Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
brENDAN
D id she really just dare Marshal to pull the trigger?
“Dammit, Gen,” Brendan whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist and molding her upper back against his chest. Maybe he could flip her around to protect her. “Stop goading him. If you die, it kills me anyway. He’s right about that.”
“He won’t shoot me,” Genevieve returned. “It’s trash talk. Ignore it and stay directly behind me. Marshal’s a good shot.”
“You’re right, dove.” Marshal picked up the diamond ring and slid it on his pinky finger. He sneered at her while blood leaked forebodingly out of his crooked nose. “I won’t shoot you. That does feel like losing. It’s too easy of an out for you. Not to mention, I just don’t seem to be able to pull the trigger on you. I still like the ending where lover boy dies, and you become mine.” He curled his fingers and flashed the ring, darkening his voice. “You will wear this again and pay dearly for not obeying me.”
Some of the guards began to close in, and Brendan’s pulse surged. Whatever they did next, they needed to do quickly, or it was all over for them .
“Move back,” Genevieve hollered. “I promise I’ll shoot. Do you really want to die for Marshal?”
Brendan slowly shuffled them toward the arched room exit. What happened in the next room, he had no clue, but it had to be better than standing in one place with multiple guns trained on them.
“Scared, office freak?” Marshal fired a shot, and the wall splintered above his head.
Brendan ducked, sucking in a sharp breath.
“So much for protecting your woman.” Marshal chuckled menacingly. “Seems to me like she’s protecting you.” He took a few steps toward them.
“Stay there, Marshal,” Genevieve warned. “I’ll gladly shoot.”
A solid hand gripped Brendan’s forearm. He startled and whirled his head around, a wave of terror crashing over him. The muscular guard covered in fantasy tattoos flashed him a triumphant smile, tightening his grip. Shit, he was dead for sure.
“Finally,” Marshal called out. “Good job, Killian. About time one of my men used his brain.” He nodded him over. “Bring lover boy out in the open so we can end this. I’d like to make this brutally painful for him.” In a sinister tone, he added, “He’s earned it.”
“Killian?” Genevieve pleaded. “ Please .”
Please what? Did she know this guy?
Killian returned Marshal’s nod. “You got it, boss.” He dropped his voice to a barely audible whisper, “When I say run, Ms. Gen, we run like hell, or should I call you boss now?”
“I’m ready,” Genevieve whispered back, “and no, I don’t want you to call me boss. Just Gen, please.”
“You got it, Ms. Gen.”
Brendan blinked, trying to process their exchange. This muscular guy was somehow Genevieve’s ally? He’d take it, arms wide open, and ask questions later.
“Run,” Killian shouted, firing his pistol.
They bolted, leaping around the corner, under the arched room exit, and behind a blue lounge chair in the center of what appeared to be a library. Gunfire sprayed behind them, tearing apart the exposed shelves full of books.
Killian met Brendan’s eyes while he fired shots over the chair, keeping Marshal’s men at bay. “Follow close behind me and Ms. Gen. We’re going to make a break for it.”
Brendan nodded, and Killian grabbed Genevieve’s hand. He dashed off, guiding her into a sunroom before bursting through a side patio door. Hot, dry air blasted into Brendan’s face, and he tried to draw in even breaths while he followed close behind. They raced through lava beds with scrubby bushes that tore at his slacks until they finally rounded an outer nook of the house, hiding behind the solid stucco siding.
Killian pushed them deep into a protected corner and stood peering around the siding, firing shots to ward off Marshal’s men. Genevieve’s new ally clearly knew what he was doing.
Brendan wrapped his arms around Genevieve, taking a brief moment to savor the contentment flowing through him now that they were sheltered. “Thank god you’re safe. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” Genevieve peppered kisses along his jaw to his lips before tightening her radiant caramel eyes at him. “Thank god I’m safe? What about you? I told you not to risk your life again. Don’t ever do anything that stupid again.” She fisted his white business shirt, planted another passionate kiss on his lips, and sighed. “Nevertheless, thanks for coming after me.”
His lips twitched, and he couldn’t help but let a cocky grin slip. “Always, Gen, no matter how stupid it is. I’m not living my life without you.” With a weary sigh, he refocused his attention on the action. “Ready to get out of here?”
She nodded, amusement dancing in her smile. “Got the gooey stuff out of the way, huh, bad boy, and now it’s comprehensive plan time?”
Brendan laughed at her playful ribbing of him at such an intense time. “You bet.” He winked at her before asking, “Got a phone, Killian?”
