Wild Bliss (Nights in Bliss, Colorado #14)

Chapter Nineteen

Sabrina was crying by the time she made it to the bottom of the road. She was still waiting for the sound of Sawyer running after her, but the road was eerily quiet behind her.

Twilight had deepened to night, but there was still enough light for her to follow the road.

All she could see was the photo they’d sent her. She might never get it out of her head. She’d gotten to the bedroom and hauled out her suitcase, and then her phone had dinged.

Wyatt. It had been from Wyatt’s number, and she’d known not to answer. Deep down there had been the instinct to treat the phone like it was a hot potato. She should have given it to her sister or Sawyer, but she hadn’t. She’d prayed it was really Wyatt.

It hadn’t been a call. It had been a text, complete with photographic proof they had Wyatt and could kill him at any moment.

The order had been plain. Come to Hell on Wheels. Don’t bring anyone or we’ll slit his throat.

They’d had a knife against Wyatt’s vulnerable neck, and she couldn’t tell if he was awake or unconscious.

She’d panicked. Her hands had been shaking as she’d written a quick note on the notepad on the nightstand. Come to HOW. Bring cops. Nothing more. Had he even found the note? She should have texted, but if she had hesitated for even a few more seconds and Wyatt died, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

He had to find that note.

She was stupid. Even as she heard someone moving in front of her, she knew she was in so much trouble.

Would Sawyer ever forgive her? Would he even try to understand?

Would it matter because she was pretty sure she was about to die.

Why was it so dark?

She held up her hands as she managed to make her way to the gravel covering the parking lot for the bar, which usually lit up the night, but someone had turned off the big neon sign and all the outdoor lights. She could still see the warm glow coming from inside, but it was quiet. Too quiet.

“Keep those hands up,” a deep voice said.

It took everything Sabrina had not to jump when the man touched her. He wasn’t alone. A large man in jeans, a black T, and a leather vest moved in front of her.

“Stay calm,” the big guy advised. “No one’s going to hurt you.”

“Not yet,” the asshole behind her said as he slid his hands over her sides as though looking for weapons they all knew she didn’t have. This was intimidation.

And perhaps a promise of things to come.

She was here to get Wyatt to talk. Sabrina bit her bottom lip as the jerk slid his hands over her ass. Sawyer had told her. He’d explained all of this to her, and she’d still run without thinking. She’d still put them in this position, and he would be right to never talk to her again. She was going to get them all killed.

She gritted her teeth as the asshole’s hands came up under her breasts.

“I don’t think she’s got any weapons on her,” the man said, and she could smell liquor on his breath. “But I could check some more. You sure she took down a couple of men? I heard a rumor.”

“She did not,” came the terse reply. “She’s just some dumb bitch Wyatt’s fucking. Get her inside.”

She winced as she finally recognized the man who’d called her a bitch. She had taken him down with a stun gun and likely didn’t want anyone to hear that particular story again. “I’d like to see Wyatt.”

She was here, and she had to calm down. Panic had gotten her into this terrible situation. Calm and logic would be her tools to get out. To get both of them out. Sawyer would work it from the outside, but she couldn’t stand the thought of Wyatt being all alone with the wolves.

“You’ll see him soon enough,” the guy said, taking her arm.

She was jerked back and nearly stumbled as he dragged her along.

What shape was Wyatt in? Was he conscious or would she have to try to protect him while he was vulnerable?

She would do her best. She would give him as much time as she possibly could because Sawyer would figure this out. He would come looking for her, check her phone, and know what she’d done. Then he would call in everyone. Once he figured out they were here at the bar. Elisa would wait for backup and then come in, and her sister and Sawyer would save them.

The door to the bar opened, and she was hauled in.

The bar where she’d made her stand and claimed her men was now taken over with Wyatt’s worst nightmare. The jukebox was playing an old Guns N’ Roses song, and there were burly men shooting pool on the table where she’d… Well, they probably didn’t want to know how she’d christened that particular pool table. They were drinking beers, and she caught sight of Lark moving through them.

Lark’s eyes widened as they hauled Sabrina in. She gave Sabrina a shake of her head which Sabrina decided meant she wanted them to think they didn’t know each other.

“Sit.” The guy pulled out a chair and shoved her down. “The boss is making a call. He’ll be with you in a minute. Hey, waitress. This one needs a drink. We need to loosen up for what we’re going to do to her.”

