Page 114 of King of Temptation

Brody

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It wasn’t the first time he’d stared down his own death. But he’d never done so knowing his babygirl was so close, watching him play Russian roulette—hah—with his life. He’d been tempted, so fucking tempted to leave Rowan to his fate, but he couldn’t do that to Murphy. They’d all already lost so much, the thought of standing idly by while his cousin lost his only child had moved him into action.

So now here he was, praying the Russians would see sense. He was perfectly willing to walk away, just as he’d told them, but now the ball was in their court.

And he could see it in the smaller man’s eyes, that he had no intention of laying down his weapon.

I’m so sorry, Goldie.

He was just about to speak up, to give them one more chance to cut their losses and run when a loud clanging sound rang out around them. Smaller Russian jumped at the sound and the muffled pop of his gun going off reached Brody’s ears a moment before he pulled his own trigger once, then twice. Both Russians and Rowan crumpled to the ground, red staining the pavement around the bodies as Brody rushed forward, his heart slamming against his ribs.

Kicking the gun from the smaller Russian’s hand, Brody knelt beside Rowan’s head. He pressed surprisingly steady fingers to his cousin’s throat, relief flooding his veins when he found the pulse steady and strong. Dragging in a breath, he forced himself to focus on where the actual blood was coming from.

“Oh, god. Is he dead?”

Gratitude and relief at having her close warred with fury at her being anywhere near this carnage. “Where are you supposed to be right now, menace?”

“Wherever you are.”

Fucking brat.

God, he loved her.

Looking over, his heart stopped at the sight of blood soaking her face. “Did you get hit? What the fuck happened? Where are you hurt?”

Her mouth twisted up in a grimace as he gently cupped her face, searching for the wound. “Tripped throwing that damn rock and hit my head. I’m fine, it’s just bleeding like a bitch.”

“What rock?”

She rolled her eyes, then winced, and his heart twisted at the pain he could clearly see in her eyes. “The rock I threw at those trash cans over there to distract the Russians.”

Craning his neck around, he looked from where he’d left her to the trash cans. “You’ve got a hell of an arm if you managed to sling a rock all that way.”

“Umm… yeah. Sure.”

Something in her tone had the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end as he turned back around, taking in the pink staining her cheeks beneath the blood. “Look at me, menace. Now.”

He knew even before she turned that guilty stare on him that she hadn’t, in fact, stayed where he’d put her. “Where did I tell you to stay?”

Chin firming, she jerked her head up, fire and fury smothering whatever pain she might still be feeling. “I wasn’t just going to sit there and let them shoot you!”

“I swear to god, menace, you are never going to sit comfortably by the time I’m through with you.”

“That’s not fair! I saved your life!”

“By risking yours!”

He was yelling now, but he couldn’t find it in him to lower his voice. Not knowing she’d put herself so close to danger. An image of her, bleeding and lifeless on the ground popped into his mind and fury bubbled in his veins.

But Goldie wasn’t the least bit cowed by his anger. Leaning in, she jabbed a finger in his chest. “If you think for one goddamn second I was going to sit by and let you take on two armed men all by yourself without doing something to help, you’re a fucking idiot, Brody O’Rourke!”

He was interrupted by Rowan groaning, his face screwing up in pain as his eyes fluttered open. “Am I… am I dead?”

“Not for lack of trying,” Brody growled. “Stay still. I’m calling the others to come help us clean up your goddamn mess.”

Thankfully, Rowan seemed to take the order to stay still as permission to pass out again, which was just fine with Brody. He pinned his little menace with a hard glare as he yanked his phone from his pocket. “Stay right fucking there or I swear to god I will spank your ass right here in this parking lot and I don’t care who sees.”