Killian darted a look over his shoulder. “Yeah, boss.” He slid a new magazine into his semi-automatic pistol and fired a few more rounds. “Why?”
“Boss?” Brendan balked, eyeing Killian while Genevieve lost it in a fit of giggles.
Killian shrugged, peeked around the corner, and fired a few more shots. “Ms. Gen says you’re both my new boss. She wants to be called Gen. That’s fine, Ms. Gen suits.” He glanced at Brendan. “You want a different title, boss, then let me know what it is.”
Brendan stared at Genevieve in wonder.
“Killian is our new bodyguard,” she explained and bit her lip. “Well, at least he is if you pay his salary. I’m guessing he’s out of my price range. I promised myself I wouldn’t use any of your money, but given that our lives are in danger, I’ll make an exception.”
Bobbing his head, Brendan pushed his designer glasses back up his nose. He could care less if Genevieve spent all his money, but she cared if she did, so he wasn’t about to bring that up again. “You’re hired,” he called out to Killian. “Whatever Marshal’s paying you, double it.”
“Done,” Killian returned and handed him the phone. “Here you go, but I don’t think you need it anymore, boss.”
“Brendan,” he corrected, not able to take the boss thing anymore. He was no damn American Mafia Don .
Killian furrowed his brow. “Does Mr. King work for you? Brendan is too informal for my liking.”
Brendan nodded. “Fine.”
“Very well, then, Mr. King. Hmm…doesn’t really suit. I’ll stick with boss unless we’re in other people’s company.” He pointed across the desert at the Hummer speeding toward them. “No phone call needed, boss. Looks like your driver is already on it.”
Right on, Quill, Brendan thought while wrinkling his nose at Killian’s insistence on the boss title. He decided not to press it. The man could call him whatever he wanted after saving their lives.
He kissed Genevieve’s temple. “We’re almost out of here.”
Staring at the Hummer’s approach, she scrunched her features with unease.
“Gen?” Brendan brushed a loose strand of her golden-brown hair out of her eyes. “Is something wrong?”
She nodded at him before raising her voice loud enough to be heard over the battle noises. “Killian, my mom? Do you know where she is?”
Oh, shoot, her mom, of course. There was no way they could save her right now, not without backup, but how could he tell her that? It would crush her.
“Sorry, Ms. Gen, but our lives are on the line. We can’t help her right now.”
“Please, where is she?”
Bullets peppered the bushes in front of them, and Killian sputtered out a string of curse words before firing more shots around the corner. “Focus on staying alive, Ms. Gen. We’re barely hanging on ourselves here—they’re closing in. You’re no good to her dead. Just know that she’s safe. Mateo’s watching over her, and he’ll never hurt her.”
“Doubtful,” Genevieve grumbled with a troubled gaze. “He shot at us. ”
“He shot at Mr. King, Ms. Gen, not you. He’d never fire at an unarmed person.” Killian dropped his pistol, reached out his hand, and waggled his fingers toward Genevieve. “I’m out of ammo. I need the gun that you nabbed from Marshal.”
Genevieve handed her pistol over to Killian without question.
As Quill converged with the Hummer, bullets pinged off the shiny black paint, leaving visible dents when the angle of the sun was just right. Brendan rubbed his hands together in anticipation. Less than a minute and Quill would be within range.
“Killian, what if my mom provokes Mateo?” She anxiously gnawed at her lip. “Momma has a habit of arming herself with household items.”
“Ms. Gen, I told him I’d break both his arms if one hair on Roxy’s head is harmed. Don’t worry. I like your momma almost as much as I like you.”
“Maybe we can get to her before we?—”
“No, Ms. Gen. Once you’re safe, we’ll talk about how to save Roxy.”
Brendan’s mouth dropped open. Maybe he needed to pay this guy triple what he made before.
The Hummer raced up, stopping directly in front of the lava bed nearest to them, and within seconds, gunfire sprayed out of a small crack in the slightly rolled-down driver’s side window. Pride in his best friend washed over him.
Killian reached for Genevieve’s hand and caught Brendan’s gaze. “Let’s go. I’m going to get Ms. Gen in the vehicle, and then I’ll assist you.”
“Forget me.” Brendan urged Killian forward with a quick nod of his chin. “Put your full focus on Genevieve’s safety.”
