Page 81 of Vicious

And it was only a matter of time before someone pulled the trigger.

My head was trying to conjure up some kind of plan, while also watching the two of them with hawk eyes. I didn’t care if I had to die if that meant that Hannah was fine...

But I didn’t want to get usbothkilled.

“Let her go, and I’ll let you shoot me,” I blurted out before my head could stop me.

Hannah shook her head violently, a choking sound coming from her throat. “No, you can’t do that.” Her words were slightly slurred, but she was beginning to stand a little better—though it could’ve just been the support the two guys were giving her.

Tip smiled a sick grin. “That’ssohonorable of you, Viper.”

“Okay, so then do it.” My voice was flat, knowing that he wouldn’t. It would be letting a witness go—and there wasnoway any of us were getting out of here unless we won the gunfight...

Or if someone else showed up.

The sound ofsirenssuddenly pierced the air around us, lights flooding the scene.

Oh shit.

“What the fuck? You called the cops!” Tippy shouted, shoving Hannah forward and taking off in the opposite direction.

I dove for Hannah, scraping the shit out of my arms as I caught her. “I’m so sorry,” I muttered, though I don’t think she heard. The tense standoff had changed to pure chaos. Officers were running right past us, surprisingly, and I watched as they shouted at Tippy and his stranger henchman, both caught not far from where they initially took off. Hannah sank into my arms as I pulled out a pocketknife to undo the zip ties binding her wrists.

“I can’t believe you made it here,” she nearly whispered, causing me to pause.

I gazed down at her. “Gunner put a tracker in your purse a long time ago when he was babysitting you. For a dumbass, he’s pretty smart.”

She actually giggled a little, before letting out a ragged sigh. “I thought I was gonna die.”

“Yeah,” I choked out, leaning my head against her soft blonde hair, breathing in the scent of her vanilla shampoo. The lump in my throat was nearly all I could bear as a familiar voice called out from behind us.

“This wasnotwhat I had expected to do this evening,” Sargent Johnston called out from behind me. “You’re damn lucky that Vinny put the call in—this might be the biggest favor I’ve pulled for you, yet.”

“We’ll pay you well for it,” I whipped my head back to him, my mouth dropping as none other than Vinny Lewis walked alongside him, smoking a cigarette. “Speaking of.”

“Hey, kid,” he greeted, somehow managing a fucking grin as he headed toward us. Hannah perked up, and I slowly helped her to her feet. “Wild night for the two of you, I see.”

“You got it, didn’t you?” Hannah said, her voice still strained and awkward. I supported her with my arm wrapped around her waist.

“Yeah, I did.” He nodded, his graying stubble almost glowing under the lights of all the vehicles. He was still built and looked tough as fuck, his presence demanding attention. It was no surprise that even at his age, he couldn’t keep the ladies off him. “You’re gonna owe Sarg something extra for this.”

“I know,” I shrugged, feeling relief as Tippy and his friend were led away in cuffs. “Does he even have anything on them?”

“Charlie sent in some footage of the attempted shooting of you and Gunner, as well as some other illegal shit. I think they’ll be going away for a long time—turns out the friend is wanted in Oakland for a murder, too, so that’s it for him.”

I nodded, my focus shifting to a very quiet Hannah beside me. “Are you okay?”

She looked up at me. “Just another day in the office, right?” The smile on her lips was weak, but genuine—and the longer I stared into her eyes...

The more I knew what I had to do.

“It’s probably time for you to head out of here.” My voice was quiet and the words were physically painful to say.

“What?” Her brows furrowed.

“Yeah, Vinny is here now—and he can take you home. There’re no more threats on you or me. You’re safe to go.”

She stared up at me for a few moments before looking over to Vinny. “But...”

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