Page 95 of Sullivan

“I’ll—I’ll die down there.”

“Then you’d better learn some respect fast.” He grinned at me, his eyes wild and expression mad. “And if you do die, you won’t be the first—and probably not the last.”

He grabbed my arm. “Now get in.”

That was when all hell broke loose.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

SULLY

It was cold outside, standing in the trees that surrounded the small cabin. The vans were parked a short distance away so we didn’t alert him we were there, but they were ready to bring the supplies we needed in a moment. Evan was a voice in our ears, directing us, telling us what he could see with his drone. Finn and Niall were beside me, a few men behind us. All of us were armed. Ready.

“No outside alarms or traps that I can see. Two heat sources inside,” he murmured. “The windows are covered in the front and back, so I can’t see much. The only one without a covering is the kitchen.”

“Can you get a camera in?” Finn asked.

“Too risky,” he replied. “They’re in separate rooms. One is moving, the other is not. I think the moving one is Cal or Al or whatever he wants to call himself, and he’s pacing. Agitated, I would say. The other one hasn’t moved this whole time.”

I shut my eyes, trying not to panic. Niall nudged me. “Probably tied up.”

I nodded, hating that thought too.

“Wait, there’s movement,” Evan hissed. “Cal moved to the back, and now both of them are in the front of the cabin. I’m switching to night mode, and I’m going to try for visual.”

We waited, my heart beating rapidly. Every moment she was with him was a moment too long. We needed to move, and I wanted to move now.

As if sensing my thoughts, Finn placed his hand on my shoulder. “Patience. We need to make sure she’s protected.”

“Positive,” Evan confirmed. “It’s him and Autumn. She’s arguing with him—or begging, maybe.” There was a pause. “Oh shit. There’s a trapdoor he has open, and he’s forcing her to go down inside whatever it is.”

That was it. I was off, my gun out, heading for the cabin. Behind me, Finn and Niall followed, Niall snapping orders to the other men. “Surround the cabin. He doesn’t get away.”

I sped up, lowering my shoulder, not stopping as we closed in on the cabin. I leaped onto the porch, hurling my entire weight at the old door, busting through it, Finn and Niall on my flank. Autumn screamed. The coward that he was, Calvin grabbed her, holding her in front of him like a human shield. He pressed a gun to her head.

We all froze. Autumn’s eyes were huge in her face. She was bruised and battered, blood dried on her cheek. She was shaking so hard, she was barely able to stand. Calvin had a busted-up nose and a cut on his face, his ugly mug still belligerent, his pea brain thinking he had the upper hand.

“It’s over. Let her go,” Finn stated calmly. “You’re not getting out of here.”

“Fuck you,” Calvin sneered. “Then neither is she. I’m the one with a gun to her head—you make one move, I’ll blow her brains out.”

Niall sighed as if he was bored. Before anyone could blink, he lowered his gun and shot Calvin in the knee. The scream that tore out of the arsehole’s mouth was loud, and he flung up his arms, pirouetting like a clumsy ballerina before falling to the floor.

Before he even hit the wood, I was in front of Autumn, catching her in my arms. She was ice-cold and terrified.

“Finn, we need to get her warm! Now!”

Finn spoke into his mouthpiece. “Blankets in thirty seconds,” he assured me.

I stepped away, holding Autumn and murmuring assurances to her.

“I have you, love. I’m here, mo fhiadh beag. It’s over. You’re safe.”

She didn’t speak, burying her head in my chest.

I held her tight, knowing I wouldn’t be releasing her from my arms anytime soon.

She shook constantly. Gripped my shirt. Stared up at me with those wide, terrified eyes. The only sound she made was one of distress when I loosened my hold on her to get warm blankets wrapped around her. I hushed and soothed her the best I could, my anger still raging.