Killian tilted his head and studied him. “I like you, boss. Any man who puts Ms. Gen first is a winner in my book. In a land of snakes, you’re the first man I’ve met who isn’t. ”
Brendan blinked in surprise. “Well, Killian, if that’s the case, then welcome to my world.” He winked at Genevieve, giving her credit for another one of her phrases, and continued, “I hope you’re okay with a slower pace. Once we put Jed Marshall behind bars, I think you’ll find your role as our bodyguard relatively boring.”
Killian boomed out a laugh. “Boring and double the money. Sounds nice, boss.” Another spray of bullets pelted the bushes, and Killian sobered his features, locking eyes with Brendan. “Run on the desert side of us. Marshal will be prepared for us to run, and he’ll have his men fire directly at you. You’ll have to use us as shields.”
“I’m not using Gen as a shield ever. Don’t even?—”
“Boss, my job is to protect Ms. Gen and everyone she loves. She won’t be happy if you die. I’ll be the main shield, but you have to run on the desert side of us.”
Genevieve flashed Brendan a smug smile. “Isn’t he the best?”
“I’m suddenly having buyer’s remorse,” Brendan grumbled.
“You’re funny, boss, and stuck with me now,” Killian added meaningfully before repeating, “Desert side.”
Genevieve pecked a quick, vehement kiss on Brendan’s lips. “Let’s hightail it out of here and send a rescue crew back for my mom. I’ve got a confession on tape that Marshal is holding her against her will. That’s got to get us a speedy warrant.”
“I have no doubt that you do. We’ll send artillery back for her, I promise.” Just as Brendan finished delivering his words, chopper blades whirred in the distance.
Genevieve gasped. “Backup. Can we try to find my?—”
“No, Ms. Gen,” Killian intervened firmly, “I’ve only got whatever ammo is left in this gun. I’m out of magazines. We’ve got to make a break for the Hummer now.” He linked his hand under her arm. “Ready, boss?”
Brendan nodded. “Ready.”
Killian sprinted through the scrubby bushes, guiding Genevieve along beside him, and Brendan kept pace on the desert side as instructed. Their shoes connected with the parched earth, and a flurry of fine dust erupted, swirling in the dry air like a miniature sandstorm.
Just paces away from the Hummer’s back door, Marshal jeered, “Oh, Genevieve, I’ve got Momma Dear.” His voice dropped to a lethal tone. “You keep running, and she’s dead.”
“Oh, no!” Genevieve ground to a halt, stopping Killian and himself dead in their tracks. “No, no, no!”
“Run, Gen,” a woman’s voice shouted. “Get in the car!”
Brendan peered out from behind Killian’s shoulder. Marshal stood firm, using Genevieve’s mom as a human shield while holding a gun to her head. Tears streamed down her splotchy, rosy cheeks while her short brown hair stood this way and that in a wayward mess.
“Go, sweetheart,” her mom continued. “Remember what I said. Live your life. Go!”
Brendan’s stomach churned with nausea. He took a deep breath to keep from vomiting on the desert floor. Marshal couldn’t even follow moral rules of engagement when his own men started turning on him. He was such a coward. And Genevieve had him beat, too!
But what chance did they have now? There was no way the woman he loved would run when her mom had a gun to her head. Genevieve was much too caring and brave for that, and so was he because her fire flared his own. He’d die to save Genevieve, and that meant he’d die so she could try to save her mom.
“Wait, Jed,” Genevieve said in a rush, holding her hands out in surrender. “Don’t hurt my mom. You win. After Mr. King and Killian get in the car, I’ll come to your side and follow your terms. No more games. I just want my mom safe.” Her voice broke as she quickly repeated, “I’ll do whatever you say, just don’t hurt her.”
Like hell! Did she really think he’d let that happen? They’d be back to square one, only worse. Brendan would never stop trying to bury Marshal, and Marshal would disappear with Genevieve and all the evidence of his crimes. He’d probably bolt overseas where half a dozen offshore bank accounts were ready and waiting, and she’d be forever trapped in his web under even more brutal terms.
“Oh, no, Gen, please,” her mom pleaded. “Please, sweetheart, get in the car. You have to go. Please go with Mr. King.”
Genevieve twisted her head around and pierced him with a fervent gaze. “I love you, Brendan. Get in the car and go.” With a smile full of heartbreaking anguish, she added, “Do it for me.”
Brendan nodded, shooting her a passionate smile of his own that he hoped she’d think of when she remembered their last moment together. “I love you too. Always, Gen.”
She took in his eyes one last time as if savoring the love that shone from their depths and swiveled her head back around, facing in the direction of Marshal.
