Page 50 of Catch a King (Five Kings 1)

Suddenly, all hell breaks loose as they come from the shadows and I’m not sure how many are here, but the sound is deafening. I watch in horror as I see two bodies in the distance and I ache to get to Millie but know I wouldn’t make it off the ground. A gun is pointing in the back of my head and one on Slade and when I hear someone shout, “She’s dead.” I feel the pain burning me up inside.

I shift a little and a hard voice growls, “Think again motherfucker because I ain’t the tooth fairy.”

“Millie,” I growl and I hear a soft voice say shakily, “Sawyer.” The relief is overwhelming as she says louder, “Please, don’t hurt them, let them go.”

Millie

When I came round, I was in the middle of a nightmare. I stayed silent and pretended to be out cold, and heard everything Avery said. I knew I wouldn’t have long and when she threatened to kill Slade, I knew Sawyer would be next and I couldn’t let that happen. As soon as I heard the catch release, I knew what I had to do and when the gun went off, I swear I died a million times inside. Just the thought it could have hit Sawyer, or Slade, filled me with terror and as I fought for my life, I didn’t even see it coming.

One minute she was there, fighting like hell, and the next I was covered in blood and brains. As she fell, she dragged me with her and we collapsed on the ground as all hell broke loose.

The voice I heard next almost made me shatter, and I have never felt relief like it. As they came through the trees and out of the shadows, I broke down. I heard them call out and knew Slade and Sawyer were safe, and as Snake crouched before me and looked into my eyes with so much concern, it was like coming home. “You ok, darlin’?”

My eyes filled with tears and I collapsed in his arms and I have never been more pleased to see anyone in my life. Then I heard Sawyer call my name and made to go to him, but Ryder had him covered and I knew he wasn’t going anywhere.

So, I move slowly toward them and stare my president right in the eye and see the emotion in his as he says gruffly, “Good job, soldier.”

I nod and smile and as Snake covers Sawyer, he holds out his arms and I fall into his arms. He wraps me in protection and I know nothing can hurt me now, then I whisper, “Please let Sawyer go, we’re a team, I couldn’t have done this without him.”

A low growl comes from somewhere deep inside him as Ryder says gruffly, “You sure, honey?”

“I’m sure.”

Without letting me go, he says gruffly, “Let him stand.”

As Sawyer stands from the dust on the ground, I say quickly, “There’s a bomb inside the building, it’s activated by Avery’s phone.”

Ryder yells, “Tyson, Flash, secure the explosive.”

They head inside and as the Reapers secure the area, I fall into Sawyer’s arms. He wraps them around me and says with emotion, “I thought you were hit and I’d lost you.”

My breathing is fast because I thought so too and as I cling onto him, I thank God for sparing our lives.

I see out of the corner of my eye, Jet hauling Slade to his feet and say quickly, “Jet, Slade saved my life; he tried to make her stop.”

Sawyer nods. “Slade brought me here and ordered Axel to call and tell you to stay away. We were almost too late.”

Ryder exhales sharply and looks so angry I can almost taste it. “You…” He nods to Slade. “Get in the fucking car, we’re taking you back, Flash can ride your bike.”

Slade looks at him angrily and then looks down when he sees the anger directed at him from a man who takes no shit. He calls out, “Brewer, call the clean-up crew and tell them we need a body bag. I want her preserved for identification; we need to sort this shit out.”

Tyson calls out, “All clear, but it’s an explosion waiting to happen in here.”

“Then deal with it when we leave.”

Tyson nods and as the rest of the Reapers secure the area and search Avery’s car for evidence, Ryder turns to Sawyer and stares at him long and hard.

“And you…” He sounds so angry I think I fear for Sawyer’s life right now as he stares back at Ryder with a hard expression. “You, are a fucking good shot.”

I stare at Sawyer in surprise as he nods. “Sniper for the US military, sir, it’s my job.”

Ryder looks impressed and slaps him on the back. “Come, Tyson and Flash will bring your bikes back when they’ve cleaned up. You can ride with Millie and we’ll sort this fucking shit out once and for all.”

As we follow Ryder to the wagon, Sawyer pulls me close by his side and holds me as if he’s never letting go. I’m not sure how we survived tonight, but I know one thing, I’m not leaving without Sawyer by my side.

Chapter 40

Millie

---