Page 57 of Red Zone

The second I saw Skye tied to that chair, my vision went red. Even from the sideview I had, I could tell she was pale, her wrists raw from the ropes biting into her skin. Lily’s cries tore through the room, her little voice shaking with fear.And Joe?That bastard stood there with a crowbar like he was ready to use it.

I didn’t think. I just moved.

“Get away from them!” I roared, sprinting toward Joe.

He swung the crowbar, the sharp whistle of metal slicing through the air. I ducked low, the motion throwing me off balance but not enough to stop me. The counter edge jabbed my hip as I lunged forward, my shoulder slamming into his chest. The impact took him to the floor with enough power to make the crowbar clatter out of his hand. Joe let out a guttural shout, struggling beneath me, his movements sluggish from the force of my tackle.

Unable to stop myself, I slammed my fist into his face. “You’re done,” I growled, my voice shaking with rage.

Behind me, Fiona moved in swiftly, her gun trained on Joe as I pushed off him.

“Stay down,” she barked, but he wasn’t going anywhere. I’d leveled him.

Mav moved around them as Fiona snapped the cuffs onto his wrists. Lily whimpered, and he dropped to his knees before her, cooing softly that she was okay as he deftly unhooked the straps that held her in her car seat.

I didn’t wait to watch Fiona drag Joe up. My focus was on Skye. “Skye!” I hurried to her side. Her eyes brimmed with tears as I worked to untie her, my hands clumsy with urgency.

“Liam,” she choked out, her voice breaking.

“You’re okay.” I released the last knot and pulled her into my arms the second she was free.

Her eyes frantically tracked her daughter. “Lily!” she cried out, dropping to her knees before Lily and pulling her into her arms as soon as Mav had her free.

Mav shifted back, and I knelt beside Skye, pulling her and Lily into my arms, needing to feel them both whole and safe. Lily fisted my shirt with one hand, her other arm wrapping around Skye’s neck, her sobs muffled against her mom.

“I’ve got you,” I murmured, holding them close. “I’ve got both of you.”

Skye practically collapsed into me, her body trembling against mine. I pulled her closer into my chest, holding on tighter than I probably should’ve, but I couldn’t let go. Not yet.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice rough, the words catching in my throat.

She nodded, but her grip on my shirt said otherwise. “Joe?”

My hand slid up to cradle the back of her head. “Fiona has him. You’re safe. Everything will be okay.”

Skye let out a shaky breath, her forehead dropping against my chest, Lily tucked between us. Relief flooded through me, but it didn’t erase the image burned into my brain: Skye tied to that chair, her face pale, her eyes wide with fear.

“I thought I’d lost you,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “Both of you.”

Her head lifted, her red-rimmed eyes locking onto mine. She looked as wrecked as I felt, her tear-streaked face lit only by the dim light filtering through the lab. “You didn’t.”

“I can’t lose you, Skye.” A tremor shook my body. “Either of you. I don’t know what I’d do if?—”

“Liam…” Her voice wavered, and I saw the tears welling in her eyes again.

“I mean it.” I held her gaze. “You’re everything. You and Lily—you’re my everything.”

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, neither of us moved. The world around us—the sirens, the voices—faded into nothing. There was only the three of us, my lifeline that I vowed never to let go.

CHAPTER THIRTY

LIAM

The lights buzzed overhead, harsh and cold against the sterile walls of the hospital. We’d arrived in an ambulance because I was taking no chances with Skye or Lily’s well-being. The exam went well with very little wait. After having seen the doctor, we were left in the ER until the nurse came with discharge papers.

It was eerily quiet, the earlier nightmare replaced by an uneasy calm. Skye sat on the exam bed, Lily curled in her lap, her tiny fingers tangled in her mom’s hair. Lips pressed softly to Lily’s temple, Skye whispered soothing words I couldn’t quite make out.

Fiona had just stepped out after checking on us to head to the precinct, leaving me hovering near Skye and Lily, wanting to slam my fist into Joe’s face all over again for putting them in such a fragile state. I shoved my hands into my pockets, knuckles still raw from the earlier scuffle.

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