Wouldn’t take long for him to bleed out at this rate. Damn, he wished he had even thirty seconds to kiss his woman goodbye.
Rusty straightened and smiled. “It’s been fun, Cop,” he said, tossing the knife on the bed. “Can’t say I’ll miss ya, though.”
Copper opened his mouth then snapped it shut again. He strained his ears. Was that…fuck yes, it was. The low rumble of a motorcycle. He’d know that fucking sound anywhere.
“Game over, Rusty,” he said, mustering a smirk as evil as his brother’s.
Chrome cavalry had arrived.
CHAPTER THIRTY
SHELL JAMMED ON the brakes and winced as the car screeched to a stop in front of her childhood home. Hopefully, the element of surprise wasn’t crucial because she’d just killed that.
Hands shaking, she shoved the door open and darted out of the car without bothering to close the door.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Zach called out as his bike coasted to a stop. Another five motorcycles and one monster-sized black pick-up pulled in behind him.
Shell blew by him, charging for the front door. Three days ago, her mother left for her cruise. She wasn’t due back for another ten days. If Rusty needed a private location to do God knows what to Copper, this was the place.
“No fucking way, Shell,” Zach said as he tossed his helmet in the grass.
A large hand wrapped around her upper arm, yanking her back when she was halfway to the door. She spun, prepared to fight and claw her way to her man, but stopped cold when she saw Zach’s expression. Second time in as many days she encountered Zach The Enforcer.
Scary as shit.
“You’re not going in there, Shell,” he growled down at her.
“Zach, let me go. We’re wasting time. Copper could be hurt. Please, I need to get to him.”
The others climbed off their bikes eyeing her and Zach. Mav seemed to be running the show behind her as he ordered the men to circle the perimeter and report back.
“Sweetie,” Zach said, tone much calmer. “We don’t know what we’re going to find in there. What kind of condition your man will be in, who is with him, or if he’s even fucking in there. We need to play this smart.”
A whimper escaped. Part of her appreciated Zach for giving it to her straight, but the thought of Copper suffering was killing her. “I’m not staying out here.” Chest heaving, she clenched her fists at her sides. “I’m not staying out here. Not while he’s in there. You’ll have to tie me to your bike. Even then I’ll find a way out.”
Zach stared at the sky then blew out a breath. “Fuck! Okay, you stay behind me the entire time. You hear me?”
“Yes, I promise. Behind you.”
“Copper’s gonna shred my fuckin’ patch for this,” he grumbled then turned as Mav called his name.
“Think they’re in the back room, right side of the house. Seems to be the only light that’s on,” Mav said. Energy crackled from each of the men. They were ready for action.
Ready for blood.
“My old room,” Shell said. “Rusty used to tell me he fantasized about Copper walking in on us…you know. That he’d love to see the look on his brother’s face when he caught us.” God, how embarrassing. She stared at the grass unable to meet the brothers’ eyes. “It’s what made me think to come here.”
Mav reached for her hand, entwining it with his inked one. After a reassuring squeeze, he said, “Hey, no shame, sweetie. I don’t know how it all went down, but I know you don’t have to be ashamed of a damn thing. Now, let’s go get your man so he can kick all our asses for letting you in the house.”
Their support meant everything to her. This time, admitting to some of her past didn’t seem as traumatizing. She nodded and fell in step behind Zach as he barked orders at men to stand guard and others to join them. Looked like he wasn’t going for subtle because he booted the door open and ignored the flying splinters of wood that pelted his face. With a gigantic black gun hovering at eye level, he resembled some kind of badass mercenary.
If Rusty was in the house, he had to be aware they were there. None of them were quiet. Was he just waiting with his hostage? Was he actively hurting Copper? She refused to even entertain the idea that Copper wasn’t alive.
Zach at her front and Rocket behind her, they stormed down the hallway. Both men appeared focused and lethal, one hundred percent at ease with rifles in their arms. She’d known these men for years, yet apparently still had a lot to learn about them.
Zach lifted a hand and came to a dead stop. “Game fucking over, Rusty. You know how many guys we got here? You don’t stand a fucking chance.”