Keeping What's His: Tate (Porter Brothers Trilogy 1)

“Shut the door and lock it!” Jared screamed at Cheryl. “Stop, Tate, or I’ll blow your fucking brains out.”

Tate stopped. “Let her go, Jared. Your problems with Cheryl don’t involve me and Sutton.”

“They involve you. I saw you fucking my wife. Maybe I should tie you and Cheryl up, and you can watch me fuck Sutton. How do you think you would like that, Tate? I bet she would, wouldn’t you?” He bent down, swiping his tongue against the length of her neck.

“You’re going to die for that,” Tate promised.

“The ones who are going to die tonight are you and these two whores.” Jared pointed the gun at Tate and squeezed the trigger.

Sutton grabbed his arm, pushing his hand with the gun toward the ceiling.

“Stupid bitch.” Jared flung her away from him. Tate caught her in his arms, holding her close for a brief second, then pushed her behind his back.

“You’re going to have to kill me to get to her,” Tate vowed.

“I have no problem with that.” Again, Jared pointed the gun at Tate, but before he could pull the trigger again, a voice from behind him spoke up.

“I have a problem with you trying to kill my brother. Lay that weapon down, or I’ll blow your motherfucking head off.” Greer moved to stand closer to Jared, placing his rifle against Jared’s skull.

Dustin fanned out to the left, pointing his shotgun at Jared’s stomach. Jared jumped when Dustin and Greer both pumped their shotguns.

“When we get done with these shotguns, you’ll be declared brain dead, and they will be parceling your organs to everyone in Kentucky who needs them.”

“I’d listen, Jared. Put your gun down before I take my shot. I’m getting bored listening to them bragging about how they’re going to take you out.” Knox sidled around them, his weapon pointed at Jared’s face.

Jared’s eyes ping-ponged between the men circling him, then he tossed his gun down onto the floor.

The room filled with gunfire.

“What the fuck!” Tate shoved Sutton into a stack of boxes. One had shards of cardboard sheared off as a bullet struck it.

“Who in the hell’s shooting?” Greer roared as he and Dustin found cover.

Knox grabbed Jared, shoving him toward the door that led outside, but a spray of bullets stopped him.

“Stay where you are, Knox. Jared isn’t going anywhere.”

Tate pushed Sutton down farther, leaning over her to cover her with his body.

“Asher, is that you?” Tate yelled out.

“Stay out of this, Tate. Call your brothers off. Jared is mine. He killed Kyle. After you left, someone called to tell me they saw Kyle and Jared talking in the parking lot last night.”

“That doesn’t mean he killed him,” Tate argued back.

“He did. He bragged about it to me and Cheryl,” Sutton whispered.

Tate changed tactics. “Let me get my woman and brothers out of here, and you can have Jared. You’ll save me the trouble.”

“What about you, Knox?”

“I would have given him to you if you had asked. But that was before you shot at me!” he roared.

“I’m going to suck a shotgun if you all don’t shut up.” Greer stood and, taking aim, shot Jared, who fell to the ground.

“He shot him.” Sutton couldn’t believe Greer had unconcernedly taken Jared’s life in the blink of an eye.

“I’m surprised it took him so long.”

“You son of a bitch! He was ours!” Holt came out from behind a barrel.

“I was tired of waiting for everyone to talk him to death.”

“Greer, you’re under arrest,” Knox snarled.

“Why? I saved Treepoint thousands of dollars in court costs. If you hurry, they may be able to save his organs.”

Sirens came from outside and bullhorns sounded.

“Your deputies are always late,” Greer taunted.

“That’s the state police, you idiot. My deputies are holding the crowd back. I didn’t figure I needed them when I have half the fucking town in here with loaded guns.”

He touched the radio on his shoulder. “Mike, send in the EMTs. Tell everyone to stand down. The threat is over.”

“Sure thing, Sheriff.”

Knox took his hand off the radio. “We have about sixty seconds to get our stories straight. Which one of you wants to take credit for killing him?”

Greer’s chest puffed out. “I did it. I’ll take credit for it.”

Holt stepped forward. “I will. That way, I can claim I was temporarily insane when I found out he killed Kyle. No one on the jury will send me to jail.”

Knox turned to look at Greer. “You good with that?”

“Fuck no. I did it. I want credit for it.”

“You think the jury will let you off? The Hayeses are related to half of the town, and they all hate the Porters. They’d cheer when they sent you off to prison.”

“Dammit.” Greer tossed his shotgun to Holt. “I’ll be wanting that back.”

Holt tossed him his. “I’ll be wanting mine back.”

Knox turned to look at Cheryl questioningly.