Page 103 of Ashes of the Past
“Shut the fuck up,” Nick hisses.
“Let him talk,” John calls out. “He’s just admitted to us and the security cameras about the felonies he committed.”
“What an idiot,” Nick snorts.
Thank goodness we installed all the security cameras. All of this should have been captured by the cameras. We have proof of everything now.
I feel a moment of relief at that thought, but it’s quickly gone when I look around for Brynn and Olivia again. I watch Brynn clutch Olivia, her hands trembling as she checks her over. I want to go to them, I want to fix this, but there’s too much happening at once. My mind is spinning, trying to keep up.
Barney is lying on the ground next to Clay, struggling for breath. My chest tightens. I kneel, my hands hovering over the dog, afraid to find a bullet wound. The thought of losing Barney, of Olivia witnessing that kind of loss, is unbearable.
“He wasn’t shot,” Paulo tells me as he holds pressure on Clay’s wound. “Clay was strangling him when he got hit, though, and punching him.”
Clay is breathing, and he’s in and out of consciousness. I let out a low growl, fighting every urge I have to push Paulo away and let this bastard bleed out.
Barney makes a strangled noise as he struggles to sit up. He gets all the way up as I sit back on my heels. He gives me a chuff before he trots over to where Brynn and Olivia are.
That is one tough ass dog.
“Barney!” Olivia shrieks as she drops to her knees and the dog rushes into her arms.
Brynn follows her, the two of them hugging and crying at the same time. John takes it all in as he moves to stand in front of his daughter and granddaughter so he can somewhat block the disturbing scene from them.
I’m in full crisis mode now. Every muscle in my body is tense, ready to protect, to act. I want to go to Olivia and Brynn. I need to make sure they’re okay.
“Clay!” Lane shouts as he fights to get away from the others.
He throws an elbow and is able to break free from the guys. He starts running toward his brother, but when he gets close enough to see all the blood, he stops in his tracks.
“Shit. Clay. Shit.”
He looks around the ranch, his eyes wild as he takes it all in and sees the amount of trouble he’s in.
“This is all your fault, you dumb bitch!” he screams at Brynn.
She gasps as he starts sprinting toward her. I take off running at him, forgetting about the burning in my lungs and the pain in my entire body. I lunge, diving at him before he can get close enough and tackling him to the ground for a second time.
This time, though, I don’t hold back. I get on top of him and straddle him as he bucks and swings, trying to get away from me. I reel back and punch him in the face so hard that he’s knocked out instantly.
I feel for a pulse and when I find it, I realize he’s out cold. I fall to the ground beside him. Nick runs up beside me.
“You okay, boss?” he asks.
He pulls wire ties out of his back pocket and rolls Lane over. He zip ties his hands together and then his ankles.
Damn, that’s smart.
Brynn comes sprinting down the steps. “Jack!”
“I’m okay. Just winded. Fuck.”
She drops to her knees in front of me, tears streaming down her face as she grips my shirt.
“Are you okay?” she gasps.
“I’m fine. I’m fine.” I say dismissively as I try to stand up.
“Don’t,” she starts as she looks me over. “Stay there for a bit. There’s no need to get up.”