The other asshole winked down. “Don’t try to leave, darlin’. We’ll have to punish Wyatt if you do, and I don’t think he can take much more.”

Sabrina’s heart threatened to seize but she sank down to the chair.

“What the fuck, Sabrina?” Lark leaned over, her voice going low, and then she spoke as she normally would. “What can I get for you? Mostly I want to pour the pickle juice we keep over your head, bitch. We’ll see you get what’s coming to you for taking my man.”

Uh, it seemed like she should be the one asking what the fuck. Lark had never once come off like she was into Sawyer. Sabrina hadn’t been around her much, but she’d seemed sisterly toward Sawyer. Annoyed sister most of the time.

Was Lark working with them?

How far did the betrayal go? How would Sawyer handle it? His staff were the only people in the world he truly trusted outside of Wyatt and herself. Would this send him right back into the cage he’d built? Or would her running have already made him decide none of this was worth the heartache?

“I’m sorry.” She wasn’t sure what to say, but Lark seemed to require a response. “I didn’t know he was yours.”

Lark glared down at her. “Yeah, well, you should have asked, rich girl.”

Rich girl? Lark knew she was a schoolteacher. It wasn’t like they were known for their free-flowing cash. “What the…”

Lark slapped her and pushed her back, the chair she was in hitting the concrete floor hard. Pain arced through her, but she’d managed to keep her head up. In the background she could hear the men starting to take bets, chuckling about whores and skanks and how this was the way women were. Lark was on top of her, and Sabrina put out her arms to ward off the attack.

“Scream,” Lark whispered directly in her ear. “When I lift my head, you scream and don’t move your right leg too much. I slipped you something. Scream, Sabrina. Now.”

Sabrina pushed at Lark and screamed. “Get this crazy bitch off me.”

For some reason Lark wanted them to fight. Wanted to hide what she was about to do. As Sabrina halfheartedly pushed at Lark, the waitress got one good smack in before she got carted off Sabrina.

She didn’t have to pretend to be shocked. She still wasn’t sure what had happened, but she felt something against her right thigh. Lark had shoved something into the deep pocket of her skirt. Something hard and maybe metal.

A knife. Lark had given her a small knife, likely a paring knife she would use to slice limes and lemons for drinks.

A shot. That was what Lark had given her.

“Sorry.” A big man came into view. A man who looked like a rougher, older version of Wyatt. “I didn’t realize that little honey was so mean. Guess she was serious. I thought cash would buy me a couple of Sawyer’s employees, but it turns out she just wants revenge.”

She wanted none of the kind, but Lark was smart and resourceful, and she would do what it took to survive. If she complied, she bought herself and the others time.

Where were the others?

“Did you pay off the rest of the staff? Sawyer’s going to be so betrayed.” The last bit was tossed Lark’s way.

“Well, he picked you over me, so I don’t care.” Lark could have been an actress. Or there was some truth to what she was saying. Sabrina wasn’t sure. She only knew Lark was playing a role, and that meant Sabrina had one, too.

Wyatt’s brother offered her a hand up. She wanted to spit in the man’s face, but was Lark trying to tell her something? To be the opposite of what they were expecting? Wayne hadn’t seen her, and from what she’d heard from her sister the men she’d taken down denied it. None of them wanted to think a schoolteacher could hurt them.

So she was going to play into all their stereotypes.

She let her fear show through, putting a shaking hand in Wayne’s. When he gently hauled her up, she made sure to shift to her left in case he could see anything. The skirt was one of her longer, more voluminous ones, and it was a darker color so she might be able to pull this off. “Thank you. I didn’t know. I’m not the kind of woman who would try to steal someone’s man.”

Wayne had a bushy beard with hints of gray sliding between the honey color of his hair. He picked up her chair and offered it to her, sitting down across from her. “Well, for what it’s worth I don’t think old Sawyer there ever gave the girl a ride. I’m pretty sure the attraction is all one sided, but I know how to use an advantage when I find one. She was the only one who didn’t run. Did you know Sawyer’s got the equivalent of a safe room in his office?”

She hadn’t spent much time in the bar, so she shook her head, relief flooding her because it meant the others were safe. “I didn’t. I’ve only been with Wyatt and Sawyer for a few days.”

But they’d been serious days. They’d been days spent wholly in each other’s company, days where she was wrapped up in them while the world outside didn’t matter. She didn’t need years to know these were the men for her.

“So you’re not pretending.” Wayne stared as she took the seat he’d offered. “My brother thought he could get me to believe it was Sawyer he was interested in.”

