Page 61 of Mine to Hold
“I don’t know. But I need you to do exactly what I say.” He turned, holding his weapon at the ready. “I’m sorry if I’m being harsh or acting like a dick, but I take it personally when someone invades my space.” He took out his phone and quickly sent a text to Emmett, his mom, and Chris with an update. It was just a few words.
Intruder broke into main house.
“I’m not upset by how you’re acting,” she whispered. “I’m just scared shitless.”
So was he, but he wasn’t about to tell her that.
Slowly, he tugged open the bedroom door and inched out into the pitch-black hallway. He let his eyes adjust to the darkness. It wasn’t the first time he’d been in a dangerous situation. Hell, he was a cop. He’d been shot at before. Even took a bullet once.
But never in his life had anyone dared invade his home.
He rounded the corner into the family room. The sliding glass doors to the patio had been shattered. “Watch your feet,” he whispered as he maneuvered around the sofa.
A shadow to his left caught his attention. He jerked his body, keeping Rumor tucked behind him, but another shadow slinked out from the kitchen to his right and he froze as he stared at the wrong end of a gun.
“I’d put that down if I were you,” Tony said as he flicked on the lights that hung over the island.
“I will do no such thing.” Emmerson sucked in a deep breath, aiming his weapon dead center at Tony’s chest.
Rumor dug her nails into Emmerson’s back. She gasped as the other shadow emerged.
Tom.
Fucker.
Two guns.
Pointed at Emmerson.
And Rumor.
This was not good.
“You’re going to hand over your gun and give us the girl. Otherwise, we start shooting,” Tom said, waving his weapon like a fucking lunatic. He stood approximately six-two and was an impressive man, to say the least. Muscular. Fit. Surprisingly so for a man known for snorting his own product. His bicepsbulged and were lined with tattoos. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail. And his face looked like leather from too much sun.
Tony, on the other hand, was a scrawny fellow. Not much meat on his bones and Emmerson knew without a doubt he could take that kid. But at what cost? He couldn’t disarm both men at once. Not without one of them shooting and by the look in Tony’s eye, he was higher than a fucking kite.
Bad sign.
“You can have my gun. You can even have me. But you’re not taking Rumor anywhere.” Emmerson released his grip on his gun and held his hands up. These two assholes had no idea the cavalry had been called. All Emmerson had to do was buy some time. His life—and Rumor’s—was in the hands of his family and Chris. He trusted them and had faith that if he could contain the situation long enough, they would save the day.
They always did.
Tom snatched the gun from his fingertips. “We’re not fucking around. That woman stole from us. And then she sent my boy up the river. If you think we’re going to let her get away with that, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“Well, you boys have a different problem because I don’t believe you know who I am.” Emmerson reached behind his back, holding Rumor tight to his body. His job was to protect her and he’d do that, or die trying.
Not because his mother told him to, but because his heart commanded it.
He loved her. No denying it and he wasn’t even going to try.
“We know you’re a cop,” Tom said. “And we don’t care. Home invasions happen all the time.” Tom grabbed Rumor by the hair and yanked her from Emmerson’s grasp.
She screamed.
He clenched his fists at his sides. A sense of dread and hopelessness filled his soul. “You’re not going to get away with this.”
“Take care of this asshole.” Tom waved his gun toward Tony.
