Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters #1)(69)

Quick jumped for the lady, removing her from the situation, throwing her body to the matted carpet. Judge had Aaron around his neck, trying to weaken him while they wrestled with the gun. Another shot was fired and Quick yelled out, gripping his shoulder. The woman was bucking hard beneath his large body, and Quick’s face was full of pain and anger as he fell against the wall.

“Rome!” Duke screamed.

“I’m all right.” Quick grimaced, trying to right himself. Duke noticed the blood on the wall. Fuck. Quick was hit.

The woman jumped up and headed for the door but was detained by one of the big brothers before she could get out of the room. Duke watched Brian’s impassive face as he used some military style restraint hold and brought the screaming bitch down to her knees. He didn’t hurt her but he was determined not to let her get the upper hand. With her hands secured behind her back, Brian ignored all the curses and angry slurs as he propped her against the wall, never uttering a word. He made it look so damn easy.

Duke and Judge continued to wrestle with Aaron, who was even stronger than Duke remembered. Judge kept one fist around the guy’s throat while he pummeled the guy’s ribs with the other. Duke knew those blows had to do some damage because Judge was hitting the man hard enough to jolt all three of them. It had to be the drugs and adrenaline pumping through the guy’s system that kept him upright so long. When Brian joined in, they were able to get the gun away from the perp without it firing again. When he was down, Judge allowed Duke to put the cuffs on him. Duke was breathing hard, but he got to his feet and yanked Aaron up with a little assistance from Brian. Once Duke was sure their bounty was secured, he passed him on to Judge and ran over to his best friend.

Quick was sitting on the floor with his back leaning against the wall. Sweat ran down his temples and Duke could see his friend trying to keep his composure. Duke yanked off Quick’s leather coat and pulled the short sleeve of the t-shirt up. The bullet looked to have grazed his friend on his shoulder. It took a pretty decent chunk of flesh as it passed through, but didn’t look to have done a ton of damage.

“How’s it look? It’s not the muscle is it?” Quick panted.

“Doesn’t look like it.” Duke said, applying pressure with a towel that Dana brought him. “It’s bleeding a lot, Rome. You’ll need stitches for sure.”

“Fuck.” Quick grunted, lifting himself up from the wall with one hand.

“Suck it up, ya big pussy,” Judge ordered.

Quick flicked Judge off but the smile curving his lips was reassuring. His friend was fine. Thank goodness. That whole situation could’ve gone differently. Duke’s hands shook. He was scared, but it was all right. It was over. He walked behind Quick as they made their way back downstairs and outside. The neighborhood was lit up with red and blue lights, including an ambulance and a couple fire trucks.

Dana stood with the two brothers while they gave the police their bounty paperwork. One of the cops offered to transport their bounty for them but Duke refused. He let Judge load Aaron Williams into the back of his truck; he was taking the shithead in himself.

He walked around to the back of the ambulance where Quick was sitting on the stretcher and the young EMT was applying another bandage to the still-bleeding wound. Duke told Quick he’d meet him at the hospital after he dumped their bounty under the jail.

“I’m good, pal. I’ll get a ride home. Don’t worry about bringing me my truck” Quick’s eyes were drooping and Duke frowned at the paramedic.

“It’s just the adrenaline wearing off, sir. He’s fine. Vitals are good.”

Duke gave the paramedic the okay and turned to leave. He sent Vaughan a quick text that he’d be home shortly and everything was okay. He’d tell him about Quick’s little bullet graze after the man was home and resting. No need for Vaughan to be worried and race up to the hospital for nothing.

Duke shook his other guys’ hands, thanking them for the support. Ford walked up to Duke with his brother close behind. “We wanted to say we appreciate the opportunity to work with you. Judge keeps us pretty busy with recon, but my brother and I wanted to extend our services to your bounty hunting business. We’re damn good trackers. I think we’d be beneficial to you in your office here.”

Duke didn’t even have to think about. “Agreed. Now that I’ve seen you two in action. I can use a couple of guys like you. I think Judge said you were ex-SEALS?”

“Yes. When my brother was medically discharged five years ago, I left with him. I couldn’t stay there without him.”

Brian didn’t speak up, of course, but he looked like he agreed with what his brother was suggesting. “You want to work here in my office too?” Duke asked, looking at Brian.

The man simply nodded. Although he didn’t speak, Duke knew the man was capable. He’d seen it. “Okay, then. Be in my office on Monday at eight. We’ll go over some things, but I warn you, it’s going to be crazy. We’re getting ready to get back into full swing now and it’s gonna be long hours. Are you up for that?”

Ford smiled and it brightened the man’s face, making him look approachable and handsome. Brian stuck his hand out for Duke to shake, then turned and left. That was his goodbye. Ford added, “We’ll see you Monday. Have a good weekend, Duke.”

Oh I plan too.

Judge looked at Duke for a while before he pulled him in for another one-armed hug. Their unspoken words were enough. Judge had been right. Duke needed the closure of getting this bounty. He felt so much lighter and carefree. With Aaron and that woman loose on the streets, Duke would’ve continued to have nightmares. Now, he was at peace with it all.