“Ava-Jane.” I rushed and hugged her. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“You…came.”
“I told you that we were going to escape. I had a little help from some friends.”
Nash stepped closer, gripped my shoulder, and squeezed.
“I’ll take you all down!” Goodyear screamed, spittle flying. “I’m Chadwick Goodyear. I’m untouchable.”
“No, you’re not,” Cole said. “Three years ago, you ordered Delta Team to be killed.”
“They were mercs. They were disposable.”
I saw the pain on Cole’s face.
“No, they were better men than you’ll ever be. They were good, loyal, decent. You’ll pay for killing them. You’ll pay for hurting Lili and trying to kill her. You’ll pay for what you’ve done to these innocent women.”
Goodyear made a scoffing sound. “I have teams of high-priced lawyers. I’ll tie this all up in court for years. I’ll never see a jail cell.”
I walked to Cole and pressed my hand to his arm. “He’ll never stop. He’ll hurt and kill more people.” I looked into Cole’s eyes. Eyes that I was falling in love with. “I need you to be a hero. I need you to take one more scar to your soul.” The soul I’d then nurture and hold in my hands for as long as he’d let me.
He stared at me for a beat, then he nodded.
He pulled a gun from the waistband of his pants.
Goodyear’s eyes widened. “Wait?—”
“For Ava-Jane Jones.”
I heard Ava-Jane stifle a sob.
“For Lili Armstrong.”
I squeezed his arm.
“For Brent Green, Austin Ramirez, and August Zillman.” Cole raised the gun. “And for Jason Quinn.”
He fired.
One shot between the eyes.
Goodyear fell back in the dirt, his sightless gaze staring at the darkening sky.
“Good riddance.” Ava-Jane came over and spat on his body.
The other women came forward as well, one spat on him, and the other two kicked Goodyear and uttered curses.
“Let’s get you ladies some blankets and into a vehicle.” Landon stepped forward, speaking calmly. “My name’s Dr. Landon Bradshaw. We’re going to take good care of you.”
Cole stood there staring at Goodyear.
“It’s done,” I whispered, pressing into him.
Then Cole scooped me up and carried me away.
CHAPTER 26
COLE