“He was trying to protect me.” If there was one thing she wanted this man to believe, it was that he’d been smart to take her. If he didn’t think she could help, he would get rid of her. He needed to believe she was the only person in the world who could get Wyatt to talk.

And then she would take as much pain as she had to until Sawyer found a way to save them.

Wayne turned his chair around and straddled it, staring at her like he was trying to figure her out.

She was too calm. She needed to let some of her fear show. She sniffled. “Can I see him?”

“What the hell do you see in Wyatt? Is it the schoolteacher thing? Men aren’t attracted to you and so the one who shows interest gets all your attention?”

Sure. Because men didn’t have schoolteacher fantasies. Yeah. She reached out for a napkin, dabbing at her eyes. “I love Wyatt. I fell in love with him, and Sawyer was part of the deal.”

The last thing she wanted was the dude to decide getting Sawyer was a good idea.

“You prefer my brother over Sawyer?” Wayne asked.

She loved them both equally. It was odd because she could no longer see one of them without the other. “Sawyer is handsome, but he’s not my type. Wyatt is sweet and cares about the people around him. Sawyer can be a selfish prick, but he’s good in bed. Wyatt and I are going to leave him. Wyatt thought he owed Sawyer, but I think we’ve more than repaid him. We were going to tell him once we found a place to live.”

Best to let him think Sawyer didn’t matter at all.

“You listening, big guy?” Wayne looked over his shoulder toward the side entrance. “You tore down that mountain like she means something to you and guess what? She was playing you to get to little brother.”

Sawyer was here. Two big men were on either side of him, his hands together in front of him bound by a zip tie they’d definitely gotten too tight. Her heart sank. What had happened? He’d heard her say shitty things, and it would ruin them. And she couldn’t take them back without making them even more vulnerable.

“Yeah, I heard.” There was a dull note to Sawyer’s tone that made her ache. “I should have known. I guess I didn’t think Wyatt would do that to me.”

Wayne pushed his chair back and stood. “You don’t know my brother the way you think you do. My brother is a traitor. He’s a liar. He cheats. He’s not the kind of man you risk everything for.”

But he was, and so was Sawyer.

“I don’t suppose you can let me go and we’ll call it all even?” Sawyer asked. “I have zero problems marching right back up to my cabin and putting them both out of my mind.”

“Sure. And you wouldn’t call anyone,” Wayne mused. “You should know I took out the phone lines and have a cell phone jammer working now. Your safe room isn’t going to help.”

“Well, I don’t see the rest of my employees here, so it must have done something,” Sawyer said with a smirk.

“Yeah, they’re locked in,” Wayne admitted, “but they can’t get a message out. I made sure of it. As for letting you go and brood over the fact that no one’s ever going to want you as part of their family, I’m going to have to pass. I will admit, I thought bringing you in might help. I wasn’t sure the lady here is going to be able to take as much pain as I’m going to need to inflict in order to get my brother to talk. I thought you might be an extra go to when it comes to torture, but it seems he wants you out of the way.”

“I love you, Sawyer. You don’t have to be with her,” Lark said.

Sawyer’s eyes widened in obvious surprise. “Really?”

“I’ll take care of Sawyer.” Lark nodded Wayne’s way. “I mean it feels like you owe me for not giving you trouble.”

Wayne stalked over to her. “Not making you part of the torture is payment for what I owe you. See, my brother has many flaws, and one of them is caring too much. I was thinking about starting with you and seeing if I even have to bring out the big guns.”

Lark had overplayed her hand.

“Hey, you don’t have to do any of this,” Sawyer said, pulling slightly away.

That was when he suddenly had a gun leveled at his face, and it took everything Sabrina had not to throw herself in front of him. Wayne moved in, stepping beside his guard. The whole place had hushed though the jukebox was still going. It felt like everything slowed down, and she reached for the knife.

“Stop,” Wayne said. “This isn’t the time to start shooting, boys. Sawyer, you want to tell me what you know about Dennis Hill?”

Sawyer’s expression went blank. “No idea. It happened long after I left the Horde.”

“Ah, but you still had influence over my brother, didn’t you?” Wayne Kemp hissed the question out. “You were still talking to him.”

