Page 202 of Heir

Dad lowered his hand, but he didn’t drop the weapon. “There’s a lot I don’t know about you. But I believe you can do it. Men who prey on women and use them to make money have no morals. I might have done a lot of bad shit in my life, but even I have never stooped to your level.”

Jude scoffed. “You’re really trying to talk to me about right and wrong? Now, I won’t say it again. Drop your fucking weapon.”

I grunted when he dug the muzzle in a little deeper.

Something moved in Dad’s eyes. It was subtle enough that I doubted Jude noticed, but it was enough for me to figure out what was going on.

Roman had arrived. And Micah was hidden in the shadows behind Dad.

I nodded slightly, and Dad slowly crouched, making a move to drop his gun.

I twisted my body around when it looked like he was close and shouted, “Now!”

Dad fired the first shot.

It hit one man standing behind Jude.

Seven men to go.

Jude fired his gun, aiming at Dad, and missed.

I stayed low and ran to one box, using it as a shield.

I turned and took out two men with my gun. Three cherry blossoms tonight—so far.

“Keep one man alive,” I said.

Roman grunted in confirmation and tackled one bastard to the ground, punching him out cold.

Micah came out of the shadows and took out two more men.

The rest of them dropped their weapons when they realized they were outnumbered and had nowhere to run.

I found Jude running across the deck, toward the companionway. Heading to Gemma.

I took off without thinking, and before he opened the door, I tackled him to the ground.

Then I looked into the face of the man I had missed for the last ten years.

I felt regret over the time wasted—and anger.

So much anger.

I punched him.

Again and again, until his face was a bloodied mess.

When I stood, he looked up and smiled at me. “Is that all you got, brother? I’d have thought being in the King’s Men would have made you stronger.”

I punched him again.

He laughed, driving my anger.

“I’m not your fucking brother,” I said.

I glanced up and saw the machete that one of his men had dropped. I stood and looked down at Jude’s hand.

The hand that was allegedly discovered floating in the Sacramento River.

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