Page 55 of Razor

I act fast, moving out of the shadows, my trigger close to the guard’s head as I pull it, his brains exiting from the hole, his body slumping to the floor. I grab the kid in front of me and run like hell back the way I came, leaving many of my brothers to replace me, their sole concentration on what is happening below.

We fall out into the night, and Snake has Cassie, who is sobbing in his arms. I’m guessing she’s shocked, frightened, and fearful of what happens when her daddy appears. Snake has his arms around her, her head against his chest, whispering words of comfort.

I guard the kid in my grasp, whose eyes scan the area, and then she says with a slight tremble to her voice, “Thank you.”

Her eyes find mine in the darkness, and her gaze lingers on another kid nearby. She whispers, “Can I go to my boyfriend?”

“Sure.”

I move with them, noting how she falls into his arms, and I sigh inside. Fucking kids. They would follow their leader if they jumped off a fucking cliff. Let’s hope they learned a huge lesson tonight.

A siren alerts me to a wailing ambulance, and I catch Blade heading out of the house, carrying a body, closely followed by Drake and Flash. They jump into the ambulances and head off screaming, and I notice Cassie in some kid’s arms as Brewer’sson Jack heads toward them, and its obvious their conversation is an intense one.

I note the mafia leaving the building, searching for their kids who are being guarded by our small army. As the families reunite, I note trouble approaching and wonder if Cassie realizes just how angry her father is right now.

Ryder is striding toward the group, and Cassie breaks free and runs at speed toward him. As he holds out his arms, I swallow the lump in my throat as she falls into his arms that close around her like a steel cage.

Snake moves beside me and says in a low, husky whisper, “Brewer is reading Jack the fucking riot act back there. I’m guessing Cassie is about to hear the same script.”

As I continue watching, I doubt that because Cassie can do no wrong in her father’s eyes and all that will matter to him is that she’s safe. They all are.

CHAPTER 28

SUNDAY

Ihate it when the Reapers go out on a mission. There’s always a tense atmosphere left at the compound. The women attempt to conceal it, but it’s there, swirling around us like a bad smell, anxiety rife as we pray for our men to come home.

My thoughts are with Ashton, Lou, and Jennifer. They have more to lose than most of us because their families are at stake. I can’t begin to imagine what they are going through, which is why I’m surprised to find Lou in the cafeteria, cleaning it vigorously.

“Hey.”

I approach with caution because she may not want any company right now.

“Sunday.”

Her smile is weak, unlike her usual broad one, and I say carefully, “Any news?”

“No.”

I note the anguish written like lines on her usually relaxed features and back away. “I’m sorry. I’m intruding.”

“No, stay. The distraction will help.”

“If you’re sure.”

She nods, filling the kettle and grabbing two freshly washed mugs from the dishwasher.

“Coffee?”

“Thank you.”

She sets about making the drinks and sighs. “When Brewer was shot all those years ago, I thought nothing would be worse than that.”

I heard about her husband. To my knowledge, he’s the only man down the Reapers ever had during a mission. He recovered, but it scared the shit out of them, and they learned their lesson through it.

“But our kids are involved. Jack is involved, and it’s as if a piece of me is bleeding out on the stone floor. What’s worse–”

She turns, and her stricken gaze tears my heart to shreds as her voice breaks. “I’m not there. I can’t be with him when he needs me most. I must rely on his father; God help him.”