Page 64 of Just Another Chance

Dragari pulls a burner out of his pocket and tosses it to Tanner. “You’ll find your accountant’s information already plugged in under the contacts,” he says smugly.

Fuck, I think. The bastard is prepared for everything. I was hoping Tanner could’ve snuck a quick call to 911 or something. No such luck.

“And if you try anything stupid, the kid gets cut. Understand?”

I whimper and Tanner swallows hard. “Understood,” he grits out. “It’s pretty late. You want me to still call-”

“I don’t give a shit what time it is. Wake his ass up.”

I squeeze my eyes shut as Tanner calls his accountant and requests the money transfer. The room begins to blur and spin around me as dread sets in. I feel like I’m going to pass out. Does Tanner even have a plan? Or am I going to be down on my knees and forced to do horrible things with this scum in front of me? I’d rather die.

A wave of dizziness descends, and I push through it. As Tanner continues to answer his confused accountant’s questions, I see movement at the window behind Dragari and Owen.

Oh, my God.My heart soars when a familiar shadow silently slips over the window’s ledge and, moving with all the stealth of the Grim Reaper, Sawyer slides up behind Dragari, aims his pistol and POP!

And then everything happens at once.

With a shout of surprise, Dragari stumbles forward when the bullet hits him in the leg. As he drops Owen, I race forward and dive to catch my baby, rolling to the side, trying to avoid being crushed by Dragari’s falling body. Tanner grabs the knife from the thug’s hand and twists, yanking it free. Then he throws it over the side of the loft, and I hear it hit the floor, clattering somewhere below as Tanner drops down, covering Owen and I with his large body. Protecting us.

I hear another couple of POPs and realize Sawyer must’ve shot Dragari again. Holding Owen tightly to my chest, heart thumping wildly and adrenaline roaring through my body, I manage to look over and see Dragari’s body, slumped over, and his dark eyes empty and sightless.

Breathing hard, all I can do is thank the heavens above and these two amazing men for saving us.

“Clear,” Sawyer calls out. “Tango neutralized.”

Tanner eases up off me. “Are you okay?” he asks, concerned hazel eyes darting from me to Owen.

“Y-yes,” I manage to say, sitting up slowly. I take a minute to check Owen over, my hands running over him and verifying that everything is fine, and he isn’t hurt. “Not a scratch on him,” I finally murmur.

“Thank God,” Tanner says and pulls me into his arms.

The three of us are holding onto each other for dear life when I hear a throat clear. I look over and see Sawyer watching us closely.

“Thank you,” I say, voice hoarse with emotion, meeting his brown gaze.

“Yeah, thanks, bro,” Tanner chimes in and hauls us up with him. “I was starting to get worried you didn’t get my message.”

“Welcome,” he murmurs. “And you know I don’t sleep much, so I got it the second you sent it and booked my ass straight over here.”

“What message?” I ask, completely confused, and looking from Sawyer to Tanner. “And when did you have time to send him one?”

They both lift their wrists at the same time and flash their watches.

“We have an emergency app on our watches that will send a distress signal if one of us is in trouble,” Sawyer explains.

I had no idea.I look down at Tanner’s watch in amazement.

“I tapped it behind my back when I ran up the stairs. That’s why I was trying to stall.”

“It’s a military toy,” Sawyer explains. “Never thought I’d really need it, but since I had two of them, I gave one to Tanner. Only made sense since he's the only brother I actually like.”

Tanner chuckles. “You love Nash and Crew.”

“I tolerate Nash and Crew. But if shit goes down, I’ll always help. Even though they get on my damn nerves.”

“You’re a lifesaver, bro,” Tanner says. “C’mere.”

But Sawyer shakes his head. “Nah. I’m not gonna interrupt family time.”

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