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I knew if I did, that would be it. I gambled on the fact that I was worth more alive to the guy and ignored the order.
“Everett!” Charlie screamed as the man pulling her jerked her arm hard. Even though she would have had a better chance of hanging onto me with two arms, she refused to release her hold on Medusa. I saw the little dog move and the guy let out a sharp curse.
“Fuck!” He let Charlie go and she immediately latched onto me again.
“Grab her!” the man behind me ordered.
“It bit me!” the guy I’d shot yelled.
“It’s just a little dog! Grab her!” the first man demanded.
The guy grabbed Charlie by the back of her nightgown and pulled hard, jerking her backward. I lashed out at the guy, which caused the guy behind me to hit me with the butt of the gun. Pain exploded in my head, but I managed to maintain my hold on Charlie. We were stuck in this tug-of-war with the little girl for several long seconds until I heard a loud snarl.
I looked to my right just in time to see a dark shadow streaking toward us. Two seconds later, the guy trying to take Charlie from me screamed as Zeus closed his massive jaws around the man’s arm. The move sent Charlie crashing into me as the guy released her. He went down with Zeus on top of him. The dog released his arm and went for his throat.
The guy behind me pushed past me and aimed for the dog, but I grabbed his arm just as he pulled the trigger. The shot went wild. The man Zeus was attacking screamed for his friend to help him, but his words were cut off and then there was just a gurgling sound. I was fighting the man with the gun, but the blow to my head was making it hard to stay on my feet.
“Charlie, run!” I yelled, but I could still feel her fists latched onto my shirt.
“Dad, down!”
I didn’t even have time to enjoy the relief at hearing my son’s voice, because I was going off pure instinct. I released the man’s arm and in one move, turned and wrapped my arms around Charlie. I took us both to the ground, cushioning her fall as best I could. I heard one gunshot after another until I lost count.
Then everything went deathly silent.
“Dad!” Reese screamed.
“I’m okay!” I called as pure and utter relief cascaded through my body. “Charlie, honey, are you okay?”
I had my arms wrapped around her, so I felt her nod against my chest. She was sobbing uncontrollably. “It’s over, sweetheart,” I said as I kissed the top of her head. I didn’t know if that was exactly true or not, but I needed to tell her something. I struggled to get us upright and turned to see that the man I’d been fighting with was lying dead on the ground just behind me. I could see he’d been shot several times in the head and chest.
I stumbled to my feet and searched out my son. He was on the deck, a gun hanging by his side. His other hand was on the deck rail.
“Charlie!” I heard Gage scream, and I let out a soft sob at knowing he was alive.
“Here!” Reese called. “She’s out here!”
Gage came tearing out the door. I managed to meet him about halfway up the path toward the house.
“Daddy!” Charlie cried as soon as he reached us. He took her from me and wrapped his arms around her.
“I’m here,” he said. “I’m here,” he repeated over and over to try and calm his daughter. His arm came around me and he pressed his forehead against mine. “Thank you, God,” he whispered.
“Nash?” I asked.
“He’s okay. My father too. Everyone’s okay.”
I let out a sob of relief and kissed him.
“Daddy, he hurt Medusa,” Charlie cried.
Gage let his daughter pull back enough so he could look at the little dog. She was licking Charlie’s fingers. “We’ll get her checked out, honey. She’ll be okay,” he said.
I pressed a kiss against Charlie’s temple, then kissed Gage one more time before I released them both and began walking toward the house. I felt unsteady on my feet, but I kept my eyes on Reese. Nash rushed through the sliding door, followed by Happy. I covered my mouth with my hand when I saw him, because he was covered in blood. He was in my arms a moment later.
“It’s not mine,” he whispered. “I’m okay.”
I managed a nod. “Me too,” I said. “Need to see Reese,” I murmured.
“Go,” he said as he released me and urged me forward. “I need to go up front to meet the cops,” he said.
I hadn’t noticed the sirens before, but I did now. They were close.
