That should’ve quelled some of my anger but it didn’t. That fucker had still made her bleed.
“He’s waiting for one of her brothers,” I told Drake. “He’ll take one of them out or her in front of them.”
“It won’t come to that.”
“You’re goddamn right it won’t.”
I caught sight of Ethan running down the street.
“I don’t care what needs to be—”
“You don’t need to say it, Luke. You helped me pull my woman out of hell. I got your back on this. Hold your shit together and you’ll have her back soon.”
I got dead air. I shoved my phone in my pocket and ducked under the yellow police tape at the same time Ethan made it to the cop who thought he was going to stop me.
“George, he’s good.” Ethan motioned in my direction.
George stepped to the side and fell in step with Ethan as he started to jog back to Shiloh’s.
“Hutchinson got the drop on Sunny. She’s alert and she’s pissed. Hutchinson is demanding to see River. I don’t know why he picked that brother but seeing as he’s not available that’s not gonna happen.”
If Hutchinson gave her the option of which brother she wanted there to watch her execution she would’ve chosen River knowing he was in another state.
I didn’t explain this to Ethan.
“Is someone going to be able to lock down Echo and Phoenix?”
“You’re fucking kidding, right?”
Shiloh’s house came into sight and my steps faltered.
Not even twenty-four hours ago, I’d witnessed the exact same scenario. Only last night it hadn’t been my woman with the gun to her side.
“Jesus fuck.”
“Luke, lock it down. If you give Hutchinson the slightest indication she means something to you, he might use you as a substitute for one of her brothers. You gotta play this cool.”
Shiloh’s head turned and I sucked in a breath. Blood was trickling out of her nose, skimming her lips before it dripped from her chin. It had obviously been bleeding away, her shirt was dotted with red stains. There was a gash on her temple that was bleeding as well. My gaze dropped to her torso, then down to her legs.
She was standing.
And Ethan was correct. She looked pissed right the fuck off.
Her eyes found mine and I watched her clench her jaw.
Oh, yeah, she was mad.
Not scared.
Not afraid.
Furious.
I didn’t know what to do with this knowledge.
I knew what I was going to do when I got my hands wrapped around the motherfucker’s throat.
But at that moment, after having Shiloh in grave danger twice in under twenty-four hours I was emotionally paralyzed. Fear had manifested into enraged fury.
“And how are you playing it?” I ground out, my gaze snapping back to Shiloh’s.
“The negotiator is on his way,” Ethan told me.
“Shiloh’s not gonna wait for a negotiator to get here.”
“She’s—”
“Look at her, Ethan. Hutchinson didn’t bind her wrists or legs. How long’s she been outside?”
“He just brought her out five minutes ago, if that.”
“And how long’s that guy been yelling at Hutchinson to let her go?”
“He’s been here fifteen minutes.”
“So my take—she couldn’t get close enough to him in the house so she waited for him to bring her outside knowing he was gonna use her as a shield. She will not let her brothers watch this. If you think she looked pissed before I hit the scene, look at her now. She’s gonna make her move and she’s gonna do it soon.”
My hand went to my hip and yanked my gun clear of the holster. Ethan stepped closer, his body going tight, and he issued an unmistakable order. “Holster your weapon, Luke. You’re surrounded by cops.”
I held Shiloh’s eyes and I felt it. The air around us went wired. Hutchinson shouted something but I was beyond comprehending what he’d said. Ethan must’ve felt it, too, because his head turned from me and he shuffled until he was fully facing Hutchinson. Shiloh’s eyes flared then she winked and dipped her chin.
She fucking winked.
After that everything blurred. Shiloh’s right arm swung up, hitting Hutchinson under his armpit. Her left hand hammered down, hitting the wrist holding the gun. A shot rang out and the gun dropped. Shiloh sidestepped and dipped her hip, pulled Hutchinson forward using his right arm, and flipped him over her body.
The whole thing lasted three seconds max.
Hutchinson was on his back, Shiloh was on top of him, and they were grappling.
I wanted to go into battle knowing I was brave enough to fight the wolf even if it meant certain death. And if I