Taking the four steps with a jump, he took a position on the first landing. He pointed to the side and Barley went as he’d been told. God help him, but that dog was too smart sometimes.
The time for being nice was gone. He’d been decent and hadn’t shot to kill, but they were in his home. Swapping the rifle for the shotgun, he set his service weapon on the floor where he could grab it easily.
“You two should wise up and leave while you can. I already shot your brothers. You two are next if you don’t get the fuck out of my house.”
Hardwood floors were a bitch if you didn’t cover them, but they creaked enough that he could hear them creeping toward him.
Those stupid shits also didn’t know the house the way Colton did. Hell, he’d built half of it himself. The windows across theroom gave him all the information he needed to see where they were and how low they crouched.
Much as he hated what he was about to do next, Colton lowered the barrel and shot through the drywall. A semiautomatic weapon skidded across the floor, and a second later a scream filled the house.
It was scared and angry and didn’t belong to the one whose face had probably been mangled by the blast.
Colton pumped and before he could react, the fourth brother ran into the open, firing wildly as he moved. Tracking him, Colton took a second shot and hit him flush, sending him flying across the room.
A burning on his right side under the vest told Colton he’d been a lick too slow. He didn’t need to see it to know he’d been shot.
“Colton?” Zach’s voice was close, meaning he’d left his room.
Sound from the kitchen told him it wasn’t over.
“Stay put, honey.” He was proud his voice didn’t shake.
He tried to raise the shotgun, but his arm didn’t respond. Reaching across with his left hand, his fingers touched the cool metal when he saw the shadow.
“Don’t!” The big one he shot in the hand was holding a pistol in his left hand and pointing it at Colton. “Should have killed me when you could. Now, tell Zach to get down here if he doesn’t want me to kill you.”
“No way I’m going to make it easy for you. My money’s on Zach shooting you when you try to find him.” He tilted his head toward the door. “If the sheriff and my family don’t kill you first.”
The man fired, and it just missed Colton’s shoulder. “Next one goes in your head.”
A snarl caused him to turn an instant before Barley leaped at the intruder. Colton reached for his gun, but that shiftedsomething inside him, and the zing of pain sent him crumpling to his side.
The guy was screaming when Zach thundered down the stairs, held the gun in both hands, and shot Tall Ugly in the chest.
“Colton!” Zach dropped the gun and knelt beside him.
Goddamn it, no.“Pick it up,” Colton whispered. “I only injured the fourth one.
“Colton!” Greg cried out.
“He’s been shot!” Zach screamed, one notch below hysterical.
Everyone was acting stupid. “Tell him to watch it. The last brother.” He said it so low he wasn’t sure Zach heard him.
“Colton said one might be alive.”
“He’s still down,” Greg said. “I’m coming in. Don’t no one shoot me.”
He needed to check on his dog. “There’s one still moving.”
“Where’d he get you?” Greg asked.
Don’t scare Zach, man. He’s having a bad goddamn day.“I’m fine. Is Barley okay?”
“He’s right here, bud. He’s just fine.” Greg grinned at him, and Colton smiled back, or he was pretty sure he did. Greg put something up to his face. “Dad! Call an ambulance. Scrappy took one to the chest.”
“Don’t worry, Zach. It’s nothing. I swear.”
It was a white lie because it felt a little bigger than nothing, but…that was okay. That was good.
Zach smiled at him all the way down the tunnel, as Colton fell through.
