Page 34 of Entertaining Distraction
The prick slammed the bottle onto the table and grabbed Jenn by the hair, yanking her head back. “Bitch!”
In the next few moments, so much happened at once. Jenn screeched in pain. In the other room, Doug leaped from his seat, sending the chair flying backward, his face red with rage. “Get your fucking hands off her!”
The suspect who’d been watching the men swung his weapon around to shoot Doug, but Nick was faster, snatching an unlit candle in a heavy, round holder from the table and throwing it at the guy’s head. Simultaneously, Jake kicked out from where he sat and smashed the bastard’s knee with the heel of his boot-covered foot. When the gun went off, the bullet slammed into the ceiling, as the shooter screamed in agony and dropped to the floor. The two former SEALs had him disarmed and restrained within seconds.
Meanwhile, at the same time, Charlotte also stood quickly, reaching for the gun at her lower back, but the ringleader hauled Jenn out of her chair and sent her crashing into the table. The table knocked into Charlotte, and the chair she’d stood from tipped over and got tangled in her legs, making her lose her balance and stumble. Twisting, she fell on her ass, causing pain to explode in her tailbone. Fury flared in the ringleader’s eyes through the cutouts in the mask as he shoved Jenn aside and raised his gun.
“No!” Jose yelled, lunging forward and pulling out the gun he’d stuck in his front waistband.
Instead of shooting Charlotte, the leader spun on the new threat and pulled the trigger. The bullet slammed into Jose’s chest. Stunned, he froze before falling to his knees. Screams and shouts filled the air. Before the drugged-up bastard could bring his gun back around completely, Charlotte fired. His head snapped back as the slug hit him between the eyes. He was dead before he hit the ground.
The next thing Charlotte knew, Mike was lifting her to her feet. “Are you okay? Shit, Charlotte, tell me you’re okay.” His shaking hands and panicked gaze roamed her body, looking for any sign she was injured.
“I-I’m fine. Jenn? Daniella? Colleen?” She looked at each one of them, making sure none had been shot. Doug already had his arms around Jenn, holding the trembling young woman as she buried her face in his chest. Embracing, Colleen and Reggie assured each other they were okay. Jake was checking on Daniella, while in the other room, Nick held the other suspect at gunpoint.
The guy in the pharmacy yelled, “What the hell’s going on? Ace? Jose?” But no one answered him.
Charlotte’s ears were ringing from the loud gun reports. Scanning the room, she finally realized Jose was lying on the ground, covered in blood. “Damn it.”
She pulled from Mike’s arms, set the gun on the table, and rushed over to where the young man was gasping for air. Mike was right behind her, telling Jake to call 9-1-1 and grabbing a clean tablecloth from one of the empty tables. Charlotte took it from him and put pressure on the wound, but it was clear Jose was fading fast. He stared up at her with pain- and tear-filled eyes. “I-I’m so-sorry, Ms. Roth. Th-They have Dina and ... and Tomas. Ma-Made me do it ... said they’d k-kill them.”
Shit. “Where are they, Jose?”
“D-Don’t know ... Ace has som-someone watching ... them.” He swallowed hard, his breath becoming more labored. “Pl-Please save th-them ... tell them I-I’m s-sorry.”
Behind her, Charlotte heard Jake giving out orders. He took over the watch of the one suspect and sent Nick and Doug out to the alleyway to see if they could grab the other. The guy was still shouting from the pharmacy, trying to figure out what had gone wrong. They’d have to wait until he came out the rear exit, which was locked from the inside, but it wouldn’t take long. A getaway vehicle was probably parked back there. Once he realized his buddies weren’t going to be able to help him, he’d want to get the hell out of there. There was no honor among thieves.
“We’ll find them, Jose, I promise. Just stay with me. Help is on the way.”
“Not—Not gonna make ... it. Tell them ... I love them and I’m so—” Jose went still as his last breath left him. His lifeless eyes open, seeing nothing.
Unexpected tears rolled down Charlotte’s cheek. She wished she could have done something to save him, but from the amount of blood that’d poured out of the entrance and exit wounds on his chest and back, it had been hopeless from the start. The bullet had probably hit a major artery—he’d bled out in under two minutes.
Charlotte rested back on her heels. Hands cupped her shoulders from behind, and she glanced back. She hadn’t realized Mike had stood. He tightened his grip and pulled her up. Ignoring the blood now covering both their hands, he wrapped his arms around her. A sob escaped her, followed by another as Charlotte buried her face into his chest.
Mike kissed the top of her head. “It’s my turn to take care of you, baby. I’ve got you ... I’ve got you.”
