Chapter 36
CAM
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Mark and Ricky unload the car. Cin and Billy type on a computer on the hood of Nick’s truck.
A chill runs down my spine. “Where’s Shelby?”
“She must be up at the driver’s meeting,” Dom says.
Something deep inside me knows she’s not.
“Hey, guys. Are you feeling as shitty as we are?” Ricky holds his head.
“Yeah, I am.” Mav rubs his stomach.
“Where’s Shelby?” I ask again.
Cin peeks up from her computer. “She had to head back home. She forgot a suit.”
“Doesn’t she keep them in the unit with the car?” Luke asks.
“Yes.” She walks back to the computer. “But she must have worn the last one when we hit this morning.”
“She’s fine, babe.” Mav runs his hand up and down my arm.
I try to settle the uneasy feeling. I let out a deep breath. “What can we do to help?”
“Nothing. We’re good,” Mark says.
Angry shouts come from behind us. I turn and watch a group of guys push people out of the way as they walk toward us.
“Ahh, guys. We got trouble.” I nod toward the group.
“Is he carrying a gun?” Ricky squints his eyes.
“Yep, and that one has a sawed-off shotgun. Ricky, move your crew behind Nick’s truck.” Dom’s eyes don’t leave the group.
“If you can shoot, guns are stashed in Nick’s truck.” Luke checks that his gun is loaded.
“I know where they are.” Cin runs around the side of the truck and jumps into the bed.
She opens the container and pulls out several guns. She hands them to Mark, who’s behind the truck. She makes sure we each have one, then joins us.
Luke yells, “Run, people. Don’t stand around.”
“They have guns. Take cover,” I add.
Shelby’s in trouble. I’m running back home as soon as possible, but first, we must take care of this.
“I think you might be at the wrong place.” Dom keeps his hands loose at his side.
When it’s eighty degrees out, the guy wearing a long leather coat stands out from the group.
“I don’t think so. We have a message for you,” the big guy taunts.
“What’s that?” Dom slides his hand down his back to where he tucked his gun.
The rest of us do the same thing.
“Die!” He reaches for his shotgun and fires at Dom.
Dom dives right, but he’s not quick enough. The buckshot hits him in the chest, and he flies back.
“Dom!” Mav steps toward his brother, but I pull him behind the truck.
Everyone else dives behind anything they can find. People scream as they run in all directions.
“I have to go to Dom.” Mav pushes away from me so he can stand up again.
I grab his shoulder and pull him down next to me. “We will, babe, but if you try to help him now, you’ll be the next one shot.”
Without looking, Mav reaches over the top of the truck and fires. We go back and forth for a bit. All I think about is Dom lying in the street, bleeding out.
“Dom is hurt.” Mav panics beside me. “We have to help him.”
I peek over the car we’ve ducked behind. Blood pools around Dom.
“Luke, Mav, pull Dom to safety. We’ll cover you.” I look to my left.
Ricky, Mark, Billy, and Cin nod in agreement.
“On the count of three,” I yell. “One, two, three!”
We stand up and shoot across the road as Luke and Mav run to Dom’s side. They drag him a foot when Luke swears and grabs his arm.
I run out and help Mav drag his brother behind the truck.
“Luke, are you all right?” I ask once we’re back under cover.
“Yeah.” Teeth gritted together, he rips the bottom off his shirt and wraps it around his bleeding arm.
“Mav, how’s Dom?” I ask, still taking shots.
Mav rips open Dom’s shirt. “He’s wearing his armor.” Mav lets out a deep breath. “Thank God.”
“I’m fine. Fuck that hurt.” He rubs his chest. “He nicked my forehead. Head wounds always bleed so much.”
“Glad to hear it. Now, help us.” I fire another shot.
Mav helps Dom up.
Luke and Nick are our sharpshooters. With Luke hurt and Nick not here, we’re in trouble. The rest of us can shoot, but not as well as them.
Luke takes in the scene, aims, and takes out one guy.
Bullet holes decorate Demon. I don’t want to be the one to show it to Shelby, because she’ll be pissed.
She should be back by now, but I’m glad she’s not in the middle of this. She can handle herself when she returns.
“I’m out of bullets,” Mark says.
“We need to conserve what amo we have left. Only shoot if you’re sure you can hit them,” Luke says.
Luke takes out another guy, but we’re still in trouble.
Someone inches their way along the other side of the hill, and I nod my head toward the movement. “Do you see that?”
I don’t want to make a big deal about it.
Luke’s eyes widen. “Frank.”
“Get ready,” Dom says.
Frank fires off three shots in quick succession. The other group turns around, and we advance. A few guys run off. Frank wounds one of the guys.
“Who sent you?” Luke asks the guy.
“Guys, we don’t have time for this.” Frank frowns. “I know what’s going on.”
Luke clutches his wounded arm. “What happened?”
“I’ll tell you in the SUV. Shelby and Nick need us.” He takes Luke’s arm and pulls him.
Luke yanks his arm out of Frank’s grasp. “Are you compromised?”
“No. I swear we need to go save Shelby and Nick. Roger has them.” Frank points to show the way.
“Can we trust him? How do we know he’s not dragging us into a trap?” I side-eye Frank.
“We don’t have a choice.” Dom rubs the spot where he got shot. “Ricky, Mar?—”
“Don’t say it. We’re helping,” Billy says.
Luke nods, and we split up into two cars.
Luke turns sideways in his seat. “Spill, Frank.”
Frank rubs his neck. “Roger got to Beau.”
“Fuck.” Dom hits the steering wheel.
“That was my fault. I was so focused on you guys and the staff that I didn’t check him,” Frank says. “Beau called me about an hour ago. He’s been working with Roger because Roger kidnapped his girlfriend and one-year-old daughter. Beau’s been feeding him information and helped set up the sting at the warehouse. Roger hoped to capture Shelby, but they weren’t prepared for all of us.”
“So, what’s going on at our place?” I clench my fists. I’m going to end him.
“Beau said he was instructed to tie Nick up while Roger beat him,” Frank says. “Afterward, he checked that no one was left in the house.”
“And he did nothing?” Mav rages. “He could have taken Roger out but did nothing?”
“Nick was in and out of consciousness when Roger sent him to check the house. He snagged a gun from Luke’s safe.” Frank scrubs his face. “Then, he heard Shelby scream, and he didn’t want to risk her or Nick’s safety. Roger had a knife to Nick’s throat the whole time. Beau said he couldn’t get a shot off. That’s when he tied Shelby up, but he left the ropes loose and hid the gun under the coffee table.”
Dom swears and beats the steering wheel.
“When Roger ordered him to come out here and help finish the job, he called me to come instead.” Frank takes a deep breath. “Beau found where Roger stashed his girlfriend and baby, so he went to them instead.”
“What’s the plan?” I try to refocus everyone.
“Is he expecting Beau back?” Luke asks.
“Yes,” Frank confirms. “Once he made sure they killed you.”
“Dom, pull over at the gas station by our place,” Luke says. “I have a plan.”