Page 74 of Saved By the Marines (Soldiers Of Misfortune)

The one behind me dropped my hair and prodded me with the barrel of his rifle.

Holding my head high, I picked my way across the debris in the room and walked out the door. Without a backward glance, I quietly got into the waiting black sedan. Two of the men squeezed into the back with me, two in the front, and the rest got into other cars that were parked nearby.

I was being taken again. It made me want to cry, but I refused. I wouldn’t roll over and let them kill me. We’d get far enough away that Ray was safe and then I’d figure something out.

My Marines would come for me. I just had to stay alive long enough for them to find me. A quick inventory made my heart drop. I didn’t have my phone or my gun. There was nothing on me that would help me escape, but at least I had shoes on this time.

See Bailey, you’re already starting at an advantage. Stay positive. You know how this ends, you’ve seen it before.

The landscape passed by in flashes lit up by streetlights as we drove. It didn’t take long before I began contemplating what I should do. I couldn’t jump out of the moving car, even if I could get past the two gorillas on either side of me. The last thing I wanted to do was accidentally harm the baby. My arms folded protectively over my stomach.

That meant my only chance was when we stopped. Before they got me inside of wherever they were taking me, I needed to get away from them. I sat quietly, listening to them talk occasionally. The leader was giving directions on where to go.

We weren’t entering the city, but staying along the outskirts and entering a heavily wooded area. I wasn’t sure if that was good or not. There were people I could plead with in the city to help me if I managed to get away. Then again, who knew who I’d end up asking for help. It could be a serial killer. That would be my luck.

We pulled up to a large house, two stories, lit up and shining like a beacon in the middle of a clearing. Woods surrounded it and I started getting flashbacks. If Salazar and Crazy Town stepped out of that house these guys wouldn’t need to kill me, I’d have a heart attack right on the spot.

The man who stepped out onto the porch made me suck in a breath. I’d met him at the embassy. Sheffield? No. Shetland. As angry as I was to see him, there was a small bit of relief. I’d rather deal with the devil I didn’t know right now than have those assholes come back to life.

As soon as one of the apes got out of the car, I made my move. I slid off the seat and punched him right in the dick. He doubled over and I darted behind him. My feet were crunching on the gravel driveway with every step as I ran as fast as I could toward the tree line.

Salvation was almost within reach when someone grabbed me around the waist and hauled me right off my feet. I screamed and kicked, fighting his hold.

“So much for going quietly. Eh, Princess?”

His hot breath washed over my face and I grimaced. “So much for brushing your teeth,” I muttered. His amused chuckle pissed me off even more so I swung my head backward. My gasp of pain was almost as loud as his grunt as the back of my head connected with his nose.

He dragged me back to the house and held me there. I stared up at the man on the porch. He was dressed in a designer suit and arched a brow at the man behind me. “Is she too much for you?” The disdain in his voice made the man behind me stiffen.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked him.

“I owed a favor. Bring her inside.” He snapped fingers at the men and I was dragged into the house.

CHAPTER33

Kip

Cops and family members were everywhere inside our house. The only person who wasn’t here was our girl. I saw red as soon as I spotted the door. It was blown to fucking chunks.

We’d already spoken to Bailey so I didn’t need to have nightmares about her standing too close to that when it had blown. Ray was already being loaded up into an ambulance and all three of us stopped by his side.

“I’m so sorry,” he croaked.

We tripped over each other trying to ease his guilt.

“Don’t be sorry, Dad,” Wolfe told him, putting a hand over his and squeezing. “You did your best. We’ll take it from here.” Judging by the debris, he never stood a chance. Hell, even if one of us had been home it wouldn’t have made a difference. These were professionals. And there were a lot of them.

“Kill those fuckers.” The rage that flashed in his eyes made me feel better. He was going to be okay. The EMTs said something about a concussion and that he was lucky.

I watched as they wheeled him outside, Jean hurrying along with him after giving us hugs.

Wolfe moved over to the cops and the dead body in our living room. “Who is he?”

They looked up, suspicion on their faces, but Brando stepped over. “These are the guys I told you about,” he said to the cops. “This is their home. It’s their girl.”

Suspicion turned to pity. The cop shook his head and stood up. “Sorry. This is a kick in the balls.” We all nodded. “Prints came back to a Fredrick Dennon. According to his rap sheet he’s with The Copper Street Crew.”

“The what?” Jas asked.

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