Standing His Ground: Greer (Porter Brothers Trilogy 2)

“Logan!” she whimpered, the darkness closing in on her, making her fall next to him, staring into his glazed eyes.

“Greer!” She felt herself turn, finding his ashen face over hers.

“I got you. You’re going to be all right,” he sobbed out.

With a strength of will she didn’t know she possessed, she pushed his hands off her. They were covered in her blood. “Save Logan.”

He tried to press down on her chest again, but she pushed him away, pleading with him with the last of her dying strength.

“Save Logan …” She gave a hiccup, the salty taste of blood in her mouth. “I told you I wasn’t afraid to die. Save my baby, Greer. I’m begging you.”

Greer sobbed as he went to Logan.

She coughed up the blood that was slowly drowning her as she turned her head to see Greer’s hands on Logan’s chest. Her fingernails scraped the ground to reach for her son’s hand, taking it into hers.

Greer would save him. He didn’t know how to lose.

30

Greer pressed his shaking hands to his nephew’s chest, covering the bullet hole that had traveled from Holly’s back, through her chest, and into Logan’s.

As he called for the spirits’ help, he saw Cash and Tate holding down the gunman’s arm, as Dustin untangled the pile that had converged to disarm him. In one movement, he picked up the gun, pointing it at him, while Tate and Cash still fought to restrain him. Firing a single bullet to his head, he then turned and ran after the woman who had shot Holly in the back.

The woman who had stepped out of the shadows to shoot Holly was now running back to safety as Dustin ran toward her. He fired a shot to her leg, making her jerk, but she was still trying to limp away. His brother shot her other leg, bringing her down. When he was close enough, he kicked the woman over, pointing the gun at her chest, and fired his remaining bullets into her chest. Then he threw the gun at her.

“Spirits, hear my call for help.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rachel crawl from under a table, dragging the car seat with her. Sutton got out from under another table, her cell phone in hand.

“Logan, hear my voice. Logan, no! Get your ass back here now! Listen to my voice.” Gentling his tone, he reassured the little boy, “I got you. Don’t let go.”

Dustin dropped down to Logan’s side, his hand going to his son’s leg. “Hold on, Logan.”

Greer had to concentrate on directing the spirits to spread their healing warmth into rebuilding the damage from the bullet. It took a great deal of strength, and Logan was fatally injured. When one was so close to Death’s door, it wasn’t easy to pull them back.

He had to get him away from Death’s door before he could work on Holly. Then he would let the hospital do the rest of the work.

Rachel handed Ema to Sutton, running down to sink next to Holly.

“Don’t touch her, Rachel!” Greer cried out, his shoulders starting to shake with the sobs he was holding back.

His wife was giving dying gasps, trying to breathe. The intensive damage would be more than Rachel could withstand with her carrying the tiny life in her womb.

Rachel leaned back on her thighs, crying as Cash lowered down next her, putting his hands on her shoulders to hold her back.

Greer focused inwardly. “Spirts, hear my pleas. Save Logan.”

He felt Logan’s fragile soul trying to break free from his voice, moving closer to the doorway as it slowly opened wider, beckoning him closer with the beauty inside.

“No, Logan, no!” Pressing harder down on his chest, he directed the spirits to work faster to repair the damage that was draining his life blood from him.

Holly gave a deep gasp then stopped breathing, as Logan’s tenuous hold on life left him.

Tears rained down his cheeks at seeing her giving her last breath. He kept his hand on Logan’s chest, about to climb over Logan’s body so he could at least try to hold her to life until an ambulance arrived.

Rachel saw what he was trying to do. “You won’t be able to save Logan if you do.” With finality, she looked up at Cash. “I can’t let her die.”

“Rachel, our baby! Don’t …”

Rachel ran her hand over her still flat stomach. “I’m so sorry, little girl. I can’t let her die. I just can’t. I love you.” A tear slid down her cheek as she met Cash’s eyes.

Acceptance shone in his as he released her.

“Rachel …” Greer pressed both his hands back down on Logan’s chest. “I can—”

“You can’t, Greer. You can’t be the brother I love if you let her die. I can’t, either.”

Not giving him a choice, she pressed her hands to Holly’s chest. She had almost waited too late. Her soul had already gone through the doorway. Snatching her back, she nearly passed out, but then she got her bearings and started the healing process enough until the ambulance to arrive.