“We played games online sometimes,” Sawyer admitted. “But Wayne, if you think I invited that little asshole to show up on my doorstep, you’re wrong. I liked living alone. I wasn’t looking for a kid brother. I’ve had enough of those in my life. And you need to seriously think about what can happen when you hurt her. You haven’t done your due diligence when it comes to her kidnapping. You know she’s the schoolteacher, but you didn’t connect her to Deputy Leal? You honestly think you’re going to kill a cop’s sister and they’ll let you get away with it? Wright will take exception, and he’ll have more firepower behind him than you can imagine. They won’t be satisfied until they burn down everything you care about.”

“I don’t believe a word of it. Bliss is a town of hippies and perverts,” Wayne said with a shake of his head. “They’re just good at mythmaking. And I’ll handle Wright if I need to. He’s been out of the DEA for too long. He’s nothing but a fat cat who spends half his time fishing.”

Okay, well, some of that was true. At least according to her sister. What was Sawyer trying to do beyond irritate the hell out of the man they should be trying to soothe? “He’s not going to hurt us. He won’t have to. I’m sure Wyatt is going to tell him what he needs to know.”

And then he would kill Wyatt, but she was buying time.

“Sabrina, he doesn’t know anything,” Sawyer said, enunciating each word like she was a child who didn’t understand.

They were past this now. “I don’t know what he knows, but if he knows something, he’ll tell his brother.”

“Well, we should find out.” Wayne gestured toward Sabrina. “Bring him over here. I want them both in one place. Lark, another round. I’m afraid you’re going to have to settle for no one else having your man. I don’t think he’ll survive the afternoon.”

Lark sniffled but turned and went back behind the bar.

Sawyer was shoved Sabrina’s direction, two big men forcing him down into the chair. They stepped back.

“Now go and wake up my asshole brother,” Wayne said, smiling like this was all one big party and he was having the time of his life. Lark brought him a bottle of beer, and he tipped it Sabrina’s way as the two giant assholes walked toward the back of the building. “Tonight, the Horde accepts payments for the debts of my brother.”

A cheer went up, and the Horde started partying. They’d brought a couple of women with them. At least Sabrina hoped they weren’t women who got caught in the bar. They seemed perfectly comfortable with a bunch of men treating them like blow-up dolls.

“We’re going to have to do such a deep clean.”

She could barely hear Sawyer over the loud music but he sounded…not how she’d thought he would. Anxiety pounded at her. She wasn’t sure who she should be more worried about, and then there was the horrible things Sawyer had heard. She leaned over as far as she dared. There were still eyes on them. The fact that they gave them some space basically told Sabrina they didn’t think they had a chance if they tried to run.

Wyatt definitely wouldn’t have a chance.

“I didn’t mean it,” she whispered Sawyer’s way.

He leaned over. “Didn’t? I can’t hear you, babe. I’m serious, though. What just happened on the back pool table? I don’t think we can use it anymore.”

Why was he talking about this? “Sawyer, I didn’t mean it.”

“But I do. We’re going to have to clean,” he practically shouted before leaning in again and his voice going low. “Henry’s here. So is your sister. Hang tight.”

Henry? They couldn’t get Nate? “I left a note. You didn’t find it?”

“I don’t know about a note, babe. Keep calm,” Sawyer whispered.

Sabrina took a deep breath and vowed to do whatever it took to get them out of here.

* * * *

Wyatt lay on the floor, the concrete cold under his cheek, but it barely registered compared to the throbbing in his head.

That asshole had hit him, but not before he’d murdered two police officers and probably made it so it would look like it was him. Everyone would believe it. No one would want to believe the former MC member over a trusted law enforcement officer.

It was so fucked up, and the only thing he could be slightly happy about was Sawyer had Sabrina, and he wouldn’t let her out of his sight. Sabrina would be safe no matter what. Sawyer would make sure of it.

Where the hell was he?

“Keep it down, buddy,” a low voice said. “I think if they don’t turn on the lights, they might mistake me for the guy I killed. Sawyer keeps a surprisingly clean supply room. I’m going to mention to Nell he’s using very earth-friendly products. I always knew he was a good man hiding behind a wall of misanthropy.”

Yeah, his head hurt, and he wasn’t sure what Henry Flanders was saying. And why was Henry Flanders in Sawyer’s supply closet, and why did it seem like there was some kind of dance party going on outside? Every muscle he had ached. He opened his eyes, trying to let them adjust to the low light, and the first thing he saw was a foot. Like a dead foot. At least it looked like it wasn’t going to be moving again.

Despite his unusual upbringing, he hadn’t been around a ton of dead bodies. It freaked him out, and he shoved himself up, palms flat on the floor.

