Page 35 of Sanction

I raise my gun, keeping my back against the wall. The first door I come to; I kick it in. Nothing but an old dresser and a broken twin bed sit on the olive green carpet. I move forward towards the end of the hall where I hear Maverick’s voice.

“Dani!” His voice is full of fear and panic.

I take off running. Why does this hall seem so fucking long? The door is cracked and right when I lean my shoulder to bust through, I hear it. A gunshot.

I can’t breathe. My heart drops as I quickly search the room. Rico is crawling across the floor as blood leaks out of his nose. Next to him is a Serpent laid out on the ground. He doesn’t look to be breathing. Maverick holds Tanner in his arms as they sit crouched against a busted window. She’s crying hysterically as he tries to calm her. To the left of them is another Serpent. Dead. Gunshot to the head. The last thing my eyes land on is her. She is standing in the middle of the room, gun still raised. Her posture is stiff as she stares blankly at the man on the floor. She shot him. She protected her family. Pride filled my chest as I slowly stepped towards her.

“Princess…...” I took another step.

Her hands still shook as she turned, pointing the gun in my direction.

“It’s me.” I raised my hands. “I got you.”

Her brown eyes were wide as tears spilled over her bruised cheeks, but she didn’t move a muscle.

I reached out, keeping my hands where she could see them. I spoke quietly as I moved closer. “Baby, I need you to give me the gun.”

Her eyes shifted to my hands, then back to my face. She nodded, obviously still in shock.

I wrapped my hands around the barrel, and she let her fingers drop as a sob rang out of her chest. Her knees buckled and as I bent down to catch her, I heard another gun shot from outside of the trailer.

“Prez. We got company.” Widow’s voice boomed behind me.

I turned to face him as Maverick stood and brought Tanner up with him. Knuckles huddled behind Widow, his face pale, like he'd seen a ghost.

“Knuckles get them out of here. Take them back to the clubhouse.” Maverick moves Tanner towards him and I reach for Dani, moving her as well.

“Please don’t leave me!” Tanner cries out as she grips Maverick’s forearms.

“Baby, I’m right behind you I promise.” He kisses her temple and releases her to Knuckles’ arms.

Maverick reached out and hugged Dani. “I need you to go, okay?”

She is still in shock while I step back and let him have his moment.

Everything is happening so fast. Before I know it, they are gone and we are charging back into the hallway, ready to get our revenge.

Chapter 21

Daniella

I’m sitting in Tank’s truck holding Tanner’s hand. I’m clenching it so tight I’m not sure her blood is even circulating. I feel like I’m having an out of body experience. I recall everything that was happening around me. Tanner crying, the kid fighting, the door busting open…. then Maverick. It happened so fast, but in slow motion at the same time. I’m not even sure how the gun got into my hands, but I knew I wasn’t going to let my brother die, or Tanner. I killed someone. I sucked in a breath at the thought. Honestly, I would do it again if I had to. I would do anything to protect my family.

I’m lost in my head as I replay the last week. Replaying the moment my brain snapped back to reality and he was standing in front of me. I barely had time to register his presence when we were escorted out.

The truck comes to a stop and I finally glance up to see we made it back to the clubhouse. Knuckles opens the back to help me out, while Skittles, who came running from the house, slips around to the opposite side to help Tanner.

I ease out. My ribs are still sore and my legs ache.

“Let me carry you.” Knuckles dips down and cradles me as he moves across the yard.

All eyes are on us as we step through the front door. My mom scurries down the stairs with puffy eyes. The emotional turmoil she’s been through is clear on her face.

“Dani!” She cries out.

Knuckles gently placed my feet on the floor before I felt the warmth of my mother’s arms.

“Oh my God. I thought I lost you.” She sobs.

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