teeth inches from his neck.

Rusty dropped to the floor and gathered Sienna in his arms. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

She crumbled against him, and her fingers knotted in his shirt as she gasped for air.

The women who’d been cowering in shadows returned to the stage. Four collapsed into each other’s arms, and two sank to their knees in tearful prayers.

“You okay?” Rusty brushed his hand over the bruises blooming on Sienna’s arm.

“Yes. Thank you. You saved us.”

“Told you I would.” He crushed her against his chest, pressing his lips to her forehead. “You were amazing.”

Pickle bounded across the stage, launching himself over Sienna’s legs as if this was the greatest game ever.

Sienna’s giggle shimmered through the air, breaking down years of darkness and transporting him back to better days, when he’d held her on a sandy beach, and they’d laughed until tears of joy spilled down their cheeks.

And then he’d ruined it all.

He made a silent vow: he would never let her slip away again.

Pickle’s excited yips and wagging tail created a surreal counterpoint to the spent bullets and bloody bodies around them, yet somehow, the little dog’s excitement made their victory feel more complete.

Soda was still at the edge of the stage, maintaining her fierce watch on the kid. She would keep him pinned until judgment day if Rusty didn’t give the release command.

Reluctantly, he loosened his hold on Sienna. “You sure you’re okay?”

She nodded, and the golden flecks in her forest-green eyes caught the scattered flashlights like sparks. “Yes, babe. I’m fine.”

Babe.The word glowed in him like sunlight, warming places in his heart he’d thought would remain frozen until his last breath. He wanted to stay with her clutched in his arms, but duty called. “I better help that guy.”

She curled her lip through her teeth, and it was so damn sexy his cock throbbed to life. She cupped his cheek. “Go do what you have to . . . but we still have some things to discuss.”

He blinked at her, hoping the things she was referring to started with them getting naked and ended with tangled sheets.

She giggled again, and certain she could read the steamy thoughts scrolling through his head, he released her hand, pushed to his feet, and strode toward Soda, trying to redirect his focus to their captive rather than Sienna’s tantalizing promise.

“Soda, release.”

Obeying, she backed away yet maintained her laser focus as Rusty zip-tied the young man’s wrists and eased him onto his side. The kid’s breaths came in shallow gasps, and his eyes were wide with terror. He was another young life poisoned by Wang’s golden promises and dirty money.

Rusty dropped to a crouch before him. “What’s your name?”

“Tommy,” he whispered, keeping his gaze on the floor.

“Stay put, Tommy. I’ll be back.” Rusty kept his tone steady and professional.

“What—what are you going to—?” Panic clawed at the edges of Tommy’s words.

“Easy now.” Rusty squeezed the kid’s shoulder, trying to ground him. “Just breathe. I’ll be right back.”

He crossed to Soda, who hadn’t shifted an inch.

“Good girl.” He scratched that sweet spot between her ears, and her tail wagged. “On my heel.”

She’d earned herself the works tonight: a long soak in a warm tub and a massive pot of his beef stew that she went crazy for. But he had a heck of a lot to do before then.

---