They look filthy. The clothes are tattered and torn. All of them are wearing dresses. For easy access, I suppose.
I sneer at the thought.
“We aren’t here to hurt you. We’re here to save you. Where is the girl? The redhead, a little sassy,” I ask when I don’t see her.
They point to the room to my right.
“She said you’d come. We didn’t believe her.”
Match pulls on the door as hard as he can. “I need the key.”
“He has it on him,” one of the girls says. “The one that has your girlfriend.”
Colt and I rush to the room and there she is, but she has a gun pressed to her head.
I lift my own weapon and so does Colt. Grizzly comes in, charging forward, and I grip him by the cut to stop him.
“Don’t even think about it or I’ll put a bullet in her pretty little head.”
“You motherfucker. I should have killed you a long time ago. Let my daughter go and I will kill you fast.”
“You wouldn’t be able to get to me before a bullet entered her head.”
“I’ll give you anything. You want my life? Take it, but let my little girl go,” Grizzly begs. He takes a step forward, arms stretched out, sacrificing himself. “Take me. Harlow is pregnant, come on. You have to care about that.”
“Brings in more money.”
I notice Dart creeping up behind Grizzly’s brother.
“Don’t do this. I’m begging you. You want me to step down, fine. Move? Die? Whatever. Kill me. Let her go. Harlow, has he hurt you?”
“A few slaps here and there, nothing too bad.”
“You motherfucker!” I aim the gun at him and debate the risk of shooting him. If I miss, I could kill Harlow.
Dart grins, pressing his finger against his lips, and then drives his knife in this asshole’s back. Grizzly steps forward, pulling his gun from his waistband, and his brother lets go of Harlow. She runs to me, slamming against my chest, and I hold her tight.
“Sweetheart, are you okay? Let me look at you.” I cup her face gently, cursing when I see the bruises spreading across her beautiful face.
A gunshot rings out and I press Harlow’s face against my chest, hiding her from the gore of blood pooling on the floor. Grizzly stands over his brother’s body and shoots him again.
And again.
Then again.
“Prez,” Dart eases his name, pushing the gun away from the mutilated body. “He’s dead.”
Grizzly bends down and rummages through his brother’s pockets, pulling out the keys to the cell the women are trapped in. “Get the girls out. Take them to the hospital and burn this place to the ground.” He stands to walk away. “Leave him right there.”
Colt tugs Harlow from my arms and holds her, then Bane is stomping through the doors, his arms bloody from killing every person.
“Took care of the people buying the girls too,” he says, and when he sees Harlow he sprints to her, kissing the top of her head and pressing his cheek against her.
“You three really love her, don’t you?” Grizzly asks.
Harlow peeks away from us and gives her dad a big bear hug. “It doesn’t mean I stop loving you.”
“It will take me time to get used to. I’m not hating the idea, but give me time.” He reaches his hand out to us.