Page 63 of Hidden Desires

All hell broke loose after that. Autumn watched while the police raided the area making arrests and breaking up fights. Davis and Nick battled their own with Gallagher’s men. Bear went crazy in the commotion, climbing the fence and growling at the men on the other side.

Autumn watched Jackson and Gallagher while doing her best to keep an eye on Bear. Davis finally broke free from the fights and ran over to the cage, Bear following him along the way. He growled at Davis, snapping at the chain link with slobber flying from his gnashing teeth.

“It’s okay, big guy.” Davis watched Autumn as he talked to the dog. “You don’t want to hurt me or Autumn.”

“Davis, he feels threatened.” Autumn scooted farther back in the cage as the dog came closer to her. “He’s scared of his surroundings and is poised to do the only thing he knows to protect himself.”

“What do I need to do to get you out then?”

“Dig a hole on the other side?”

Davis gave her his Marine look. “Not funny, Autumn.”

“Distraction?” She flinched when the dog jumped up on the cage, the chain link clanking loudly along with the surrounding noise. “Unlock the door and go to the other side to distract him.”

Davis did as she said and started to agitate Bear at the other side of the cage. Once he had his attention, Autumn made her move and ran for the exit. Freedom never felt better than closing and locking that door behind her.

“Where’s Jackson?” she asked once Davis joined her again.

“With Gallagher. I don’t know where they are.” Davis grabbed her arm and led her through the commotion which was starting to clear out some as people tried to escape. From what she understood, the police surrounded the property.

Autumn’s adrenaline spiked as she scanned the crowd looking for Jackson. The last time she saw him, he and Gallagher were fighting and she remembered they both were carrying guns. She clutched Davis’s hand against her arm, and he pulled her closer to him.

“I’m getting you out of here, Autumn. Dad’s waiting out front and this time you will stay with him. No negotiations. We don’t need to worry about you while we look for Jackson. Do you understand me?”

They were at a distance from the main crowd. Autumn stopped and fell to the ground to heave the contents of her stomach in the grass. Davis waited, patiently giving her a little space yet being there all the same.

“Come on. Dad’s right around the corner. He’ll take you home, okay?”

Autumn clutched his shirt. “You’ve got to find him. Please, Davis. Don’t let him get hurt.”

Liking passing bread around the dinner table, Davis handed her off to Jeffery, who then put her in their father’s care. He wrapped his arms around her as she broke down, all the emotion of the night finally catching up with her. She pictured in her mind the dogs that died due to fighting and then pictured Jackson and Frank going at it with the probability of one ending the same way. The thought made her sick all over again.

“Sweetheart.” Her father brushed her hair from her face and lifted her chin to look into her eyes.

“I can’t leave, Dad.” She shook her head, a sob slipping out. “I can’t leave him.”

A gunshot rang through the air and Autumn sank to the ground again, waiting for the news of who had been killed.

* * * *

Life was a bitch. This was something Jackson always knew but hadn’t had thrown in his face until recently. When Gallagher’s fist contacted his stomach again, Jackson finally decided he had enough. After knocking him to the ground, he repeatedly pounded his fists into Gallagher’s face, unable to control himself.

“Stop, Jackson.” Davis and Nick were both there pulling him off the nearly limp Gallagher. “He doesn’t deserve his blood on your hands. Let Jeff handle the rest.”

He wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm, his knuckles covered in both Gallagher’s blood and his own. His lip was swollen, and he’d probably have a few bruises but he was essentially okay otherwise. He’d been scarred much worse in battle zones, so the minor bumps and bruises were nothing to him.

“Where’s Autumn?” He spat, the metallic taste of blood lingering in his mouth.

“She’s with Dad.” Davis nudged at his shoulder forcefully to get him to turn away from Gallagher. “Come on. She’s scared to death that you’re hurt. Go be with her.”

They turned their backs and started walking. Jackson couldn’t believe the way the night turned out and didn’t want to think about what Autumn had been through. He pulled his shirt up and wiped his face, hoping to rid himself of most of the ugliness that lingered from the fight.

“You think you’re so smooth?”

Jackson and the two Callahans turned around to find Gallagher pointing the gun, right at Jackson’s chest. “If she just stayed out of my business, out of my family, then none of this would have happened,” Gallagher said, jerking the gun then bringing it back level with Jackson’s chest.

Jackson swallowed hard. He wasn’t threatened by the gun so much as he was the damn dog standing next to his side. Dodo had nothing on the macho pit bull. Thankfully though another man held the dog’s leash, hopefully able to hold the beast back.

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