“Two.”
Gabe presses a kiss to my temple and whispers, “Don’t worry, cherry pie. You’re not going anywhere.”
“Three.”The tension escalates, and Mother practically spits the word from between clenched teeth.
Their bodies tense, and my heart rate skyrockets. Can I really let them fight Pack Fernando for me? Those guys are absolute monsters. I don’t know what I’ll do if one of them is hurt…
“Four!”
Panicked, I whisper, “I love you guys, I’m so sorry that I—”
“Five!Rip, go get her.”
Theoden squeezes my hand once more, then turns to face the hulking threat stalking toward us. The second massive shadow, silhouetted against the headlights, marches forward. All three of my guys take up fighting stances, and I experience the longest-feeling split-second of my life as I draw in half a breath to ready myself before the brawl begins.
Beau, never one to run from a fight, charges forward and takes the first swing at Rip. The thug manages to duck and return the hit, his fist glancing off of Beau’s arm as he dodges the blow. Meanwhile, Theoden runs up and manages to land a solid punch to Rip’s ribcage.
I tear my eyes from one fight to check on Gabe, who engages with the second member of Pack Fernando. They seem to be pretty fairly matched—the other man has more bulk, but Gabe is taller with a longer reach. The sickening crunch of bones and flesh colliding churns my still-full stomach. I don’t know where to look. There’s three people I can’t live without and my eyes ping-pong between the two fights.
The attack comes when I least expect it.
As I’m watching my men valiantly fighting to protect me, a pair of arms like iron grips wrap around my waist and lift me off the ground. Terror floods my system, lighting up my nerves with the need to fight.
I gasp with shock then screech like a banshee. “No!”
My attacker may be larger than me, but I have elbows and feet, and I intend to use them. I flail my limbs as wildly as I can, trying to strike blows on the beast who is carrying me in a wide circle around the five men still fighting. Despite landing blows on his torso and legs, he retains his impossibly strong grip on my body and makes steady progress to the waiting SUV.
Deciding to try a different tactic, I slow my attempts to escape and let out a small, defeated sob. His body relaxes slightly, and at that moment, I throw my head back as hard as I can. I’m rewarded with a sharp pain on the back of my skull and a gruesome crunching noise from the man behind me. Warm liquid spills down my back, and I’m fairly certain I’ve broken his nose. Perverse pleasure fills my chest, and I resume my attempts to escape.
“Fucking hell, Sage. You don’t pay us enough to deal with this shit. Let’s just kill her now and be done with it,” he spits loudly in my ear.
“Nonsense, you are paid plenty for your skills.” Mother’s cold eyes watch as I continue to struggle against my captor. “Now get her in the car, so we can leave.”
He turns to heft me into the vehicle and I can finally get a glimpse of the others fighting.
It’s not going well.
Brightly lit by the headlights, I can see every angry scratch and oozing cut on the guys’ faces. Theoden’s brow is split wide open, and a river of blood pours down the side of his face. A shadow of a bruise blooms across Beau’s face, the hit to the cheek already swelling a cut below his eye. Red stains Gabe’s teeth from his split lip. They all looked determined, but even I can see they’re exhausted. Meanwhile, the hulking figures they fight seem as if they can go all night like terminators.
I scramble harder against the door of the SUV, using any leverage I can get to prevent myself from being crammed in the back as I watch them fight in absolute horror.
The glint of oiled metal catches my eye, tucked into the back of Rip’s pants.
A fresh wave of terror courses through my body. “Theo!” I shriek. “Beau! He has a gun. Be care—”
My words are cut off by a dank, scratchy bag being tugged over my head. “That isenough,” Mother’s voice commands. “Get her in the carnow. Knock her out if you have to. We’re already late.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the thug’s relieved voice replies, and I struggle even harder until a sharp crack on the back of my head knocks me out completely.
BEAU
Amber’s terrified warning about a gun tears my focus away from the fight for a split second. Just long enough to watch her limp body get shoved into the SUV with a bag over her head.
Fiery, murderous rage floods my body as they peel out and drive back across the campus. No fucking way are they getting away that easily.
Rip has been focused on Theo, who’s definitely looking worse for wear since I left him to handle the enormous man alone for a few seconds. Mind racing, I run to the table and pick up one of the heavy chairs, then swing it high with all my strength, cracking the back and head of our opponent with solid iron.
Mercifully, the beast goes down. With no time to waste, I join Gabe in his fight, and between the two of us it doesn’t take long to neutralize the second member of Pack Fernando. Theo has tied Rip’s hands behind his back by the time I turn back around, and repeats the process on the one Gabe and I just knocked out.