Taking It Slow - Reese Knightley Page 0,23

to be there.

His brother was already out of the truck door and running into the open front door.

Spencer chuckled and turned to grab their duffle bags when he saw the same black SUV that had run the stop sign and cut them off the other day.

A blood curdling scream came from the house next door and Spencer dropped the duffle bags. He grabbed his personal Glock that he was allowed to keep off duty from his glove compartment and sprinted down the small access path.

The door to the house stood open and he eased inside. Rounding the corner to the hallway, he found a two-hundred plus pound man blocking the entrance. Beyond the man, he saw another man, Liam, and two very scared teenagers.

His only thought was to get to Liam and the kids. He didn’t know what the fuck was going on, but they could figure that shit out later.

Stalking up behind the man, he pressed his weapon to the back of the guy’s head.

“Lift your hands and back the fuck up slowly,” he hissed low and menacing.

The guy froze for a split second and then very slowly lifted his hands. After that, the thug took two slow steps back.

“I’m not armed,” the guy said.

“I don’t fucking care. I am. Keep coming.” His voice sounded like he’d chewed gravel. The guy must have heard how serious he was because he shut his mouth and kept backing up.

“To your knees.” When the guy hesitated. Spencer nudged the Glock’s muzzle harder.

The guy went down with a grunt.

“Now, cup your hands on the back of your head.”

Once satisfied, he patted the man down and found nothing but a wallet and a money clip. He tossed those to the floor near the guy’s knees.

“You.” Spencer lifted his weapon and pointed it at the other stranger.

“What? I live here!”

“Spencer, this is Rick,” Liam said, stepping forward with Adam and Jessica.

Spencer said nothing, he just kept pointing his weapon at Rick, who wisely raised his hands.

“Run to my house, you two, and stay inside until we get there,” Liam ordered the teenagers and the pair dashed out the doorway.

“Why didn’t you just stay in the kitchen, Heath?” Rick snapped.

“Screw you,” the guy on his knees snarled back.

Spencer curled his lip with disgust and tucked his weapon away.

It was the wrong thing to do, because the moment he did that, Heath lunged from the floor and came at him.

Spencer ducked the asshole’s swing and delivered a quick, hard blow to the guy’s abdomen. Heath grunted and stumbled back into Liam.

Liam shoved Heath away and the guy spun and with his full strength, Heath slugged Liam in the face. The blow cracked Liam’s head back against the wall and Heath aimed a blow to Liam’s ribs. Liam grabbed the man’s arm in a twisting grip, jerked him forward, and slammed his forehead into Heath’s nose. Blood spurted everywhere, covering Liam’s white t-shirt.

Spencer leaped across the distance, his anger spiraling out of control, and he gripped the back of the massive guy’s shirt and power lifted the fucker out of Liam’s grasp. One part of Spencer’s brain told him Liam could take care of himself, the other wanted blood.

Hauling the asswipe away, he shoved him to the ground near Rick. Heath landed on the floor with a groan.

Spencer had his weapon back out and trained on both Rick and Heath.

“Don’t fucking move,” he snarled. Rick paled and Heath groaned.

Spencer stepped toward Liam. The colonel’s eyes narrowed with a warning.

“You okay?” He wanted to brush his hand into Liam’s hair and check his head, but he fought the urge. He had a feeling the colonel wouldn’t appreciate the gesture.

“I’m fine, Captain.” Liam lifted a hand and wiped a smear of blood from his bruised cheek.

“Mr. Cobalt!” Jason, his front gate guard, entered the hallway.

Clenching the grip of his weapon, Spencer snapped at the guard. “Call an ambulance.”

“No, Jason,” Liam said, sounding annoyed. “I said I’m fine.”

“The guy on the floor might need one,” Spencer answered, stepping away from Liam.

Heath rolled over with a low groan and pulled himself up to sit back against the wall.

“I don’t need shit,” Heath nasally sneered, wiping the blood that dripped from his nose.

“You shut your mouth or we’ll give you more,” Spencer warned.

Heath shut his fucking mouth.

“Call the police,” Liam rasped.

Jason held out a zip-tie to Spencer before he got on the phone to call 911.

Spencer reached down, yanked a wincing Heath to his feet, and zip-tied the guy’s hands behind his back.