Defiance (The Protectors 9)

“With the shooter still on the loose, I’m sending Brody, Quinn, and Beck to Seattle.”

“Is Brody okay to travel?” Nathan asked.

“He is. But Vincent…”

“Yeah?”

“The guy who was protecting Brody…it was Reese.”

I sucked in a breath at that, and Nathan’s fingers clenched mine.

“Is he hurt?” I asked.

“Yeah…it’s not good. Some debris from the explosion hit him, and he took a couple of shots, too. Brody treated him on the scene until they could get him to the hospital. I’m on my way there now. My plane should be landing within the hour.”

“Have you called Everett?” I asked.

“I just got off the phone with him. He’ll be flying up there with you guys. The plane will drop him off in Missoula, and then you and Nathan will fly to Seattle.”

“Okay, thanks, Ronan.”

“Yeah,” was all Ronan said. “I’ll call you as soon as I hear something.”

I hung up the phone. Nathan had released my hand at some point. He had his face buried in his hands and his elbows were resting on his knees.

“It’s not your fault,” I said.

“It’s most certainly my fault,” he whispered.

When I tried to reach for him, he pulled away from me. “Don’t,” he said softly. “Please, just don’t.”

“Fuck that,” I bit out, and pulled him against my chest. He let out a harsh sob and struggled against me, but when I refused to release him, he quickly gave up and his fingers curled into my shirt. He began to cry, so I settled my lips against his ear. “He’s okay, Nathan. They’re all okay and I’m going to find this guy and I’m going to end him. Do you hear me?” My voice was harsh – too harsh, probably, but I didn’t care. I’d meant what I’d said.

I’d find the fucker and I’d tear him limb from limb before he got another chance to take anything from my man.

My Nate.

Chapter 25

Nathan

It was just starting to get dark by the time the plane landed at a small airstrip in the San Juan Islands. I’d only half-listened as Vincent had explained to me that we were going to Dominic Barretti’s vacation home where Brody, Beck, and Quinn were staying, along with a couple of Ronan’s men.

My fear for my brother had pretty much kept me paralyzed for the entire trip, despite the constant reassurances from Vincent that Brody was okay. Add on the unbearable guilt of knowing the man who’d tried to kill me had nearly succeeded in taking the life of Everett’s son, and I was barely able to function. We’d at least gotten some good news when we’d landed in Missoula. Reese had gotten out of surgery and was expected to make a complete recovery, though he’d been badly burned in the attack. Everett had been a mess on the flight to Montana, but once he’d gotten the news that Reese was alive and doing well, he’d told Vincent and me to continue onto Seattle instead of escorting him to the hospital like we’d wanted to. It was only after Vincent had gotten Everett to promise that he’d send updates every hour that we’d finally agreed.

As with much of the trip, as soon as we were in the SUV that was waiting for us when we got off the plane, Vincent pulled me against his side and I happily went. As raw as I felt, he’d become my balm, and that made it possible for me to put one foot in front of the other.

The drive took about fifteen minutes, and then we were pulling into the expansive driveway of a huge estate on the water’s edge. I’d never been to Seattle and if the circumstances had been different, I would have taken the time to admire the beauty of the mountains and water. But I just didn’t have it in me.

My legs felt shaky as I climbed out of the SUV. Vincent’s hand was at my back as we began the short walk to the front door. We both came to a stop when it opened and my brother stepped through it. Something inside of me ripped wide open at the sight of my twin. It felt like every terrible thing I’d said and done to him came crashing down on me in that moment, and I wasn’t sure I had the strength to stay upright. I couldn’t move forward as sob after sob tore through my body, and soon the tears blurred my vision to the point I couldn’t even make out my brother anymore.

But I knew it was his arm that went around me a moment later and it was his voice that whispered in my ear, “I’m okay.”

I nodded against his neck. “Sorry!” I cried out, since I couldn’t manage any words besides the one I’d wanted to say to him for so long.

“It’s okay, Nathan,” Brody said softly as he held onto me. I was dimly aware of his left arm in a sling so I was careful not to cling to him like I wanted to. But his hold on me, even with the one arm, was firm and unrelenting.