Page 92 of Tactical Lies

“Okay, here’s what's going to happen. You're going to get down on your knees, I’m going to throw you some handcuffs, and you're going to cuff your arms behind your back. Then you're going to stay on your knees while I tie up your girl. One wrong move and I shoot her. I’m thinking I’ll start with her kneecaps and see where I go from there,” the man with the gun informed him.

It went against everything he had been trained to do, but when the handcuffs clinked onto the floorboards in front of him, he picked them up.

He’d snapped one end around his left wrist when he felt it.

A change in the atmosphere.

Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, but as soon as he felt the shift a bullet whizzed through the air.

Fear for Becca had him lunging toward her despite the possible risk. Just as he snatched her into his arms, he realized it was the man who’d been holding a gun to her head who had been shot.

Was it deliberate or did someone hit the wrong target because of the lack of visibility?

He got his answer a moment later when light suddenly flooded the cabin as several torches lit up and multiple people came strolling in.

“You're welcome, bro,” Cooper’s voice called out and Connor relaxed.

“Guess it wasn't the storm that took out my generator,” Cade grumbled as he no doubt took in the mess of blood and bodies littering his cute little cabin.

“I've got four dead but this one’s still alive,” Jax announced.

One alive.

Perfect.

That was exactly what they needed.

Relief was so strong it almost stole his breath. They were still alive, he hadn't lost Becca, hadn't lost the second chance she had gifted him.

“Moonlight?” he asked as he shifted his hold on her.

In the stark light of the flashlight beams, she looked much too pale, they were both still wet, and he could see lines of pain bracketing her mouth. But she was alive and that was a win as far as he was concerned.

“I'm okay,” she assured him as her gaze roamed him, no doubt searching for additional injuries other than the gunshot wound she already knew about.

“We’ll get your shoulder put back in for you, sweetheart,” he said, stroking his hand down her wet hair then palming her cheek. “Cole, I need your help. Becca has a dislocated shoulder.”

“Let me see, honey,” Cole said as he hunkered down beside him.

“How’d you know we needed help?” Connor asked his little brother.

“Your girl here called Cade to tell him about the generator going out,” Cole replied.

“I wasn't sure he heard me say that I didn't think it was the storm,” Becca said.

“He got that and rallied the troops. We got here as soon as we could, but it seems you guys mostly had things under control. Mostly,” Cole added in a teasing tone. “Still needed our help though.”

“You guys saved Becca’s life, I can't ever thank you enough for that,” Connor said, finding it difficult to get the words out past the lump in his throat.

“Nah, no need for thanks. You all helped me with Susanna, and we all helped Coop with Willow. I’d say we’re pretty even. All right, Bec, let’s get this shoulder back in place for you, that should help a lot with the pain,” Cole told her as he placed a hand on her shoulder and shifted so he would be able to manipulate it back into the socket. Connor moved too so that between the two of them they’d get it done quicker.

“Connor, wait!” Becca cried out, and he froze.

“What? What's wrong?” he demanded.

She chewed on her bottom lip in the most adorably uncertain way. “Before you … put it back in, I need the penis.”

August 23rd

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