Page 11 of Rescuing Royce

Royce edged around the corner, gun steady, and took a look. Tyson was holding the woman against the building, maybe twenty feet away. Tyson’s left hand covered her mouth; his right held a gun under her chin. And he was shaking his left leg.

Looked like he’d been kicked.

Good for her, she fought back. The move may have saved her life.

Royce returned to his position and turned the safety off. When he stepped out fully into the alley, Tyson continued to spit curse words at his captive. But the woman must have caught his movement. She turned her head toward him. Eyes wide in fear, she blinked rapidly then slammed them shut when Tyson pressed his nose into her cheek.

Amber.

Shit!Goddammit. His heart stopped for a beat, then started back up, pounding the crap out of his chest. He’d never once been in a situation on the job where he knew the victim.

Seeing Amber shoved up against the fucking wall with a gun in her face fueled his anger. He wished he could tear the scumbag apart with his bare hands. Instead, he took a deep breath and centered himself and remembered protocol, then dismissed protocol. Screw it.

Time was his second enemy, and as much as he’d relish beating Tyson to a pulp, he’d settle for shooting him in the leg. A headshot clearly wasn’t an option with how he was currently holding onto Amber.

Amber’s eyes flashed open again. Royce held her frightened gaze and willed her to calm. She gave a slight nod.

Tyson followed Amber’s gaze. “Fuck!” He whirled Amber in front of him and used her as a shield.

Gravel sprayed into the air, and Amber stumbled and let out a whimper.

Her cry wrapped around Royce’s heart and refused to let go. “Pretty pathetic using a woman to protect yourself. Let her go, Tyson, and you won’t get hurt. That’s the only and last promise I’m making you.”

Tyson let out another string of curses and pulled Amber closer into his body. “Back off, Royce. You’re not on duty, man, and your SWAT buddies are nowhere in sight.”

As if on cue, the sounds of sirens increased. The air filled with the screeching of tires and shouts of officers.

“You were saying, dickhead?” Royce aimed his gun low and to the left of Amber’s body. “I’m sure the local PD will back me up. So, do yourself a favor and let her go. The longer you drag this out, the more trouble you’ll be in.”

“Bullshit. We both know I’m going down. I’ve already got a felony on my belt, man. So, maybe I should have a little fun first, huh? Cause I don’t think you’re going to shoot an old friend. You don’t have it in you. Not Royce Kincaid, the pillar of Pineville.”

That’s right keep talking dickhead. The more Tyson rattled on, the better Amber’s chances of coming out unhurt became. “What in the Hell are you talking about? I’m not the pillar of anything. Just doing my job, asshole.”

“Screw you! You think because you’re the law now that people don’t remember? Everyone knows how you messed up plenty in high school.” Tyson stepped backward, dragging Amber with him.

“I think you’re confusing me with yourself. And you’re running out of time,old friend.” Royce matched each step Tyson took. He held out a hand when the first responding officerounded the corner. “I got this.” And he did. No one was taking Tyson down but him.

Another screech of tires erupted as two squad cars blocked the exit to the alleyway behind Tyson. He wasn’t going anywhere. But, would he go down injuring himself or worse, Amber?

Tyson’s eyes were darting between Royce and the officer behind him. Royce was almost out of time. He needed to act. Sweat was pouring off Tyson’s brow, and the hand holding the gun to Amber’s chin had begun to shake. Shit, he was probably on something besides the whiskey he’d been downing all night.

“Let her go, Ty. You’re hurting her.” Royce kept his tone even as he crept closer. When he was within ten feet, he stopped. He let his gaze roam over Amber and checked to see if she was bleeding.

Tyson moved his arm up and wrapped it around her throat.

Royce grimaced as he watched Amber struggle to push Tyson off. He almost lost it when she began to gasp for breath.

“Hurting her? Christ, she’s fine. So fine.” Tyson shouted. He bent down and whispered something in Amber’s ear. She cringed and kicked out. Her leg missed, but it gave Royce the opportunity he needed. Tyson moved his lower body out of the way, opening himself up as the perfect target.

Royce nodded as Amber’s gaze met his again and mouthed the words,“lean to the left—you’ll be okay.”He couldn’t wait to see if she understood; he aimed his gun and fired.

The bullet found its home in Tyson’s upper right thigh. He screamed, let go of Amber, and dropped the gun as he reached down to cover his wound.

She fell to the side and scrambled backward, slamming her back into the brick wall. Royce ran toward her, the officer behind him descended on Tyson as several officers raced from the end of the alley.

It was over.

He crouched down in front of Amber and pulled her into his arms. “You okay, sweetheart? It’s over. He won’t ever hurt you again.”

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