Page 10 of Deadly Ruck
"Shit," Max said under his breath. He held his gun in both hands, aimed toward the ground. Just like they did in action movies when they had no real idea how to hold one.
I would have told him to raise it, but a nervous person with a gun at the same level as my face was a bad idea. Better he keep it down low for now.
We headed into the deepest shadows and trotted towards the trees, moving as silently as we could. Gravel and sticks scrunched under our shoes, making me wince and hope like hell they didn't sound as loud as I was perceiving. To me, they sounded like landmines exploding with every step. Noise so loud it would be heard in Dusk Bay.
I held my breath until wide trunks and the heavy canopy created a deeper darkness around us. Enveloping us and helping us to disappear.
"No one seems to be coming for us," Frost said, sounding unconvinced.
"No, they don't." I frowned. Either they hadn't seen us, or Jones was so confident the guys would give me to him, that he hadn't bothered to ensure we were fully surrounded.
Something about this was off. There was no way in hell it was this easy.
"I'm going to circle back around the front," Atlas said. "If they try anything with Ramsey…"
"I'm coming with you," I said. The hair on the back of my neck started to stand up. Fear was slowly getting the better of me. I wanted to be anywhere but here.
Not to mention I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened to Ramsey because of me.
"Me too," Frost said.
"And me," Jay whispered. He seemed to have calmed down now.
I guessed in the face of things, his anger at Atlas had lessened. That whole conversation seemed like nothing important now. Barely a blip on the radar.
"We're all going." Storm slipped ahead through the trees, leaving the rest of us to catch up.
Not an easy task, given it was pitch black, and fallen trunks and twigs made trip hazards here and there. The only saving grace was that the leaves were wet underfoot, squelching softly rather than crunching and snapping.
A hand slipped into mine, and I was pulled close to Dallas' side.
"It won't let anything happen to you," he said near my ear. His words were confident, but he sounded as anxious as I felt.
"I won't let anything happen to you either," I whispered back. Not if I could help it.
Could I help it? That was the question. Would it be easier to give myself to Jones than risk all of these guys? What could he do to me that I hadn't already done? If he wanted me to dance for him, then for him to fuck me, hadn't I done that for years?
It was always my choice before, but it was also my choice to make sure these incredible men got out of here alive.
Before I could act on that, the air was split with Jones' growl of irritation.
"You'd die for a piece of pussy?" he demanded.
Ramsey's voice was louder now, continuing to distract the cartel leader as best as he could. "If you thought Chelsea Miller was just a piece of pussy, you wouldn't be here."
Doctor,I mentally corrected him. Although, I supposed that side of me didn't much matter anymore. Not if I could never practice medicine again. Still, I earned that title and I'd continue to own it.
"You're right," Jones said smoothly. "She's more than a piece of pussy. She'smypiece of pussy. That much should be clear by now."
"How would it be clear?" Ramsey asked. "Have your people been the ones taking pot shots at her?"
"Not at her," Jones growled. "The first time, the gunshot was meant to be a distraction. She was supposed to be grabbed and brought to me."
I swallowed hard. Ramsey guessed at the possibility, but not who was ultimately behind it.
"And the second time?" Ramsey asked. "Was Milly supposed to kill Sierra as a distraction as well?"
Carlos actually growled in response. "That had nothing to do with me. If I find out who hired that little bitch, I'm going to have them sold to some particularly vicious people I know. It was probably one of the Brantley assholes. Look for a pair of twins, they're usually involved in shit like that. I should have them sold too."
