Any Moment Now #2
The woman’s voice was harsh. “No. She doesn’t get another second of hope. It’s ending now.”
Wyatt didn’t have time to wait for his buddies, although he was sure they’d only be seconds behind. All he needed was a distraction.
He leaned down without making a sound. While he prepared himself to run from a crouch, he whispered. “Find Esme, Gomez. Go.”
Wyatt tapped the dog, and sure enough, Gomez moved forward, barking repeatedly.
The sound had both reapers turning toward the dog. Esme’s voice shook. “Run, Gomez. Run.”
The woman’s evil laugh was like something from a movie. “Maybe I’ll hurt him first so you’ll see what’s in store for you.”
The man grunted at that, and it didn’t sound happy. Apparently, he didn’t mind manhandling and threatening women, but he drew the line at dogs.
When the woman turned her attention to Gomez, Wyatt burst into the clearing, staying low. He held his gun in his hand, but he needed to get Esme away from the thug for it to be any good.
He heard a partridge call signaling his team, but he couldn’t wait and mess up his momentum.
With a roar, he plowed into the man’s side, loosening his hold on Esme. When Esme dropped to the ground behind him, Wyatt shoved himself between her and the man. He shoved his weapon into the man’s chest. “It’s a gun, asshole, and I’m pissed enough to use it.”
The man lifted his hands in surrender even as the reaper woman shrieked in anger. He needed to keep her away from Esme and still control this guy.
Knowing his team was close and could help, Wyatt slugged the man in the face with his left hand, sending him reeling backward. Even if it didn’t knock him out, the punch should have him staggering for the seconds Wyatt would need.
He whirled to find Gomez hanging by his teeth from the sleeve of the woman’s costume. The terrier growled as she tried to shake him off, but the dog didn’t let go.
Before Wyatt could help him out, the woman dropped the knife in her efforts to grab Gomez. Esme scrambled to her feet and raced for the weapon while Gomez continued to growl and hang on.
The clearing suddenly filled with shouts and lights. He knew it was his friends, but Esme’s eyes widened in fear.
Knowing someone would control the man at his back, Wyatt rushed to grip her shoulders. “It’s okay, Esme. Our friends are here. It’s okay. We’ve got them.”
Her eyes looked over his shoulder, where he heard their friends taking control of both reapers.
“Gomez?”
At his name, the dog barked happily and then bounded their way.
Tears flowed down Esme’s cheeks as she dropped to the ground to envelop Gomez in a hug. “Thank you, Gomez. Thank you.”
Wyatt squatted beside her and wrapped his arm around her while he patted the dog’s head. “You’re a hero, Gomez.”
Esme nodded. “She had the knife to my face while the man held me, but Gomez scared her and then grabbed her sleeve so she couldn’t hurt me.”
Wyatt shuddered and wrapped her fully in his arms. “I’m sorry, Esme. Sorry I wasn’t fast enough. I got distracted and you paid the price.”
She lifted her tear-stained face to his, and he was relieved to see her smile. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. I was so focused on Halloween, I didn’t think about anyone attacking me. But I’m okay. We’re okay.”
Gomez turned to the trees with a growl, and Wyatt shifted to cover Esme from that side. Behind him, Boomer barked.
Gray ordered Boomer to hunt, and the German shepherd raced by them, with Gomez and Bibi on his heels.
A man shrieked in the woods. “Stop them. Stop them. I just want a picture. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Esme groaned. “Tristan Downey.”
Wyatt checked the clearing to find Knox and Ford with their guns out. The reapers sat on the ground with their faces still covered by the Halloween masks.
Lawson and Gray disappeared into the bush to deal with Downey.
Amber caught his eye. “Marcus and his deputies are on the way. Seth, Mara, Nash, and his family are taking care of the guests. Everyone is fine.”
He nodded at her even as the dogs and men returned, Boomer right beside Downey.
Lawson had a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Sit.”
“Keep that dog away from me. I’ll sue you. Give me the camera back or I’m charging you with theft.”
Lawson’s laugh held no humor. “Go for it, but I think your lawyer will be too busy to handle it. You’re screwed, Downey.”
Gray motioned to Boomer, and the dog sat watching the three on the ground, his manner one hundred percent threatening.
When Esme shuddered, Wyatt tightened his arms around her. The lights were all trained on the suspects, but he could see her clearly. When he spotted a trail of blood from her temple to her cheek, rage poured through him. “She cut you. That bitch cut you.”
He started to climb to his feet, but Esme’s arms tightened. “I’m okay, Wyatt. I’m okay. Don’t leave me.”
Nothing else could have changed his mind so quickly. His anger melted under his need to keep her safe, to keep her feeling secure.
He hugged her tightly. “I won’t leave, Esme. Not ever. I love you.”
Her eyes widened, and joy lit her face. “I love you, Wyatt. I’m not sure I believed in being in love until I came to Phail. You proved to me that love is real. And that I’m not too broken to feel it. I love you.”
Despite the situation surrounding them, joy filled him. He captured her lips with his and tasted the joy spilling out of her.