Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
He should have stayed with her. Should have ensured she didn’t walk out of the building.
But then he saw the door to the van open and a tall man exit. He immediately turned and had a gun to Devi’s head. In his other hand, he held a cell phone.
The second kidnapper exited the van and stayed at Devi’s back. Naturally he had a gun, too, and it was pressed to Devi’s side.
“That’s right. You come out here and come out alone, and we’ll let your friend go,” the man was saying.
“They’re too close,” his father whispered. “If there were only one of them I would say Boomer can take him out, but if the other guy…”
If the other guy had enough time to pull the trigger, Devi would be gone and her whole family gutted. Daisy would never recover from watching her friend die in front of her.
His heart thudded, but Nate forced himself to remain calm.
“I can see Big Tag, but they can’t. Is there anyone behind the wheel?” Nate asked.
“Can’t tell.” His father’s back was to the wall, clinging to the shadows. “Bloody surprise op. I’m carrying comms from now on. I don’t like not having someone in my ear.”
But Nate knew comms could blow. His father had worked from the cozy comfort of a team with every possible technological advantage. Nate hadn’t gotten comfy yet.
“I don’t see you,” the man was saying as he moved Devi along.
Devi started to stumble, but the second man held her upright, keeping a tight hold on her. “My mother is going to kill you.”
The second man chuckled. “Sure. Your mom. I’m real scared, kid.”
They should be. They had no idea they were about to be surrounded by Taggarts. The only question was could they get the shots they needed without endangering Devi’s life.
“They’re almost where we need them,” his father whispered. “When Boomer takes his shot, I want you to roll out and get into position. We’ll still have one to deal with. You’ll be behind him.”
Nate cautiously looked around the corner while the kidnappers were arguing with Daisy about why she was stalling. They kept Devi in between them. The good news? She was half a foot shorter than one of the men. It would make for an easy shot. The bad? She was as tall as her second kidnapper. She would be an excellent shield for him.
He would have to be careful. So careful.
“She’s coming out,” the taller one said. “I think your friend wants you to… Holy hell.”
Both men stopped and their guns lowered suddenly, their eyes on whatever was happening in front of them.
Was Erin moving in early? He barely had time to register the grin that came across Devi’s face when the tall guy’s head snapped back. Boomer’s aim had been true, but the second guy was a harder target. Nate’s training kicked in. He strode out from behind the building and took the shot because Devi had been able to move away from him slightly. Nate fired, catching the guy in the head and ending the threat.
“Daisy O’Donnell!” Liam jogged over from the outer edge of the parking lot. “You put on some clothes right now.”
What? Nate looked over, and Daisy was smiling wearing nothing but the glorious skin she was born in.
She shrugged one gorgeous shoulder. “They were distracted.”
Erin ran in, grabbing her daughter and moving her away from the dead bodies.
Ian sat down in the middle of the parking lot and laughed his ass off while Theo joined his wife and daughter.
His future wife was still standing there. She was getting such a spanking. Nate tugged his T-shirt over his head. “Daisy O’Donnell, you know damn well that was not the distraction I was talking about.”
“But, Nate, it worked,” she replied. “Devi, you okay?”
“Thanks to you, bestie,” she called out.
“Hey, Dais, you’re looking good.” Hunter stood behind her.
“Thanks. I totally work out,” she said with a grin.
“Nathan.” Liam managed to make his name a command.
A command to deal with the source of all the storms in their lives. He moved in, shielding her as he stuffed her head through the opening of his shirt. “Do you want to keep your eyeballs in your skull, mate?”
Hunter immediately averted his gaze. “I thought you said we could look. I’ll go give the all clear to the rest of the guys.”
He’d changed his bloody mind about that, but he wasn’t going to argue with anyone but Daisy. “This is not the club. You were supposed to cry or something.”
Her chin came up, and she was so fucking gorgeous his dick hurt. “This was way better. They actually lowered their weapons.”
“I need a bloody drink,” her father exclaimed. “Nate, she’s all yours, son. Like I said. No take backs.”
“I was good,” Daisy insisted.
“Yes, you were, sweetie,” Erin said as she helped Devi up the stairs. “You were perfect.”