Page 68 of Shared By Her Brother's Best Friends

“I er… well… Maybe Cindy has him?” Tweaker offers hopefully.

“Well did you ask her?” Adam says exasperatedly. “Where is she?”

Tweaker scratches his head, pondering the simple question. “I umm… she was on the first floor with Trev,” he says with a nod. “Patrolling,” he adds, pleased with himself for the blatant lie.

“Fuck! Stupid fucking meth heads. She’s getting high somewhere, isn’t she?” Adam explodes.

“We just had a little pick me up, nothing major. We only turned our backs for a minute before the kid disappeared on us,” he wheedles.

With a sigh and a shake of his head, Adam pulls out a gun from his waistband and without flinching points it at Tweaker’s head and pulls the trigger before the man even registered what was happening. The sound of the shot rings out deafeningly loud into the silence of the space. At point-blank range, the man’s head explodes like a ripe melon splattering Emma in the face, and she screams in horror.

“Must I do everything myself?” Adam says almost casually, like a parent might about a slovenly child.

“Guys, Adam just shot his accomplice. We need to move on him now!” I hiss into the walkie.

“Bess, there are two more accomplices on your floor, a man and a woman. We need to take them down. They may have Max,” Ty relays.

“Bess, I’ll come help you. Ty, Jax, you handle Adam,” Mason says. I know it must kill him to relinquish control of the situation like this but he’s the closest to Bess, it’s the only way that makes sense.

As I’m heading toward the emergency exit stairs, planning to circle around to come at them from behind, I hear a small voice.

“Jax?”

“Max!” I reply in surprise as I see his little face peeking out from his hiding place.

Now confident it’s me, the boy comes running out, launching himself into my arms and I hold him tightly as he sobs. The rush of love I feel toward this child knocks me off my feet. If this is what being a father feels like, then I’m all in. I don’t care if he’s not mine biologically, I’ll love him with every ounce of my being until the day I die.

“Shh, it’s okay, you’re okay, it’s safe now,” I soothe.

“Daddy is being scary and mean, I want my mommy!” he sobs.

“I know little man, but you gotta be quiet for me, I need you to be a brave boy for just a little longer. You’re doing such a good job.”

“Okay,” he gulps, bravely trying to hold back his tears.

“Guys, I’ve got Max. He’s safe.”

Emma and Adam walk into our view down below and, spotting his mother, Max is unable to hold back his excitement. “Mommy!” he cries.

Immediately Emma’s attention snaps skyward and the look of sheer relief in her eyes when she sees her son with me is palpable. Unfortunately, she’s not the only one to see us. Adam’sface contorts into a twisted mask of wrath as he sees the love in Emma’s eyes.

“Who the fuck is that?” he yells, roughly grabbing Emma’s hair.

“Let her go!” I shout, pulling out my gun.

“Mommy!” Max cries.

“Max, I need you to trust me. Go back to your hiding spot and don’t come out until I tell you it’s safe. I promise I’ll help your mommy,” I quickly tell him, praying with all my soul that I can keep that promise.

He only hesitates for a moment before nodding and scampering off, his trust in me bolsters my confidence. I turn my attention back to Adam who’s screaming incoherently at Emma, calling her a whore. I’m trying to get a clear shot, but Emma is in the way. Adam ignores me, again yelling at Emma demanding to know who I am.

“My name is Jax. Leave her alone. Let’s settle this, man to man.”

“Did you fuck him you whore?” Adam snarls, yanking her head back roughly.

My brave lioness finally snaps, reasoning with him and pretending didn’t work, now she’s pissed as hell and fighting for her son. She kicks and tries to fight but she still can’t get away and despite my best efforts, I cannot get a clear shot without risking harming Emma. I can only assume Ty is trying to find a way to stop him while he’s distracted by me.

“Yes I did, and he was the best I’ve ever had,” Emma spits at him.

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