Page 84 of Safe Haven

Up ahead, a dim glow spills through a doorway into a long hall. Voices carry out, but they’re low enough I can’t identify any of them. The acoustics in this place are shit. It’s like the darkness swallows up everything in its path. Light. Sound.

My patience.

Pushing the mic on my earpiece, I fill Luca and Owen in on the approximate location of our targets. Then Butch and I continue moving in.

I’ve never heard Trevor’s voice, but the arrogance coming out of the man speaking makes me believe that’s who I’m about to finally come face-to-face with. Based on what Butch discovered, it would make sense. Trevor hasn’t made it as far up the ladder as any of us initially believed, so if he wanted help dealing with a situation—Audrey’s flash drive for example—he would have to hire an outside set of hands.

It's also likely he’s trying to deal with this on the down low since admitting he was collecting incriminating evidence on the men he’s working with would likely be a death sentence.

Little does he know, taking Audrey has the same outcome.

“I didn’t do anything with it.” Audrey’s sweet voice nearly has me walking straight into that room and opening fire. Taking out everyone standing between me and her.

But doing that would put her in the line of fire too, and that’s not a risk I will ever be willing to take.

“Bullshit. You’ve always been a lying bitch. I have you on camera fucking around with my computer right before you walked out. I know you copied everything you could onto that flash drive.” The unhinged edge of his words turns my blood to ice. “I’m going to give you one more chance to tell me where it is and who you gave it to, before I shoot her.”

Now it’s Butch who’s ready to step in. I place my hand on his chest, stopping him before he can give away our position.

Tapping my mic again, I ask, “Where are you?”

“I’ve got eyes on your man.” Luca’s voice is low. “Looks like he’s holding the dog. There’s one man down and three others still in play.”

One man down? There were only three men I saw taking Audrey and Becca. Who in the hell is the fourth?

I’m about to find out.

“Can you take anyone out from where you are?” If Luca and Owen shoot first, it will pull everyone’s attention their direction, giving Butch and me the chance to come in and finish what they start.

“I’m pretty sure we can take out two of the three, but I don’t have a good sight line on your guy.”

“Do it.” I tip my head at Butch, inching as close to the edge of the doorway as I can, ready to strike as soon as Owen and Luca fire their shots.

I don’t have to wait long.

The sound of silenced bullets cutting through the air immediately precedes yelling. I wait a heartbeat, ensuring everyone is looking away before I step inside. Butch is right behind me, his gun trained on the hostile who is now reaching for Becca like he thinks he can use the smallest person in the room as a human shield.

I go straight for Trevor, closing in on him fast. When he finally realizes I’m there, I’m so close I could touch him, and it’s far beyond too late for him to do anything but gape in shock.

The second his eyes lock on me, I pull the trigger, sending a bullet into his skull. As he begins to tip backward, I scoop Coco out of his arms, gently cradling her frail body as I turn to see Butch take out the final target. Everything is over in a matter of seconds. Both too slow and too fast at the same time.

I wanted Trevor to know who I was. Wanted him to understand why he was going to die. But seeing the fear in his eyes as he stared down the barrel of my gun will have to do.

I holster my pistol, going straight to where Audrey stands. She seems a little shocked, but unharmed.

Wrapping one arm around her, I pull her against me, pressing my face into her hair and breathing deep. I hold her like that for a few minutes, trying to calm myself down. Trying to cool the rage still coursing through me.

But I want to get her the fuck out of here. Away from this place and the asshole who hurt her.

Who tried to hurt her again.

I loosen my hold on her just enough she’ll be able to walk beside me.

But Audrey doesn’t begin to walk. She tips her head back, looking so sweet and perfect as she smiles up at me. “See?” Her eyes fall to the neglected dog in my arm. “You keep all your promises after all.”

EPILOGUE

AUDREY

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