“Oh, sorry. Thought I got him wholly behind the paper products,” Henry said with a low chuckle as he dragged the dead dude back so Wyatt couldn’t see him. “He’s a slippery fucker. Sometimes I wish rigor mortis set in earlier. Of course other times it happens way too fast like the time I had to stuff a Russian operative into a suitcase. It was rough going. How are you?”

“I don’t… What’s happening?” The last thing he’d known he was being taken to his brother. Now he was at Hell on Wheels. And he might throw up.

“Okay, I’ve got to be quiet because I’m pretty sure they’re going to be in here any minute, unless your brother is a monologuing son of a bitch, and then we’ve got some time.” Henry knelt down, and Wyatt could see he’d put on the guard’s leather vest. He was roughly dressed the way the other man had been, so he did have a shot if no one looked too closely. “Nate is on his way, but he’s got to be careful because of the hostages. Elisa and I are in the building. We came in where the security cams are down. She’s making her way to the office where she hopes the employees took shelter when they realized what was happening.”

Happening? What was happening? “We’re at Hell on Wheels?”

He asked the question despite knowing the answer. It was all around him. He was in the supply closet, and they were talking about Sawyer’s beloved bar being taken over by his brother and a bunch of criminal assholes.

Sawyer was never going to forgive him. Sawyer loved this bar. It connected him to his grandfather. It was his hiding place from the world.

Henry winced and moved in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, we’re at Hell on Wheels. From what I can tell in the brief time I’ve been here, I believe Wayne thinks everyone is going to be so freaked out by you not showing up in Creede they won’t think to look here. He’s going to see what he can get out of you in the next hour or so, and then there’s an SUV coming to transport you back to Colorado Springs.”

So his brother intended to spend some quality time with him, likely in one of the Horde’s many safe houses. He would be too smart to take him to the club house. Sabrina and Sawyer would look for him starting there.

“They took my cuffs off.” He wasn’t sure why he pointed out something Henry could easily see himself.

“Yes, they likely left them behind at the scene of the crime,” Henry said grimly as he moved to the door of the large closet. It was at the back of the building across from the office where he prayed everyone had gone and locked themselves in. The door was secure, and when they felt like it was safe, they could find the hidden ladder leading to the roof.

Sawyer’s grandfather had told Sawyer he liked sitting on the roof and watching the stars, but Wyatt thought the old guy also liked to have a way out.

He hoped Lark and Sid and Gil had taken it.

It was supposed to be a slow night, a night where they could likely close shop early.

He’d fucked it up for everyone.

“I guess the deputies are dead.” Despite the fact they hadn’t liked him or listened to him, he felt guilt at the thought of their murders. They’d tried to do the right thing. They just hadn’t understood how his brother’s world worked and that right meant shit here.

Henry eased open the door, stealing a peek outside. “No idea. Nate hadn’t gotten to the scene before my cell dropped out. I think they’ve got a jammer somewhere. It’s not a great one. Not much range, but it’ll do the job in here.”

He wasn’t worried about his cell. “They shot the deputies, so I don’t hold much hope. Why are you here, Henry?”

“Because I was the closest one, and I couldn’t let Elisa go in without backup. Van offered but he’s not much of a… How do I politely say the dude would get killed? Because he would. I’m honestly a little worried about Elisa, but at least she’s got training. I told her not to fire unless she absolutely has to. I’d rather get all the hostages out before the gunfire starts.”

“No gunfire,” Wyatt said, struggling to his feet. “Henry, you have to let me distract my brother. While he’s paying attention to me, you can get the staff out.”

Henry stepped back into the shadows, his eyes on the tiny slit where the door wasn’t quite closed. “I’m not worried about the staff. And you know the term is torture. Not attention. But I believe you, Wyatt. I believe you would do whatever it takes to save a couple of people you haven’t known for very long. I’m an excellent judge of character, and I’ve always known you’re a good guy.”

He wasn’t so sure, but Henry was right about one thing. He wasn’t leaving the staff to pay for his mistakes. Sawyer had them trained. They would have gotten to the office and locked themselves in. And that meant Elisa was going to…what? Knock? “The staff would go to the office and put it in lockdown. Elisa can’t get in.”

