Blacklisted (Loveless, Texas #3) - Jay Crownover Page 0,26

the cooler out of the way and took a shot at all the beakers on the now-littered table, sending a shower of glass over the spot where Jed had taken cover, as well as spilling the unknown contents all over his hiding place. I knew he would have no choice but to abandon his cover and reveal himself once his protection was compromised. The toxic smell was overwhelming and it became nearly impossible to breathe, even though I had protective fabric covering the lower half of my face. Knowing Coleman was going to try and take a shot as soon as he got to his feet, I gave him my back as I turned to run back up the stairs. I decided the chemicals clogging the air were more dangerous than the bullets that were bound to start flying between us.

I tried to crouch down and make myself as small as possible as I dashed back up toward the main bar, tripping over my own feet because it was so hard to see through the tears rushing out of my eyes. A gunshot sounded behind me and I went down to one knee as the back of my thigh exploded into a riot of painful spots. Loud pops and a sizzling sound followed the sound of the gun going off, and an acrid, noxious smell instantly wafted up from the cellar.

I groaned and touched the back of my bloody thigh, looking at the stunned older man who was still standing behind the bar as I practically crawled through the opening.

I met his gaze with a watery one of my own and choked out, “If you don’t want to die in a chemical explosion, help me move something heavy in front of that door, and get everyone else out of here. We have less than five minutes before this place goes up like a bomb.”

The older man looked shocked, but when thick black smoke started to seep around the bottom and sides of the door, he finally moved. He yelled at the few people still seeking refuge in the bar to leave and helped me muscle a heavy fridge in front of the doorway to stop it from opening. He didn’t ask about the man still in the basement, and I didn’t offer any explanation. Coleman had made his choice, and now he was going to have to live with the outcome.

The old man gave me a once-over as I stumbled and tripped my way toward the exit, before hauling himself over the bar and darting toward the door. Of course he didn’t bother to help me. I would’ve done the same thing in his shoes.

Coughing and trying to peer through watery, burning eyes, I dragged myself across the bar. My leg was killing me, but I knew the injury wasn’t fatal. The thing that was going to get me in trouble was inhaling the poison that was steadily filling the room. The blast of Raid from Presley the other day didn’t have anything on the toxic fog I was currently trying to fight my way through. I was about ten feet away from the front door, could see outside, when I suddenly couldn’t make my feet move any further. I hit the floor, my knees jarring against the wood hard enough to click my back teeth together. I was wheezing behind the mask, choking and trying not to vomit.

Gasping, I tried to push myself back to my feet so I could muscle through the last few steps to fresh air, only to collapse in a gagging heap as toxic smoke continued to roll through the room.

Right before I stopped breathing altogether and everything around me went black, I vaguely felt hands reach around my torso and pull me up. My head lolled lifelessly forward as I was dragged out of the smoldering, dangerous bar.

“Sometimes you’re more trouble than you’re worth, Caldwell.” Top’s familiar drawl sounded a million miles away, but the frustration that filled it was music to my ears. This was far from the first time my VP had pulled my ass out of the fire, literally. And we both knew it wouldn’t be the last.

Chapter 6

Presley

Keep the key, Presley.”

Kody deliberately slid a copy of her house key back across the scarred wood of the bar top and gave me a hard look. “I want you to know there is always a safe place for you. I want you to know that you are always welcome in my home.