Page 35 of Tempting the Bounty Hunter

“Stop right there,” a harsh male voice snaps. “Or you’re fucking dead.”

ChapterSeventeen

Hannah

I freeze.Selina pushes me again.

“Run,” she hisses.

I grip her arm. No way am I running anywhere without her. But before I can move, a massive, bearded man barrels down the porch steps, his pistol pointed right at us.

“Get the fuck over here,” he snarls.

Selina steps in front of me.

“Lucas, let her go.” Her voice trembles.

“Shut up, bitch.” He waves the gun toward the front door. “Move. Both of you. Now.”

He clomps over and herds us up the wooden steps. The inside of the house is dark and stinks like rotten food. Trash clutters the kitchen. In the living room, two yellow light bulbs illuminate at least a dozen crates and plastic bags stuffed with drugs.

Three men, all armed and dressed in ratty shirts and jeans, swarm around, counting bags and distributing them among a pile of empty boxes.

“Eddie!” Lucas shouts. “Look who I found lurking outside.”

The men stop and turn to stare at us. Beside me, I feel Selina shaking.

Dane.God, please make him stay where he is. Even he doesn’t stand a chance against half a dozen men armed with pistols and heaven only knows what other weapons.

Booted footsteps ring on the staircase. Eddie appears in the living room doorway. My stomach twists with revulsion and fear. He’s reptilian—his beady eyes piercing Selina like poisoned darts.

“What the fucking hell are you doing here?” His voice is as icy as a glacier.

“I followed you.” A high whine enters her voice, and she pulls away from me to approach him. “I told you I miss you. You’re gone all the time, and I—”

He backhands her across the face so hard the slap echoes against the walls. She hits the dirty floor with a grunt.

I run forward and fall to my knees next to her, putting my arms out like I can shield her from Eddie’s wrath.

“Don’t touch her!” I find some comfort in the release of anger even though I know it won’t do any good.

“And where the fuck have you been?” He steps closer, his steel-toed leather boots shining in the yellowish light. Cold amusement twists his face. “Don’t bother answering that. I don’t give a flying fuck. Lucas. Marco. Get rid of them.”

He snaps his fingers at two of the goons. They shove their guns at us, indicating they want us to stand. A large shadow moves in the room behind Eddie.

I steady Selina as we push to our feet. She holds her jaw. Her nose is bleeding, and her eyes are still dazed.

“Hannah,” she whispers. “You have to run. They—”

“Shut the fuck up, cunt.” Marco pushes the barrel of his gun under her ribs.

“No!” Rage and panic ignite inside me like wildfire.

I bolt forward, plowing into Marco like I actually stand a chance of taking him down. The impact barely moves him, but it catches him off guard. He backs up a step.

I push Selina away from the gun. She stumbles toward the kitchen, out of their reach.

Lucas latches his arm around my waist and hauls me back against him.

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