“She’s already in,” Henry replied. “Sawyer gave her the code before we came down the mountain to save you and Sabrina. Elisa’s going to wait until she can get them up on the roof and maybe out of here. Van should have called Nate by now and warned him about where we are. It won’t take long for Nate to figure out they’ve got jammers and hostages. I’d like to hand over as many to Nate as I can before this thing goes down. I overheard this asshole confirming someone from the MC will be here with a suitably large vehicle they can transport you across the state in. It better be big. Not that we’re going to allow them to take you.”

There was something about what Henry said that caught Wyatt’s attention, but then a spike of pain went through his brain. “Is that what we’re waiting for? A driver? And how about you do a guy a solid and you give me your gun and then get the hell out of here. You’re a dad. This is dangerous.”

“So is fatherhood, and I don’t have a gun, son.” He held his hands up. “I promised my wife if I had to kill anyone else, I would use my hands. A knife is acceptable if I can’t do the deed in the neatest way possible. But if she asks, you remember me talking to him and asking him if he wants to reconsider his life choices. I offered him help, right?”

Nell was a woman of mysterious ways. In this he would absolutely back up Henry. “I don’t think he would have been swayed… He wasn’t swayed by your logical and kind arguments as to why he should give up his life of crime. But a gun really would help.”

A rowdy shout went through the bar, and he wondered if the entire Horde was here. It slightly shook the floors. They were happy about something. Most likely his upcoming torture.

“Sorry,” Henry offered. “But I promise we’re going to get you out of this. Nate won’t let them get away. Unlike your brother, Nate knows all the roads. There won’t be anywhere to go. Gosh. I should have texted Van about the babysitting rules. I worry she’s going to get hungry and Van will give her a ham sandwich, and then she’s almost certainly going to break her mother’s heart and become a rabid carnivore. What was I thinking?”

Henry was questioning his parenting choices, but Wyatt would rather know why he’d come into a den of vipers without so much as a gun. And he’d managed to take out the man who’d earned the nickname Brutus. Bru was a nasty piece of work. “Are you sure he’s dead? And how exactly do you kill a man quietly with your bare hands? I would think a fight like that would attract attention even though they’ve got the music too loud.”

In Wyatt’s experience, fighting was a loud thing. It was something that took time and spent blood, and he didn’t see a drop of Brutus’s on the floor or on Henry.

Henry turned to him, a serious expression on his face. “I know you think I’m a mild-mannered dad, but I haven’t always been. The CIA operative is still in here, though he’s happily controlled through love and sex. John Bishop gets to come out to play when things go wrong. You assume he even knew I was here before I got my hands on his head, twisted in the exact right way, and internally decapitated him. He didn’t have a chance to scream or fight or even pray to whatever god he worships. He threatened my town, and I took him out. I do not need a gun, Wyatt, and you don’t have to worry about me. I assure you I’ve seen and dealt more death than you can imagine.”

Okay, Henry was scary as shit when he wanted to be. He was glad he wasn’t Van because he probably would give that kid a ham sandwich.

But something Henry had said finally sank in. “What do you mean save Sabrina? Sabrina’s already safe. Sawyer would have made sure of it. Why would someone need to save Sabrina?”

Henry sighed. “Because when she went in to gather her things, apparently she got a call or a text from your brother and it scared her enough she took off without asking Sawyer’s opinion. The good news? Your brother has no idea Elisa and I were even there, so we’ve got the element of surprise on our side.”

Panic threatened to overtake him. The only fucking reason he’d been calm at all had been the fact that he knew Sabrina and Sawyer were safe. If Sabrina was here… “Tell me he stayed behind. Tell me he’s waiting for Nate.”

Henry stepped over the mop bucket. “Of course he didn’t. Wayne asked him to turn himself in and he did. He’s out there watching over Sabrina and waiting for us to make a move.”

A move? A move could cost Sabrina her life. It could cost her everything, and it would be all Wyatt’s fault.

“Hey, calm down.” Henry’s tone was low and soothing, sounding more like the man who normally wore Birkenstocks and sold his zucchini bread at the weekend market in town. “They are fine right now, and we’re going to ensure they stay fine. Sabrina came because she couldn’t stand the thought of being the reason you died. Sawyer came because he loves you both, though he’ll never say it. So let him believe he came down and offered to sacrifice himself because he thought it was rude he would get left out of the torture. The point is, they need you calm and rational.”

How the fuck was he supposed to…

Breathe.

It was the first thing Alexei Markov had taught him.

Breath is essential. It’s a safe space for us to go to when the world overwhelms us. Breathing recenters our focus. Allows us to calm the central nervous system.

