Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(109)

The woman had the heart of a snake. Ryker fought the urge to throw up. “I’m bringing you down, lady. Get ready.”

“I’ll be in touch, Ryker. This is by no means the end.” She took another step back, keeping her aim steady and true.

The roar increased in pitch. Snow sprayed. A snowmobile rushed into sight with Sheriff Cobb on the back.

Hatred, raw and pure, poured through Ryker. He ran forward without thought, wanting to kill more than he wanted his next breath.

Madison fired, and he ducked as bullets pinged over his head. She jumped on the machine, swinging her arm around and continuing to fire.

Cobb gave him a hard look and mouthed the word “Soon” before twisting the throttle. The snowmobile jumped forward, and he drove it through a path between two large pine trees, heading away from the lodge.

Ryker launched into motion. “Stay here,” he bellowed at Zara, lowering his head and running behind the snowmobile as fast as the thick snow would allow. He ran hard, branches slapping him, desperation spurring him on. The roar of rotors caught his attention. Sucking in air, he could hear several people behind him, also running fast.

He charged into a clearing just in time to see the door close on a black helicopter. It slowly rose into the air. Madison looked out a back window and gave him a little wave.

Matt burst through trees next to him and halted, breathing heavily.

Madison’s eyes widened, and her lips formed the word “Matt.” She smiled broadly.

“Fuck,” Matt hissed. “Is Greg in there?”

Madison slowly nodded. “I have Greg,” she mouthed very clearly. “See you soon.” Then she held up a black box.

Ryker squinted. “Is that—”

The world exploded behind them as the lodge blew up with a devastating roar.

Jory ran through trees to the east with Heath and Denver on his heels, all crashing to the ground and rolling. “They got our helicopter, and the lodge just blew. I hot-wired an SUV. We have to go. Now.”

Ryker turned just as Zara stumbled through the snow in bare feet toward him. He caught her.

“Greg?” she asked through purple lips.

Rage rushed through him so quickly he swayed. “No.”

The helicopter pitched and dropped toward the ground. What the hell? Movement showed through the windows, and the nose dipped down. Greg came into view, fighting furiously with the pilot while hands grabbed him from behind.

Ryker and Matt launched into motion at the same time, running full bore for the landing skids. Ryker jumped on one while Matt caught the other. The helicopter swayed and spun. Ryker’s wounded shoulder protested in agony. From the corner of his eye, he saw his other brothers crouching and taking aim. Nobody would fire with Greg in the aircraft.

Screaming came from inside.

The side door opened near Ryker. He pulled himself up. . . right into the barrel of a gun.

“No!” Greg yelled, shoving Madison to the back and then throwing himself at Ryker.

The kid hit him in the face, and Ryker let go of the door to clamp Greg in a bear hug, protecting him as he fell backward. They landed in the snow with a loud thunk.

Gunfire erupted around them, and he scrambled to cover the kid.

Matt landed over to his left and rolled, coming up already firing.

The helicopter banked a hard left and swerved out of the way, quickly rising into the sky. A frustrated scream came from within.

Ryker leaned back. “You okay?” he grunted, shaking snow from his eyes.

Greg, his eyes wide, nodded. “Yeah. You?”

“Yeah.” Everything fucking hurt beyond belief, but nothing was broken. Zara skidded in the snow next to him, reaching for his head. “Are you all right? Both of you?” Tears were streaming down her face. “I love you. God, don’t do anything like that again.”

He smiled. Love. She loved him. Then he passed out cold.





CHAPTER


40


Ryker awoke with a jolt and sat up on a leather sofa. Mini stars detonated behind his eyes, and pain threw nausea into his gut. He groaned.

“You’re all right.” Zara sat next to him on a coffee table.

He blinked several times and sucked down air. “Where are we?” he croaked. Was there anybody he needed to fight?

“We’re safe. A very nice safe house outside of Hot Springs that Heath said you guys own,” she murmured, pushing hair back from his face.

He looked around a gathering room complete with plush furniture, smooth wood floors, and a climbing brick fireplace. “Oh yeah. South Dakota. I almost forgot I bought this place.” He gingerly tapped a bump on his forehead. “Jesus. How long was I out?”

“Long enough,” Matt said, striding in from the outdoors. He shook snow from his coat. “Where’s Greg?” he asked Zara.

“Here.” Greg loped in from the kitchen. “Hey, Ryker. You’re alive.”

Ryker nodded. “Somebody catch me up to speed, please.”

Matt shoved snow out of his dark hair. “We loaded everyone up in the SUV and drove for about an hour until some of our men picked us up in a helicopter. They flew us here, and now we’re waiting for the crew from Montana to show.”

Ryker threaded his fingers through Zara’s. “You okay, baby?” He should’ve asked that first thing.