Page 119 of Queen of Anarchy (Dirty Broken Savages 2)

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River

My head is still ringingfrom the gunshots, and I can’t focus on anything other than the fact that someone just tried to kill me. I’m pressed down to the concrete of the driveway, Ash’s body on top of mine again.

“Come on,” he grunts. “We’ve gotta get you inside. Now.”

He rolls off me, and Gage is there immediately, crouching down on my other side. They haul me up and practically shove me toward the front door, shielding me with their bodies as we go.

“Wait,” I blurt, fighting against their hold. “What about Priest and Knox?”

I don’t see them anywhere, and fear twists in my gut as I scan the yard and the street.

“They’re fine. They went after the guy. We have to get you the fuck inside, River,” Gage says firmly. “There could be a second shooter. We don’t know what this is.”

My heart is racing so hard it makes my chest hurt, and I know they’re right. I have to trust that Knox and Priest will have each other’s backs and be okay. I won’t be helping anyone if I stay out here and put Gage and Ash at risk too, so I let them hustle me into the house.

But even once the door is closed firmly, I can’t relax.

What the fuck?

Someone was lying in wait here, knowing we were out and would be coming back before too long. They knew where I was. The guys probably draw their fair share of enemies, with their club and everything, but the shooter didn’t take a shot at any of them.

It was at me.

“Do you think he had backup?” Ash asks, moving aside the blinds over the window next to the front door so he can peer out carefully.

“I’ll check,” Gage replies.

I want to tell him not to, to stay inside where it’s safe, but I feel like my voice is stuck in my throat. I’m not used to feeling this afraid, and I realize vaguely that my fear is more for the guys than it is for myself. My chest tightens as Gage slips out the front door.

Ash strokes a comforting hand down my arm as if he can sense my distress. “You know, our lives have gotten a whole hell of a lot more exciting since you came into the picture, killer,” he murmurs. “We used to just play video games in the evenings, not have shootouts in front of our house.”

It’s a joke, his attempt at lightening the mood, but I’m too fucking worried to laugh.

Dog comes out of the kitchen, whining softly like he can sense the tension in the air. Maybe he can. Animals are supposed to be good at that. He comes over and noses at my hand for a second and then licks it, his tongue warm and wet.

I pet him absently, straining to hear anything from outside.

I feel like I’m braced to leap into action at the first sign of movement or a sound of gunshots or anything. Every muscle in my body is tensed up, and I’m barely breathing, waiting for Gage to come back in or Priest and Knox to show up.

Time seems to crawl by, and as it does, I can imagine all kinds of horrible things that could be happening. Maybe it was a trap in the first place, and there were more men waiting farther down the street, ready to ambush the men as they chased the first shooter. Maybe they want to lure all of them away so they can get me alone.

Maybe Priest and Knox are in trouble right now, hurt, bleeding out, and I’m hunkered down in the house with no way to know.

Fuck. I hate this feeling. This is what happens when you let people into your life. You worry about them, and when something goes wrong and their lives are on the line, it’s even worse.

Ash keeps looking out the window, and I fight the urge to drag him back away from it. Dog nudges my side, which at least gives me something nicer to think about than imagining all the different ways the Kings could be hurting right now, or who might be lying in wait on the other side of the door, ready to kill me.

The front door opens several minutes later, and my heart lurches in my chest. My mouth is dry, and I feel kind of like I’m moving through molasses as I move toward the door.

When it swings all the way open, I see a bloody body first and foremost. It’s slumped over and clearly being dragged. I fear the worst for half a second, but then I realize it’s not any of my men. Priest and Knox are carrying the body, and Gage is behind them.

“I think this was the only one,” he says, sounding tense and pissed off. “I didn’t see anyone else.”

“Neither did we,” Knox replies. “And this fucker died before he could say anything useful.”

“Take it downstairs,” Gage says, and they drag the body to the basement.

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