Brendan pointed at the pistol in Killian’s hand, and Killian nodded, passing it over. He then gestured toward Genevieve, followed by Killian and the car. Killian nodded again in understanding.
Genevieve started to walk toward Marshal, and Brendan pulled in a deep breath, readying himself while trying to ignore the eight or so bodies lying on the ground that he was about to join face down in the dirt. Surprisingly, most of them appeared to be Marshal’s stronger men, one of whom was Roman. Only Marshal, with Roxy as his shield, and a skinny but capable-looking man remained out in the open with their guns raised. Brendan had no doubt other men lurked in the shadows, though it hardly mattered for his own fate.
With speed, Brendan reached out, grabbed Genevieve’s arm, and flung her toward Killian.
Genevieve screeched in surprise before screaming, “What? Brendan, no!”
Brendan sprinted toward Marshal, lifting the pistol. He hoped Roxy would elbow Marshal’s ribs and he’d get a chance to fire at least one shot at him—to leave Genevieve free of Marshal was the best he could hope for as he left this world.
“Ow,” Killian wailed behind him and began to cough like he’d had the wind knocked out of him. “Ms. Gen, don’t!”
As if in slow motion, Marshal leveled his gun next to Roxy’s shoulder, still using her to shield his body like a coward. Brendan wasn’t going to get the satisfaction of a shot. Too bad. I love you, Gen! He closed his eyes, ready to meet his fate.
A sharp tug on his shoulders reared him back, and his eyes popped open. Genevieve’s body flew in front of him, and a shot rang out, echoing through his eardrums. No! For a painful second, his mind processed what was about to happen with no way to stop it. Roxy screamed, and Genevieve crumpled onto the desert floor.
Brendan fell to his knees beside her, dropping his gun. “No,” he cried out, gathering her into his arms. “No, no. Baby, no, please. This wasn’t supposed to happen. It was supposed to be me.” Blood pooled across her upper right shoulder, soaking through her blue blouse. He ripped his shirt off and applied pressure to the wound, hopelessly repeating, “It was supposed to be me.”
Genevieve groaned in pain and paled, her eyes fluttering. “No, it wasn’t,” she murmured weakly. “This is my mess, not yours. I always planned to cut off the head of the snake. Take the recording from my bra and put him away for me, Brendan. Don’t let him hurt anyone else.”
Sounding more annoyed that his plan had been thwarted than that his so-called fiancée was dying, Marshal ground out, “Guess we’ll go with the ending where I let you live, office freak, so you can bask in your lovesick misery.” Still shielding himself with Roxy, he shuffled slightly closer, peering down at Genevieve. “You should have accepted your fate in my arms, dove. You had to know the only other way this could end… If you’re not with me, you’re not with him. One of the two of you had to die. I just never thought it would be you.” He sighed heavily, masking what appeared to be ego-driven regret with a subtle smirk. “Such a shame, but I always win one way or another.” Roxy twisted her body around, trying to break free, and he tightened his hold. “I’ll take your mom with me for now. Need a hostage after all.”
Genevieve whimpered and tried to sit up.
“No, baby,” Brendan pleaded in a soft whisper, “stay down and hold still. Let us handle it.”
Settling back down, Genevieve closed her eyes in exhaustion. Thankfully, her chest continued to rise and fall. Brendan applied more pressure to her wound, praying it was enough to keep her alive while blocking out the grave image of his now deep-stained, blood-red white shirt.
Killian stepped protectively in front of Genevieve’s crumpled form. Brendan thought about handing Killian the pistol by his side, but he didn’t want to take the pressure off Genevieve’s wound.
Marshal scoffed. “Never pegged you for a traitor, Killian.” He raised his brows. “Offering yourself up as bait? You’re just as stupid as King.”
“ Now, Roxy,” Killian shouted.
As if she’d been waiting for the command, Roxy knocked the gun out of Marshal’s hand. “Mr. King,” she yelled, “take Genevieve and go. Get to the hospital.”
There were still too many threats for him to move Genevieve, but at least Marshal no longer had a gun.
Killian stood tall, shoulders relaxed, exuding an air of unshakeable confidence. “Let Roxy go and surrender, Marshal, or we’ll shoot you. You’re unarmed and outmanned.”
Marshal chuckled. “You’ve got to be joking. Seems to me you’re the one who’s unarmed.” He narrowed his eyes slightly. “And outmanned, Killian, really? How do you figure?”
