“I didn’t realize it at first. I thought you should be saved before you showed your true colors. But it was always you. You were the one who made everyone come back here to check on Jax. Always the high and mighty fixer. If it weren’t for you, none of this would have happened. You have to die to set us all free.”
42
Boden
I pulledinto a parking spot a couple of shops down from the pizza parlor. The idea that Kay Granger might hurt Laiken more than she already had made me grumpy as hell. I was going to soothe my foul mood with pizza.
Shutting off the engine, I climbed out of my truck. Now that the sun had gone down, the air had an extra bite to it, and I tugged my jacket closer. As I walked, I debated between a Hawaiian pizza and a meat lover’s. Who was I kidding? Hawaiian would always win.
Something pressed into my lower back. “Keep walking unless you want to lose a kidney. Maybe a piece of your liver, too.”
My muscles snapped tight, but I forced myself to keep walking. “What the hell is wrong with you, Eli?” We were on a public street. Did he seriously think he could shoot me here and get away with it?
“I’d rather not shoot you, but I’ll do what I have to. It’s so damn hard to get you or that girlfriend of yours alone. You might want to look into a little therapy on codependency. You guys are a textbook case.”
Rage lit through me at the thought of Eli getting Laiken alone. “Did you kill Marisa?”
His steps faltered. “Who the hell is Marisa? I didn’t kill anyone. You’re always blaming me for things that aren’t my fault.”
“I can’t imagine why,” I clipped.
Eli dug the gun into my back. “I’d watch my tone if I were you. My finger could slip.”
“What’s the plan, Eli? You obviously haven’t thought this out.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, brother dearest. We’re gonna take a nice walk around the block and head back to my car. How much do you think our parents will pay to get their favorite son back unscathed? I’m sure it’s more than enough to buy me a nice life in Mexico. Might have to send them a finger or two just to make sure they know I mean business.”
He’d completely lost it. But maybe he’d always hated me this much. Been this callous towards our parents. Because the only person Eli had ever cared about was himself.
I’d have to make a move before we turned the corner onto a less populated street. I didn’t want anyone caught in the crossfire, but I wouldn’t mind help afterwards. I mentally ran through my attack. Stomping his foot, elbow to the gut, and an uppercut to the jaw. I sent up silent thanks to my trainer, who’d made boxing a part of our routine.
A bell over the pizza parlor door jingled as a laughing group stepped outside.
“Boden,” Hadley called. “What are you doing in town?”
Calder helped Sage into her coat as Birdie tugged on her mittens. All I could think about were those two innocent faces and the gun just feet away. I cleared my throat. “Just showing my brother around town. Eli, this is Hadley, Calder, and their two daughters.”
Calder’s gaze hardened at Eli’s name. He knew what my brother had done to Laiken. I widened my eyes, hoping he would get the message to get gone. He lifted his chin in greeting. “Nice to meet you. Welcome to Wolf Gap.”
“You, too.” Eli gripped my shoulder as the gun dug deeper into my back. “We should get going so we can find some dinner.”
“Of course,” Hadley said, ushering the girls around us. “See you later.”
“Later,” I gritted out.
“Don’t say a fucking word. You do, and they’re toast,” Eli growled.
I moved on instinct, slamming my heel down on the toe of Eli’s boot. At the same time, my elbow came back into his gut. He cursed, but I was already turning around, my fist connecting with Eli’s jaw.
He crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes. I dove for the gun, clamping a hand on Eli’s wrist so he was forced to release. Footsteps sounded on the pavement as I got a hold of the metal.
“Shit, you got him?” Calder asked.
“Wouldn’t mind some help or the cops.”
Calder and I rolled my brother to his stomach, holding his hands behind his back. Eli cursed and writhed. “Get the hell off me.”
I dug a knee into his back. “Don’t move.”