Chapter Fourteen
Hannah
M oose’s phone went off and he pulled it out to read the message. He had one hell of a poker face, but I was starting to be able to read him.
Something was wrong.
“What is it?”
“Some of the guys escaped.”
The blood drained from my face and I looked over to where Daisy was snoozing, more peaceful than I had seen her since she’d arrived.
“The guys who started all this shit, Jinx and Crash, managed to slink away while the MC was tied up subduing the other guys.”
I wasn’t a fighter. I’d never wished anyone harm in my life. I wanted to do anything I could to protect the animals, but what could I do? Booby trap my rescue like I was that kid from Home Alone ?
“They’re coming here, aren’t they?”
Moose was calm as always except for some tension in his jaw. “No way to know. Prez is sending a few more guys here just in case.” The kiss he gave me was reassuring and sweet, but cut off too quickly by the motion light out front coming on.
“Shit,” Moose turned towards my phone where I had the security camera app open. Two figures in black could be seen scrambling over my front gate.
“How can the dogs really be worth this much to them?”
“They aren’t,” Moose said. “This is about desperation and payback.”
The rescue only had one door. One way in.
One way out. I’d thought this was a good thing when I’d told Moose I wanted to stay here.
The guys couldn’t sneak up on us, right?
Right then, with the crazed look in the men’s eyes as they successfully scaled the gate and landed on the other side, I felt trapped.
Claustrophobic.
And afraid to my bones.
As if picking up on my emotions, Daisy whined and leaned against my leg. I put a hand on her head hoping to reassure her, but I wasn’t really sure what would happen myself.
Moose caught my eye and held it long enough for my breathing to normalize.
Silently, I grabbed Daisy’s collar and led her to the small bathroom at the back of the rescue.
The pups followed and once I had all five inside, I shut the door.
It wasn’t much, but keeping the bad guys from seeing them might be enough to save them.
I moved back to where Moose was standing, watching the men move closer to the door. Moose had a gun. I’d seen it in the waistband of his jeans. In this small of a building though, he might have to handle things with his fists.
A lot could go wrong.
The men would get in one way or another, so when we heard the sound of someone picking the lock the only move we made was to crouch behind the desk, creating some space between us and them.
The door shot open, banging against the wall and vibrating back as two men stepped through. One was considerably taller than the other. Both were dressed in black, with ski masks, but their clothes were disheveled.
Moose pulled the gun from his waistband and aimed it at the pair. “Get out.”
The shorter one, all but vibrating with energy, pushed his mask up to reveal his face. “Now, Moose, you don’t have to be like that. We’re just here for the dogs. No one has to get hurt, least of all your pretty little girlfriend.”
Moose cocked the hammer. “I’m not going to ask again, Crash.”
The smile fell from the man’s face. “Well, then I guess we’ll have to do this the hard way.
” He glanced at the taller man. “Jinx,” he nodded in our direction.
Crash moved to leap over the desk and Moose met him with a fist to the face.
Meanwhile, Jinx moved at a lazy pace to circle the desk, looking to leave the two of us cornered.
“Fuck,” Moose muttered, turning to Jinx while Crash recovered from the punch. Moose kicked out with one leg, landing a hit to Jinx’s stomach. “Run,” he whispered in my ear. “Call the cops. We have to hold these guys off until either the MC or the cops get here.”
I hesitated for a moment, watching Moose kick out at Jinx trying to get him to the ground.
“Give me my fucking dogs!” Crash roared, shoving his way past Moose and coming directly for me. That got me moving. I ran to where the dogs were locked in the bathroom, shoved through the door and locked it behind me. Footsteps moved towards me but then halted. I let out a breath.
Moose must have stopped him.
I snatched my phone from my pocket and dialed Montana. Our town was so small that we didn’t have our own nine one one dispatch center. The rescue was off the grid, so I wasn’t sure that they’d find me on a map in time.
“Hey chicky, what’s up?”
“Listen, send the cops to Snuggle Squad now.” I kept my voice low.
“What–”
“I can’t explain. Just send them, please!”
“They’re on their way.”
I pocketed my phone and then all I could do was wait.
I felt useless and scared as I waited in the dark. The dogs could sense the tension and were unusually still. A thud hit the door of the bathroom hard, but then there were more scrambling and fighting sounds. Grunts, curses and threats echoed through my sweet little Snuggle Squad.
Another thump and this time the lock gave. The door opened a crack, but more crashing sounds followed. When no one appeared at the door, I moved to put my back against it. The lock was broken, but I could hold it closed.
A thump rang out, louder than the others and then someone was pushing against the other side of the door. I had nothing to brace myself against except the floor and I strained to keep the man from getting in.
Daisy started barking a deep agitated bark and the pups whimpered, tails tucked.
“If you don’t open this door, you bitch, you’ll regret it.” The voice sounded like Crash.
The door started to give and my lip quivered. Inch by inch, I watched as my feet slid across the floor. I was giving it everything I had and it wasn’t enough.
I glanced over at the pups huddled together next to their mother and my heart broke. “I’m sorry. I’ll save you again,” I told them as one final shove pushed the door open enough for a man’s arm and leg to materialize.
The hand held a gun.
His body slammed the door, getting it all the way open and sending me tumbling. I moved on instinct, putting myself between the man and the dogs.
Maybe I could stall him? Or distract him?
Crash flashed me a smirk. “I’ll be taking those dogs back now, princess.” He wasn’t a big guy. Not much taller than me, I’d guess. His ice blue eyes bore into mine. His white blond hair peaked out around his ski mask giving him a crazed look.
I could see Moose behind him, trading punches with Jinx. The taller guy got in one well placed punch to Moose’s jaw and he went down hard.
I didn’t hear sirens.
I didn’t hear motorcycle engines.
We were truly on our own.
I had a gun pointed at me and no way to stop what was about to happen. I covered the cowering pups with my body and braced for impact as the man swung the butt of the gun towards my temple.
The impact didn’t come.
A growl sounded from behind me, deep and low, and Daisy was flying through the air. Her mouth clamped down around Crash’s and he let out a scream.
The gun went cascading across the bathroom floor and I lunged for it. Daisy had clamped her jaw tightly around his forearm and wasn’t letting go even as he tried to hit at her with his other hand.
She shook her head with the man’s flesh between her teeth and his knees buckled.
I wasn’t a fighter, but I knew how to leverage my position. I kicked out as hard as I could, catching the man between the legs. He doubled over, his head hitting the floor.
I’d never shot a gun before but hell, he didn’t know that, so I used it to my advantage.
“Daisy, come,” I called to the dog, pointing the gun at the man on the floor. Blood was leaking from his arm into a pool on the floor, and he was curled into a ball.
Daisy continued to growl, but returned to stand in front of me, between me and her abuser.
Moose appeared at the door, holding his ribs, the side of his shirt soaked through with blood. Then everything was happening at once. The roar of motorcycle engines, the whine of sirens, the thud of Moose’s boots connecting with the ribs of the man on the floor.
I sat back and watched the chaos, my arms around the big dog’s neck. I’d felt useless for not knowing how to fight. But I had shown Daisy the kindness she’d never had before and she defended me when I couldn’t.