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“Who do you think?” I shot back. I jerked my head, then reached inside and popped the trunk very slowly. They could still shoot me, and even if I didn’t die, it sure as hell would hurt.
I motioned for him to follow me. Very slowly, I moved to the back of the vehicle. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Honey struggling against the man who held her ransom. I was just around the corner of the vehicle when I made my decision. I snatched a grenade out of the trunk and pulled the pin, holding it high for all to see.
“You shoot either of us and I’ll release this, taking you down with me,” I shouted.
Ruiz held up his hand, telling them to stop. He was too close. The blast would at the very least send shrapnel into his body. At worst, he would be dead in seconds. “What is it you want?”
“Leave. Walk away and never come near Honey again.”
“And if I don’t? Are you really willing to kill yourself for my daughter?”
My eyes connected with Honey, and in the brief seconds that passed, I knew my life would never be the same without her. It was do or die. And I never died.
“In a heartbeat,” I answered.
It only took a second of hesitation on his part for me to see the subtle signal he sent his men. I didn’t waste another second tossing the grenade at his feet and leaping behind the vehicle. The explosion rocked the ground around me, and in the next instant, I was on my feet, pulling the rifle from the trunk. With a yell, I fired into the night, spraying and praying that I killed every fucker that dared come near my lady.
I stopped for just a second as I stared at the scared shit that still held her hostage. He trembled as he backed up with nowhere to go. There wasn’t a single sound in the night, not a footstep or a scuffle. I was all alone with Honey and this asshole.
“Let her go,” I commanded.
He shook his head, refusing to give in. He took another step back, dragging her with him. I locked eyes with Honey and nodded once, hoping she would make a move.
She dropped her body weight and I took the shot, hitting him right between the eyes. He released her, dropping to the ground with a thump as dust floated in the air around his body. She rushed toward me, throwing herself into my arms as tears leaked down her cheeks and onto my neck. I held her close, scanning the darkness for any more threats. There were no sounds in the night, only the heavy beating of our hearts.
47
ZOE
I groaned,resting my head back against the couch as FNG carefully dug his thumbs into the arch of my foot. After spending all day on my feet, I desperately needed this. Who knew that growing a baby inside of you could be so exhausting? I didn’t remember feeling like this with the last two. I sank further into the couch, ready to take a nap right here. Red was out on a job, and because of that, Cotton was staying here to help out, even though his house was just at the back of the property.
“Caleb and Olive are asleep,” Cotton sighed, sinking down onto the couch.
“Thank you,” I muttered, blindly reaching out to grip his hand. He really was the best uncle. He read them bedtime stories, some of which were a little inappropriate for their ages, but they loved hearing his voice right before they fell asleep.
“I don’t think they understand what I’m saying,” Cotton grumbled. “Maybe I need a different book, something easier. They’re just not grasping the concept of aerodynamics.”
I peeled one eye open and tried not to laugh at his distress. “They’re not even in school yet.”
“But you have to start them young,” he answered, worrying his hand through his hair. “When I was four, I was already listening to stories about World War II.”
“I think they’ll turn out okay. And if they turn out to be the stupidest kids on the planet, it’ll be no fault of yours. You’re a great uncle.”
“Not to interrupt, but this is not the soothing atmosphere I was going for,” Fox said as he walked in from the kitchen.
I cranked my neck to look at him over the back of the couch. He was carrying a bowl steaming with what smelled like lavender. Burnt lavender. I waved the scent off, nearly vomiting at how bad the aroma was.
“Fox, what is that?”
He frowned, looking down at the bowl. “Do you not like it?”
The way my stomach was rolling, the baby definitely didn’t, but I had the feeling that even if I wasn’t pregnant, the smell would be horrible. “I’m pretty sure nothing like that is supposed to be calming.”
His shoulders slumped as he continued to stare at the bowl. “Man, I thought I had it this time. I wanted to turn this living room into a zen palace for you.”
“Using burnt lavender?” FNG questioned.
I moaned as he dug into just the right spot. Man, this was the life. Three men, all taking care of me, catering to my every whim. “Could you get me a bowl of ice cream?”