“You’re clueless about loyalty, Marshal,” Killian drawled out. “I can assure you that you’re outmanned right now. I didn’t get it for a long time, but I do now. When push comes to shove, it’s about caring and love, not money and power. Last chance.” He gestured firmly toward Genevieve’s mom. “Let Roxy go.”
Marshal snorted out a laugh and signaled the thin man to his left with his chin. “Mateo, kill him. He’s gone soft.”
So that was Mateo? Lanky and strong with legs like a distance runner, Mateo looked like he could travel at inhuman speeds—no wonder he’d caught up with them outside The Outlaw. Analyzing Mateo, Brendan’s confidence wasn’t in line with Killian’s. Though Brendan agreed with Killian’s revelations about loyalty, he still didn’t understand—how exactly weren’t they outmanned? Besides him, Mateo was the only one with a gun, and Brendan wasn’t going to be able to pick his up off the dirt fast enough.
Mateo aimed his pistol at Killian’s chest before lightning-fast swiveling the barrel toward Marshal. “Let Roxy go, Se?or Marshal. I run with Killian. If he’s gone soft, so have I.”
Oh, damn, okay, that’s how. Killian’s got strong allies, too. If we live through this, he’s definitely earning triple.
“Yeah,” Roxy cheered, “that’s right, Mateo. Tell him who’s boss. ”
Marshal unleashed a venomous sneer. “Fucking bunch of softies. Momma Dear’s blood is on your hands. She’ll die as soon as I’m safe.”
“Boss,” Luke called out in an urgent tone from the terrace, “we’ve got to get out of here.” He raised his gun while analyzing the bloodshed scene. “Full artillery is coming down the drive in addition to the choppers, and they’re closing in fast.”
With his arm still looped around Roxy’s waist, Marshal began to shuffle toward the terrace. “I’m unarmed, Luke,” he shouted. “Cover me.”
Luke fired a few shots that pelted the dirt about three yards to Brendan’s side. Clearly, Luke was a technical guy through and through, not a skilled marksman.
Bullets began to fire out of the Hummer’s driver-side window toward the terrace. Quill! As to be expected, he, too, was not so accurate, but it worked. Luke ducked and ran through the French doors into the house. Quill had finally gotten in on the action. His best friend probably had Marshal’s men running for cover the whole time the three of them had been wedged against the side of the house.
Killian signaled Mateo with hand gestures, and Mateo nodded in affirmation. In a flash, Mateo lurched, angling and firing a shot at Marshal’s hip. Marshal cried out in pain and fell to the ground while Roxy broke free.
Pulling a set of cuffs out of his pocket, Mateo shrugged, eyeing Killian. “Had these in my pocket for Se?ora Roxy, but since we’ve changed allegiances…” Mateo kicked a groaning Marshal onto his stomach and cuffed him. “Not going to say that I mind joining the good guys. My wife will be pleased. She hates dirty money.”
Brendan blew out a breath, puffing out his cheeks. The threats were finally neutralized. He quickly switched his focus to what mattered the most to him—the woman he loved. “Gen?”
Her lids trembled open, a sheen of moisture glazing her eyes.
“Stay with me, baby. There’s a chopper on the way. Stay with me.”
Roxy dropped to her daughter’s side. She repressed the fear, tightening her crinkled features, and spoke firmly, “Don’t you dare give up, my sweet Gen.” She placed her hand on Genevieve’s forehead, stroking her hair back. “Listen to me—you have to fight. Don’t give up. You have too much to live for. This Mr. King”—her worried, warm hazel eyes flashed to him—“Brendan?”
He nodded.
“Brendan needs to become my son-in-law. Any man you’re willing to jump in front of a bullet for has to be a keeper…especially when he tried to sacrifice himself for you, too. Your relationship is exactly what we talked about, remember? When both people in a relationship make incredibly selfless sacrifices, then you know it’s real. You found him, Gen. You found the one. Now hang in there, baby girl, so you can live the life of your dreams. Breathe, sweetheart, breathe.”
Quill raced up to their side, his eyes wide as saucers. “I alerted Manning we’d need medical when I heard the first shots fired. His medics are on their way—in one of the choppers. Time estimate is only a minute out.”
Brendan nodded and flashed Quill a sincere look of thanks. He kissed Genevieve’s forehead and held his hand steady, keeping firm pressure. “Stay with me, Gen. Please. ”
She had to live. For her. For him. For everyone. The world needed the strength of Genevieve Roxanne Hart.