Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(62)

Zara stumbled. “What are you doing?”

Ryker looked up, giving her his full attention.

She took a step back.

Cold intent filled his eyes, which lacked any warmth. Blood dotted his chest, and a couple of purple bruises had begun to form along his muscled arms. Danger cascaded from him along with an untenable tension. “Do as I’ve said, Zara. Now.”

She didn’t know him like this. Not at all. Wrapping her arms around herself, she turned and all but ran for the bedroom to pack a bag.

What had she gotten involved in?

Ryker finished binding the guy’s wrists and ankles with the duct tape, and then for good measure, he slapped a piece across the guy’s mouth. With that beard and mustache, it’d hurt like hell when pulled off.

Greg returned to the kitchen with his backpack over one shoulder. A lump marred the skin above his left eye. “I told you to cut her loose, man.”

Ryker stood. “What if this was about her, not you?”

“Think it was?” Greg asked.

“We’re gonna find out. He duct-taped her mouth, which might mean he wanted to take her. Or maybe he just wanted her quiet while he killed you. Or me.” Ryker stretched his aching jaw, adrenaline pushing him to hurry it up. He had to cover Zara and now. “Either way, we need to get her out of here.”

“Okay.”

Ryker studied the kid. “You okay with what’s going to happen?”

Greg lifted a dark eyebrow, his lips curving in a smirk. “If you don’t have the stomach for it, I do. Give me five minutes with the guy, and he’ll tell us everything we want to know and then some.”

Great. Ryker ignored the warnings clamoring in his head even as his heart hurt for the kid. Man, he saw himself in Greg—another lost kid just trying to survive and build a family with his brothers—and Ryker would protect him no matter the cost.

What a shit-storm. He had a woman in the other room now frightened of him and probably in more danger than she understood, and he had a boy in front of him who was well versed in torture at only about twelve years old. Plus, the past was breathing down his neck and about to explode again—he just knew it. “We’re fucked,” he muttered.

Greg scratched his elbow. “Copy that.” He stared at the man on the ground. “Though this guy wasn’t after me.”

Ryker frowned. “How do you know that?”

“Because you and I are both still alive. The commander and Madison wouldn’t have sent anybody we could’ve fought so easily. Sorry.”

The kid had a real fear of his commander. “I don’t know, Greg. You handled yourself pretty well.”

“So did Zara. Did you see her swing the skillet? Went right for the knockout shot to the head.” Greg grinned through bruised lips.

Yeah. Ryker’s chest swelled. She was one tough woman when necessary. He crouched down and dragged the bound man up and over his shoulder. He let out a groan. The guy weighed a ton. “Here’s the plan. I’ll get this guy and Zara into the truck while you follow. Try to get the front door as closed as possible.”

Greg looked around. “The shades are drawn, so nobody can see the mess.”

“We’ll come back and clean it up later. Right now we need to get Zara to a secure location and then figure out who this guy is and who he’s working for.” Ryker turned and kicked a bowl out of his way.

Zara emerged from the bedroom. She’d changed into dark jeans and a blue sweater that matched her eyes. Her skin was so pale as to be luminescent, and her eyes were wide like a doe’s. She had a duffel bag over one shoulder, and she didn’t quite meet his gaze. “What are you doing with that guy?” she whispered.

“He’s coming with us.” Ryker headed for the door. “Come on, Zara.” He kept a low thread of command in his voice. For now, he needed her strong and quick. The woman could fall apart later, and he’d be there for her. “Move.”

She followed him out to the truck in her driveway, wincing when he tossed the bound man into the backseat. Darkness shrouded them, but dawn would be breaking soon, and they needed to be out of sight by then.

Ryker opened the passenger side door and lifted her in. He turned and watched Greg finish setting the front door to rights. It looked okay and not like it had been busted open. Good. The kid hustled down the walk and reached the car. Ryker handed him the gun. “Do you mind sitting in back with this guy?”

“Nope.” Greg slid into the backseat and shoved the bound man over to the other side. “Not a problem.”

Everything in Ryker wanted to find the mysterious commander and beat the ever livin’ shit out of him. No preteen should be okay with holding a gun on a hostage. “Thanks,” Ryker said, shutting the door.

He got into the driver’s seat and started the engine, quickly pulling out into the street.

Zara sat next to him, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. “I still think we should call the police.”

“We still might,” Ryker said, keeping just under the speed limit while dialing Denver.

“What?” Denver growled into the phone.

Ryker paused at a stop sign. “I need the boiler room prepared for a guest.” He clicked off.

“Boiler room?” Zara asked.

“When we get to my place, I need you to go up to the apartment and wait for me,” Ryker said, looking into the backseat. “You too, kid.”