Page 100 of Brutal Knight

I get an arm around his neck first, slapping my hand over his mouth before angling my gun up and shooting him quietly. He slumps in my arms, and I pull him around the corner, out of sight, just in case.

The others slink around the walls of the building to join me, and we all duck low as we head for the unguarded door.

I’m the first around the corner, my gun ready. There’s no one in sight. The thin hallway curves around to the warehouse floor, and I can hear footsteps and voices echoing.

Moving carefully, I peer around the corner. There are several men at the back of the warehouse, and a few more along the walls. There must be at least fifteen of them, all standing in place like sentinels.

They’re not moving, so they’ll be easier to shoot.

But before I can look back at Lachlan and figure out how we’ll take them out, I catch sight of Willow in the distance.

I freeze.

There’s a red mark on her cheek, visible even from across the room. It makes my chest tight, the rage boiling inside me rising. Her hands are tied, held up to her chest. Her father has his hand on her neck as he guides her forward.

And then I see the other man.

He’s standing a few feet away from them. There’s a case on the floor beside him, half-open, and I catch the glint of something metallic inside. A gun. Several of them.

An arms dealer? What the fuck is he doing here?

For a second, I wonder if Willow is being paraded around as a show of power on her father’s part, but then I realize what’s happening. This isn’t a show of power. It’s a transaction. She’s about to besold.

Her father shoves her forward, and the arms dealer grins, reaching out.

I can’t stand still any longer. All the rage building inside me explodes all at once, and I dive out from where we’ve been hiding for cover.

The first shot is from one of Edward’s men. I knew they’d see us, but I trust my brothers to handle them. I shoot a man that gets in my way and keep running.

Men fall around me, but I don’t give them a second glance. I just run and shoot, my eyes focused on Willow.

I see the arms dealer grab her. It makes me furious all over again. He tries to lean down to reach the case at his feet and the second he does, I shoot him. He tilts backward, caught off guard, and then I shoot him again.

I watch him fall to the ground. As soon as he does, Willow runs.

She sprints for me, dashing around the pillars as gunshots echo in the warehouse. I can hear my brothers yelling, coordinating their attack and defense as Willow rushes into my arms.

I pull her in, holding her tight, dragging her behind a pillar and away from the fighting.

When I look over her shoulder, I see my brothers backing Edward into a corner. The rest of Edward’s men are lying all over the warehouse, sprawled lifelessly or groaning in pools of their own blood. I can’t help feeling darkly satisfied.

Then Edward starts to laugh.

Willow tenses in my arms. I hold her tighter and glare at Edward from where we’re standing, fury boiling in my gut. I want to walk over and shoot him now, but I won’t leave Willow behind.

“I don’t know why you put this much fucking effort into finding her,” Edward spits, his laughter rough.

Lachlan glances at me. There’s a clear question in his eyes. He wants to know if I need him to kill Edward. I shake my head once.

If anyone does this, it’ll be me.

“Shut up,” I tell him, my voice hard. “You’re done.”

“I’m not,” he says, laughing.

“You really think you’re in a position to argue?”

“You’re just as much of an idiot as the last man. But maybe you’re even worse. God, I just don’t understand—”

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