Page 79 of Rescued Faith

“But—”

“We don’t have time to argue.” Penny walked toward the bathroom window again.

Zack’s eyes went wide. “You’ve met your match there, buddy. Let’s go.”

She’d at least need a boost. Bryce jogged quietly up to her. “Penny!” he hissed. She whipped her head around, finger to herlips. They reached the straw bale under the bathroom window again.

“I don’t like this,” he said.

“It’s the best we’ve got. Are you going to help or not?”

That stubborn streak in her was going to be the death of him.

“Fine.” He boosted her up and waited until she was back through the window. He ran around to the front of the trailer.

Zack waited in the shadows, watching his phone. Bryce gave him a thumbs-up. He held the shotgun, but how could he actually use it? If this guy got close to Stephens, there was too much of a chance his friend would be hurt. He kept the barrel pointed to the ground and crouched behind a bush at the corner of the trailer. At least here he had a clear view of the front door as Zack approached it.

Penny’s text came through. Bryce was poised, ready for action. Zack sang loudly and obnoxiously as he approached the door.

“Hello? Helloooooo?” He laughed and pounded on the door. “Anybody home?”

Bryce checked the TIC screen. One of the men left the area Libby was in and moved closer but didn’t open the door. Bryce made a circular motion with his pointer finger at Zack, indicating he should keep going.

“Yo! I need some help. Hello?” Stephens pounded on the door again and then leaned against it.

After more seconds of silence, the man inside finally opened the door.

“What do you want?” The man cracked the door open but didn’t come out.

“Hola, amigo!” Zack laughed. “I uh…I kinda ran out of gas. Could you?—”

“Get out of here.” He tried shutting the door, but Zack’s work boot was in the way.

“No, really, I will. I just need a leeeeetle gas-o-line.” He held up his thumb and forefinger close together. Bryce crept closer.

The man must’ve heard him. He opened the door wider.

“Who else is out there?”

“No one but me. Well, and a little Jimmy Walker.” Zack snickered. Hedidmake a good drunk guy.

“I’m giving you one—” The door opened wider. Wide enough for Zack to grab the front of the man’s shirt and yank him outside.

“Hey!”

Bryce sprang from his spot. Stephens had the man down on the grass. They rolled in the lawn. Bryce couldn’t risk using the shotgun, so he set it down and was about to jump in when a glint of metal flashed in the moonlight.

“He’s got a knife!” Bryce yelled.

Zack grunted. He rolled and popped up onto his feet, just beyond the other man’s grasp.

Bryce moved behind the stranger. He tried to approach from the right while Zack covered the left. The man between them swung a deadly arc with his blade when either of them got close. One of them was going to have to grab him to get that knife away.

Bryce waited. Watched. As soon as the man looked at Zack and his focus diverted for a split second, Bryce grabbed the arm with the knife. But the bulky man was faster than he looked. His arm slipped out of Bryce’s reach, and in a split second, the blade sliced into Bryce’s thigh.

Pain seared. Bryce groaned. But it was the distraction Zack needed. He lunged at the man, and they both fell to the ground. Bryce grabbed his thigh and moved closer, ready to jump in. In the dark, he couldn’t tell who was who as the two men wrestled. Warm moisture seeped between his fingers. Suddenly the two men stopped.

“Stephens!” Bryce yelled.

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