Four seconds in. Hold for six. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Exhale for eight.

And again.

“Good. Keep it up,” Henry whispered. “But I’m going to need you on the floor like you’re still passed out. Someone’s coming. We’re out of time. Please stay calm, Wyatt.”

He didn’t want to. He wanted to let the psychotic asshole who lived inside him out so he didn’t have to deal with this. The psycho didn’t care about anything but his own survival.

Except the psycho loved Sabrina, too. The psycho was fighting because she needed him.

He dropped to his knees. Breathing. One. Two. Three. Four. Hold. The part of himself that fought and fought had been essential when he’d been alone. When he was the only one fighting, the piece of himself that wanted so badly to survive came out to protect him. He wasn’t some enemy to fight. He was part of Wyatt, and the piece of himself had figured out he wasn’t alone anymore and he had to be the best partner he could be.

Exhale for eight.

He heard the door open, and the light got flipped on. When the door opened the music blasted through the small space, and he could hear the raucous party. His brother thought he could get away with all of this because no one would come for him. Because in his brother’s mind he was useless and weak, and so were all the people in the town down below the mountain. They wouldn’t care what went on up here because Wayne never once gave a shit about his neighbors. He was treating Bliss like it was a Horde world and everyone lived in it.

Wyatt had learned the citizens of Bliss made their own rules.

Another breath and he let his whole body go limp. He was vulnerable but it was okay because he trusted Henry Flanders and his apparently deadly hands. Shit. He was putting his and Sabrina’s and Sawyer’s lives into the hands of a man who spent most of his time with a baby strapped to his chest. And sometimes he wore socks with the Birkenstocks. Breathe.

“Hey, Bru, it’s time to bring the…”

He heard a snap and then a big body fell to the floor beside him. Wyatt flipped over in time to miss his brother’s now dead enforcer falling on him. But that asshole hadn’t come alone. Wyatt got a great view of Murphy standing in front of Henry Flanders.

“You’re not Brutus,” Murphy said, a sneer on his face. He pointed a gun Henry’s way. “Who the fuck are you?”

Henry didn’t reply, merely knocked the gun to the side and brought the heel of his palm up, striking Murphy’s nose. Another crunch sounded through the space and then Murphy too slid to the floor, his eyes glazing over.

“What the fuck was that?” Wyatt got to his feet. They probably had a couple of minutes. They would expect Murphy to wake him up. Probably why the other guy had been carrying a cattle prod.

“I broke his nose in such a way it sent cartilage into his brain and killed him,” Henry explained matter of factly. “But see, no blood. Cleaning blood requires an enormous amount of water and cleaners, and some people use bleach which is going to end up in the ground water. But this way, no mess. Earth friendly.”

He wasn’t about to debate which type of killing was best for climate change. He did, however, pick up the cattle prod the asshole had expected to use on him.

“Oh, you should totally get the gun,” Henry explained, shrugging out of the vest like he didn’t need it anymore. He was willing to show his true face to Wyatt’s brother. He pointed to Murphy’s body. “He’s got two on him. You might pick up the other one and give it to Sawyer if you can. I know he can shoot, and I don’t think Sabrina cares how he kills the people who are after him.”

He wasn’t wrong. “The cattle prod is for Sabrina. I’m not sure if I’m going to give it to her so she can defend herself or use it on her because she shouldn’t be here and she knows it.”

Let Henry do with that what he would. Wyatt had a few dark secrets, too.

“I think cattle prod is pretty advanced. Sabrina is probably still getting used to spankings. You should start out with a violet wand if you want to try electricity play,” Henry replied as though he’d been talking about something perfectly normal.

Such a weird place, and he wanted it for his home.

“Could we stop talking about my sister’s sex life and get this party started?” a familiar voice asked. Elisa stood in the doorway, staring down the hall, though she spoke to Wyatt and Henry. “I took out the jammer. Nate knows where we are, and he’s on his way. I sent Sid and Gil up to the roof, but they’re super worried about Lark. She stayed so they had a chance to get to the office.”

“How far behind is Nate?” Henry asked, flexing his hands as though readying them for battle.

“He’s ten minutes out,” Elisa replied.

“It’s too long.” Wyatt knew his brother. “We can’t take down the Horde with a couple of guns and Henry’s hands.”

“Oh, he can kick people, too,” Elisa assured him. “Henry’s solid.”

“Against how many? In a small space?” Wyatt needed to point out all the problems with the three of them running without backup.

