Chapter 16 #3
“Of course he did! I got his name. The car he drives. And that he’s some computer genius who goes around sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. I didn’t think I needed to know more than that!”
“You did if we’re both going down for this!”
While the two men argue, I can see Tyler getting into position. His muscles tense. His posture shifts. One hand inches towards his pocket, no doubt searching for the knife he has stashed there.
Once again, I consider running over to join him. I could hand off the gun, maybe distract the two men in the process, or maybe I could shoot one of them myself…
Or I could screw everything up. Because I’m not skilled or stealthy like Tyler is. I’m not a good shot. The only reason I even hit Gage was because he was right in front of me.
“He’s making it all up,” the tall guy barks at his partner. “I don’t believe it. He’s just—”
In a rush of movement, Tyler leaps at him.
Then it’s nothing but a frenzy of motion.
In all the times I watched Tyler sparring, I never saw anything like this.
His arm sweeps down, and the taller man yelps in pain. Then a leg sweeps out, and Tyler’s opponent crashes to the ground.
The shorter one rushes at Tyler, but Tyler kicks him hard in the gut. Then he follows with a swift punch to the throat. The man falls to his knees, clutching his neck and gasping. Then Tyler jumps on his back and puts him in a chokehold, holding onto him until the man goes limp.
Just as the taller man starts to get up, Tyler sweeps out his leg and takes him down again. Yanking his arms behind his back, Tyler restrains the guy, using zip-ties to tie his ankles to his wrists.
As Tyler turns to the unconscious man and starts tying him up, the last of my willpower dissolves. I can’t bear staying here a second longer. I need to know if Tyler’s really okay.
Self-recrimination beats at me as I pull myself free of the rotted trunk and start racing across the grass. I shouldn’t have hidden, I tell myself. I should have helped. It didn’t matter what Tyler said—
“Mel!” Tyler’s eyes go wide as he lifts his head to see me running towards him. He gives the restraints around the unconscious man’s wrists a firm tug before standing up. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry!” I blurt. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have hidden. I should have helped—”
His arms come around me as I crash into him. “Mel.”
“I’m so sorry,” I sob, the last of my control finally cracking. “I’m sorry. I should have helped you. You could have been killed, and I was just sitting there. I knew you told me to, but I should have helped. I’m so sorry.”
Tyler hugs me hard. His heart is pounding so hard I can feel it. “You’re supposed to be hiding.”
“I know. But I was watching, and you took them both down, and I couldn’t wait anymore. I needed to know—” I jerk out of his arms and look him up and down. “Are you hurt? What about your leg? Did they hit you? I heard a gun go off. Were you shot?”
I’m patting his body all over, searching for blood, for anything obviously broken. And I can’t stop crying. “I’m so sorry. I should have—”
“Mel.” His hands frame my face as his gaze moves across it. “I wanted you to stay hidden. Safe. I couldn’t have done this otherwise. I needed to know—” His voice catches. “Shit. They came for me. This—”
His expression jolts as his eyes come to my lips. Brushing his thumb across them, he says, “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing. I just bit my cheek.”
“Shit.” His face collapses. “Shit, Mel. You’re hurt.”
“I’m okay.”
“You’re not.” Pain slashes across his face. “You’re hurt. The car crash. And—” His gaze drops to the gun still clutched in my hand. “The gun. I know you hate them.”
“It’s alright.” I watch as Tyler gently takes the gun from me and sticks it in his waistband. “I understood.” Searching his gaze, I ask, “Are you really okay?”
He’s dismissive. “I’m fine. But you…” He hugs me to his chest. “Baby, I’m so sorry.”
Glancing over his shoulder, I look at the two men restrained on the ground. “What about them?”
Tyler turns and tucks me into his side. Then he glares at the two men who tried to kill us.
The shorter one is blinking dazedly, but the taller one is fully alert.
“They’re going to tell me everything they know.
Who hired them. When. And if I like their answers, maybe I’ll turn them over to the police. ”
The alert man looks at Tyler with alarm. “What do you mean, maybe?”
Tyler levels a murderous look at him. “Your buddy was right. I was Special Forces. But he was wrong about the other part. I may have lost my leg, but I’m far from a cripple.
” He pauses. “You hurt my girlfriend. You could have killed her. So maybe I’ll turn you over to the police.
” His voice dips threateningly. “Or maybe I’ll just deal with you myself. ”
The man whimpers.
Tyler turns back to me. “Maybe it would be better if you waited a little ways away. I need to talk to these guys, and I’d rather you didn’t see…”
“No.” I squeeze as close to him as I possibly can. “I’m staying right here. And whatever you need to do to make them tell the truth?” My chin lifts. “They deserve it.”