Dare To Run (The Sons of Steel Row #1)(84)

She peeked her head out, locking eyes with me. I saw so much in hers that it made me even more determined to get the hell out of here alive . . . no matter the costs. I saw my f*cking future. My life. My past. It was all there, staring back at me. For the first time in my life, I truly, fully, completely regretted something.

I regretted not running with her when I had the chance.

“Lucas . . .” she whispered.

“Don’t. Come. Out.” I tipped my head. “Now, get back under.”

She nodded and slid back under the bed as far as she could go. “Be careful.”

I tightened my grip on my gun, sent a quick prayer upstairs in case that God everyone always talked about actually gave a damn, and crept to the door. Heart racing, I plastered myself against the wall next to it, gun held at the ready.

The second they opened it . . . I’d be on them.

With any luck, I’d have the element of surprise since they’d expect me to be asleep in bed. Footsteps crept up to the door, and hushed whispers came through the door. The knob jiggled, and then the door flew open. A man came bolting through it, gun raised, so without hesitation, I pulled the trigger. Blood sprayed all over my face and splattered all over the wall behind the first bastard trying to kill me today.

I didn’t have time to check and see if I knew him, because there were more.

Before I could get off another shot, a fist connected with my temple. My vision blurred, and I cursed under my breath. I stumbled back and lifted my arm again. Too late.

At least two hundred pounds of pure muscle launched itself at me, and I hit the floor hard. My head knocked into my dresser as I went down, stinging like a bitch, but I didn’t have time to cry over shit like this. I had to fight. Lifting my gun, I managed to get a shot off, but the man on top of me lunged to the side at the last second. My vision was even more blurred from the hits I’d taken, but I didn’t let that slow me down.

I couldn’t.

A fist hit my stomach, and I fought the nausea trying to take over me. I struggled to get a lock on the man attacking me, but my damn vision wouldn’t cooperate. At the last second, I saw black metal pointed at me, and kicked at it with a curse. My bare foot connected with bone and metal, and it skittered across the floor to the foot of the bed.

Toward Heidi.

From my position on the floor, I had a second to meet her stare directly, but that was all I had. She was still hidden, covering her mouth to stifle any sound she might make, and still safe. Lifting my gun, I fired off another shot. This time, I didn’t miss. The f*cker hit the floor, convulsing and choking on his own blood.

I rolled to my feet, gasping in a deep breath and pressing a hand to my stomach. Jesus Christ, this had to be hell on earth. Fighting not only for my own life, but for the life of the woman I loved. How could I—? Wait, what?

Maybe that fall had affected more than my vision.

My ears rang from the gunshots, and I blinked rapidly in an attempt to clear my vision and my brain. I was nearly certain I had a concussion, and the dizziness was as unwelcome as it was dangerous. As were my inner thoughts, so I shut them the f*ck down. But still, all I could hear was the thumping of my racing heart, echoing in my head. A quick glance confirmed what I already knew.

Neither of these men was my brother.

But I recognized them . . . even though my bullets had blown their heads apart. They were two of the Bitter Hill guys from Heidi’s bar the other night, George and Patrick. Where George and Patrick went, Phil went, too. There was at least one more guy out there, waiting to pounce. I’d have to pounce first.

It was the only way we’d get out of here alive.

I lifted my gun and crept toward the door. I didn’t hear anything from the living room, but the pounding of my heart told me I wasn’t safe yet. I’d always trusted my instincts when it came to shit like this, and I wasn’t about to stop doing so now, when they had never failed me before. Ignoring Heidi in case anyone was watching, I tiptoed through the door and peeked out into the living room.

No sign of anyone, but I knew he was there. The second I stepped through the door, someone pressed the business end of a gun to the back of my head. The asshat had been hidden against the wall, just like I’d been. And I’d fallen for it.

“Freeze, f*cker,” he commanded, his tone as mocking as mine would have been, had the roles been reversed.

I did. He was behind me, holding a gun to my head, so for now, he had the advantage. I wouldn’t let that last for long, though. The stakes were too high. I had to win, or die trying. And if I died . . . Heidi died. That wasn’t acceptable.

“Don’t even blink. Gun up.”

“Phil. How nice of you to come play,” I said slowly, holding my hands out but not relinquishing my gun. “I was wondering when I’d get to reunite you with your buddies.”

“Face the window.”

I turned toward the window. “You want to let me watch the bright blue sky as you shoot me?” I sighed. “Wow. I hadn’t taken you for a sentimental guy. Maybe I’ll be nice when I kill you, too.” I paused, as if thinking about it. “Then again, I never was any good at being nice.”

“You’re gonna kill me?” Phil asked, laughing.

I nodded once. “Yep.”

“I’m not the one with a gun to my head,” Phil said, sounding out of breath already, when he hadn’t even done a damn thing yet. He pressed the barrel into the back of my head even harder, twisting it, managing to find the spot I’d slammed into the dresser. It hurt like a bitch, but I clenched my jaw to keep any telltale signs of weakness from showing. “And you’re already bleeding.”