Henry frowned. “It’s less likely. Did you check the security cams? How many are we up against?”

Elisa’s jaw tightened. “I think they brought most of their members. It’s at least fifteen, and I’m pretty sure there’s more coming, though they should get here after Nate.”

“So I need to hold them off for ten minutes.” Wyatt took another long breath. This would be the performance of a lifetime, and if he didn’t sell it, they could all die.

“Wyatt, they want to kill you,” Elisa pointed out quietly. “Aren’t they going to question how you got out?”

“My brother knows I have skills, and he’ll believe his guys can fuck up. And yes, they want to kill me, but first they want to cause me pain. I’m going to make sure I take the pain and not your sister.” He needed a plan. “Cut the power when Nate gets here. That way I’ll know when the bullets are going to fly and I can cover Sabrina. Henry, get to Lark. She won’t know what’s coming.”

“Are you sure? Your brother is angry,” Henry said.

“My brother is always angry.” He’d been born with a rage inside him, and getting him even angrier would likely spare Sabrina and Sawyer. His head still ached, but he couldn’t hide away. This was a job only he could do.

Face the monster who’d never bothered to hide under the bed. Wayne had been the monster in his life since he’d been old enough to take a beating. When he’d displeased their father, Wayne had been the one to serve his punishment. His father had said it was because one day Wayne would be Wyatt’s president, and he should get used to doling out the punishments no matter who it was to.

“Thank you, Wyatt,” Elisa said as he passed her by. “I promise I’ll cut the power the minute Nate gets here. He’s coming in without lights or sirens because he doesn’t want to tip your brother off, so don’t expect to know ahead of time. I’m pretty sure he’s bringing most of the Creede department with him. They’re pissed.”

Because two of their officers were down, and Nate had apparently made them believe it wasn’t Wyatt’s fault. Or they would arrest him and he would start this whole cursed night all over again.

Henry stopped him, his eyes going down to the cattle prod in his hands. “I think you have to go out there without weapons. If you’re stalling, you need to give them not a single reason to open fire. Are you sure they’re going to believe you could take those men out on your own? If not, then we might need to just use the element of surprise. They’re not expecting us.”

“I have a certain reputation,” Wyatt said, his gut clenching, but he knew Henry was right. If he took the cattle prod, or worse, one of the guns with him, they would take him out quickly, and Sabrina could get caught in the cross fire. He handed the weapon over. “I assure you, my brother knows I can perform violent acts when I need to.”

Breathe.

He started down the hall.

Sometimes he could hear his father telling him he was nothing. Wyatt was too weak to be his son. He wouldn’t survive and he shouldn’t because he was as useless as a daughter. A daughter, he’d been told, could at least be married off to gain something for the club.

But he heard other voices now as he forced himself to take each step.

He heard Sabrina telling him she loved him.

Sawyer telling him they’re brothers. Though grudgingly.

He heard Alexei telling him he did not have to follow the life script handed to him at birth. Alexei had told him how brave he’d been to break free, to have taken all the abuse and still be a decent, loving human being.

Because he was unbreakable.

Four in. Hold for six. Exhale for eight.

He could do this.

But his performance had to be good. He knew exactly what would catch his brother’s attention.

He stumbled the last of the way to the main floor. For the briefest moment, no one saw him, but he was able to take in the scene in front of him. Lark was behind the bar. Good. He hoped she stayed there. Sabrina and Sawyer were seated at a table in the middle of the room. Where anyone could get to them. It wasn’t ideal, but he had to trust Sawyer would know what to do.

Sabrina’s eyes came up and lit on him, widening as she started to stand, but Sawyer reached out and caught her arm. His hands were in zip ties but at least they weren’t behind his back. His brother wasn’t as by the book as the deputies had been, and Wyatt hoped it was about to cost him.

Wyatt watched as Sabrina’s hand went into the pocket of her skirt, showing him the hilt of what he prayed was a knife. It didn’t look large, but it would get Sawyer’s hands free.

If the crowd was distracted.

“Wayne Kemp,” Wyatt yelled out.

The whole place went still, and sure enough every eye turned his way. He hoped he looked pathetic. He knew there was blood on his shirt. It was sticky where he’d bled from the head wound.

His brother moved from the pool table, hands on his hips as he stared at Wyatt. “Where the hell are Murphy and Kick?”

He hadn’t known the other guy. “I killed them. And I’m going to kill you.”

Wyatt started for his brother and prayed they all survived the experience.