Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance(106)

Bullshit.

I’ve hated this bastard for years, but ironically, I don’t give a shit about him.

Bella’s my concern. My worry. If this fuck hurt her, he’ll pay ten times over at my hands.

But right now, nothing matters more than making sure she’s safe, bringing her back to these arms.

“I’ll cuff him, then we’ll case the building.”

I shake my head at Wallace and nod toward Edison. “He wouldn’t be walking away if Bella was inside there,” I say, following the horse again.

My training wants me to be in control, the one homing in on Bella’s location. Instead, I’m putting all my faith in an old horse. The irony isn’t lost on me.

Right now, this crazy beast has more zen-like calm than I do.

Doesn’t matter. He’ll help me find her. He’s convinced of that, dedicated, and won’t stop till he collapses.

Edison skirts around a couple more buildings, then his sluggish steps quicken as he makes a beeline for the old mechanic’s shop.

I jog to catch up and nudge him aside to get a hand on the doorknob of the side door.

He lets out a low nicker, his big dark eyes shimmering with something like fear. Or is it rage? Ready to charge in the same as me?

Looking him dead in the eye, I press a finger to my lips, telling him to be quiet.

I hope for once he’ll listen and understand me like he seems to get everybody else.

He tosses his head and takes a short sidestep, giving me room to enter the building. I hold my breath, opening the door and squinting into the darkness, forcing my eyes to adjust to the dimness inside.

There’s a faint glow of light on the other side of an old tanker truck, something like a lamp?

“Hurry it up! What’s taking so long?” A voice roars from the distance.

I’d recognize Avery Briar’s petulant shit-don’t-stink tone any day.

Bingo.

Slipping around the door, I jog on the tips of my toes to the truck, plastering myself against the front fender.

“We’re going with the original plan. A fire. I’ve got it set up, just need you to crawl up on this truck and drop it down in the tank.”

I kneel down, looking under the vehicle.

Three sets of legs, tied to chairs, and one set walking toward the front of the truck. Then I just see red, and I can barely contain myself.

“Adam!” Avery shouts. “Time to get your ass out here and help.”

I stand up slowly, faster when I hear her.

“Maybe he can’t find his way in the dark.”

Bella’s voice sends my heart racing. I’m grateful she’s alive, and now I have to keep it that way.

This place is a ticking fucking time bomb. The stench of old gas and crude oil is so thick, my eyes burn.

“Shut up, child. I don’t remember asking you.”

Avery’s response infuriates me. Blood boils in my veins, thick like magma, causing a steady rushing echo inside my head.

Avery’s response infuriates Edison, too, because he comes barreling in through the doorway.

“What the—” He’s reaching for his gun before he realizes what’s happening.

No!

I fly around the front of the truck, head down, and smash Avery square in the chest.

As he flies backward, into Edison, the horse turns and head butts Avery in the back, sending him back to me. It’s like this fucked up game of catch, only we’re playing with a devil who could shoot us any second.

There’s something in his hand, all right. A remote. Or a gun. I can’t tell.

I grab his arm and dig my thumb deep into his wrist, forcing the muscles in his fingers to let go.

His other hand swings around from his back. The faint rays of light coming in around the truck glisten on the gun barrel as he levels it at me.

Edison swings his head around, knocking into the back of Avery’s skull. He wavers.

I use the distraction to grab his other hand and wrench the gun away. I toss it aside and deliver two fast punches to his face.

His head wobbles, hanging forward. Perfect.

I grab him by the hair and yank his head back to plant another fist in his face, when someone grabs my arm.

“I’ll take it from here,” Wallace says. “You see to them.”

For a second, I don’t want to let go. I want to break every bone in his face, send him to prison as broken as the lives he shattered, shitting up Jupiter and hiding his son’s atrocities.

Then I hear Bella crying. Calling Edison’s name – and mine.

Fuck.

I let go of Avery and round the front of the truck with a couple quick steps. Edison beats me to her.

He’s got his big forehead pressing against Bella’s head.

“Drake, don’t forget the son!” Molly shouts. “Avery’s son is out there somewhere!”

“We took care of him,” I say, kneeling down in front of Bella.

I’ve fought far harder and longer, yet I’m shaking.

My mouth is dry as I ask, “You okay, darlin’?”

She nods, a relief filling her eyes as she knows this might finally be over. “I’ll live. Please, untie them first.”

“Who’s we?” Molly asks. “You and...Edison?”

“And the fine people of the Dallas Police Department,” Wallace says, stepping around the truck.