Page 111 of Playing With Love

I left the car running and turned to face her.

“Truth? Everything could go to total shit. I could be screwing this up by going in there alone. But I know if I wait and something happens to Tucker, I would never be able to live with myself. I would rather go down with him than sit out and wait knowing he’s in that building and in danger.”

Allyson took a deep breath and nodded.

“Go get Tucker. I’ll circle the block.”

“No. Go drive away⁠—”

“You think I’ll be able to live with myself leaving you and Tucker behind? You go. I’ll drive around but I’m not going far, and you call me as soon as you have him and I’ll swing by and get you.”

Was this what it was like having real friends?

A colleague would put themselves in danger for the mission, to provide cover. Unless that colleague was Frank.

But a civilian?

Weird.

Allyson’s attention went over my shoulder, her eyes got huge, and she started violently shaking her head.

“Is that smoke?”

I whipped my head around, and sure as shit there was smoke.

Not a lot.

But enough.

Three men calmly walked out the door. One stopped to pull the door closed while the other two walked in the direction of the truck.

Fuck.

I jumped out of the car, kept close to the Dollar General building, until I was around the corner. Then I sprinted to a hedgerow and ducked behind it. The scrubs were shit cover but they were all I had.

The truck was ten feet away. The coffee shop fifteen.

My gaze went between the two.

The fire or the perps?

No contest, Tucker was in that fire.

The bad guys could get away for all I cared.

“Mackenzie’s gonna be pissed, Jake.” I heard one of them say.

“Mackenzie can fuck off. I told her it was time to move on when that stupid bitch started asking questions. She didn’t listen. Now it all burns to the ground. I’m done swinging my ass out there because she doesn’t want to let go of her hippie shit. Fuck her and fuck that.”

A door slammed.

“Tug’s gonna be proud,” another man cheered.

“Fuck yeah, he will. Motherfucker got what he deserved.”

My heart lurched.

My finger slid into the trigger well.