AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ford lands on the shoreline at the northeast side of the house, and we silently make our way forward. Both men have their weapons drawn and are on high alert. There’s an almost eerie stillness in the air until a sudden familiarpopbreaks the silence.
Ford grunts as he drops to the ground, with both me and Jo following him. He has his palm pressed over a flesh wound on his upper left bicep, fury as I’ve never before seen splashed across his features.
He glances around, his eyes roving over the entire space, stopping when he clearly lands on his quarry. His eyes are narrowed to slits when he drops back down to face me.
“Your theory about Elliott being here all along is spot on, V. He’s on the porch, waiting for us to move so he can get another shot.”
“That means Saraishere.”
I nod at Jo’s statement before Ford sidles closer. “Okay, new plan. I’ll take this motherfucker, and keep him distracted so that you two can get inside the house. I’ll bring up the rear once he’s subdued.”
Jo glances at my impenetrable face before nodding sharply. “Got it.”
I clasp Ford’s uninjured shoulder, piercing him with a stare. “Don’t fucking die. I can’t have that shit on my conscience.”
His face splits in a wide grin, and he shoots me a wink before rising to take off at a pelt toward the house. He pops off a shot, keeping Elliott boxed in as he advances, and I grab Jo harshly.
“Move your ass, Fratelli.”
Jo shakes his head as he rises. “I’m surrounded by mad bastards.”
He trails after me, even when we hear several loud pops from behind us, and all I can do is hope Ford hasn’t done anything extra dumb as we step out onto the pool decking.
We nimbly make our way across to large French doors that lead into a huge, airy parlor.
Jo nudges me, pointing toward a door that opens out into a large walnut-clad hall. We move through it, silently checking the doors that line the space.
Two living rooms, a home theatre, a galley kitchen, a dining room big enough to house two hundred easily, but there’s no sign of either woman.
Having checked downstairs, we move to the first floor, finding it split into a west wing and an east wing.
Jo groans heavily. “Divide and conquer?”
“I’ll take the west wing. Fire off a shot if you find them or if you run into trouble. Don’t wait for me. Just get out. Get them to safety.”
* * *
WREN
A gunshot from somewhere on the property makes me jump to my feet, striding straight toward the huge windows to look down onto the lawn beneath us.
My heart catches in my throat when I see Vaughn crouched behind a hedgerow alongside Ford and Detective Fratelli. I bang my clenched fists on the windows, screaming at the top of my lungs as Mom rushes to stand beside me.
“We’re here. Uphere!”
“He’s too far away to hear you, Neve.”
Matt’s even voice comes from behind us, and that usually calming tone sends an icy chill running down my spine as goosebumps pebble every inch of my flesh.
I slowly pivot on my heel, maintaining a cool exterior, when my eyes land on both Porter brothers.
Marcus smirks as he pulls a handgun from the waistband of his pants, waving it around like a crazy person. “Look who’s finally here.” His demeanor changes as he grits, “And you brought those idiots down on us in the process. Well done, Wren. Their blood is on your hands.”
I tilt my chin in defiance. “You don’t stand a chance against them.”
“Ah, but that’s where you’re mistaken.” Matt steps closer with a shrug. “The entire power of the South Brook P.D. will be here in less than ten minutes.”
He steps closer again as his next words see me freeze on the spot. “And their orders are shoot to kill.”
