I always wondered about that but never questioned it. I didn’t feel like it was my place.

“You heard from your mom?” I ask her.

“Yeah, she signed the papers and got the hell outta the US.”

I would have too.

“It’s strange growing up thinking you’re Russian, and then find out your Russian and Danish. My head couldn’t handle learning Danish too. Shit, just keeping up with Russian growing up was hard enough.”

I laugh. She always has a bright side to things.

The guys come back out, all of them wearing scowls.

Mason walks over to me and kneels down. “I’m only telling you this because Braxxon said it was okay,” he says in a hushed tone. “The Russians, the ones from the hit and the car accident and the ones that came after… they all work for Winter’s uncle. Our contact has informed us that they’re all blocking off all exits of the town. We’ve gotta deal with this babe. When I leave, I want you to go upstairs and get your gun, take the safety off. Shadow and a few others are staying here, but keep your gun on you. Please?”

I stare into his brown eyes and see them silently pleading with me as well. “I will.”

But I don’t want him to go. “Why can’t you stay here?”

I’m not trying to whine or beg. I just really want an answer.

“Because the best shooters have to go.”

I close my eyes; I knew he was gonna say that. I just knew it.

“Watch Tatiana, Ma, and Mace for me?”

My eyes fly open. “Of course I will!”

That almost hurt. Did he think I wouldn’t?

“Thank you.”

Motherfuck! Why does he have to go?

“I love you,” I say and then point. “Don’t get shot.”

He smirks. “I just got you to start f**king me on a daily basis. Why the hell would I wanna go and get shot?”

Oh, the cocky f**ker.

“Go before I hogtie your ass up and keep you here.”

Mason’s pierced tongue sticks out and runs along his bottom lip, and I take that as my cue to lean in and kiss him.

I pull away and urge him to go and get this shit over with. I can’t stand it, but the sooner they’re done, the sooner he gets back.

“This shit sucks.” Winter mumbles.

“No shit.” I say as I get up to go get my gun. I don’t ever break my promises to Mason.

There’s nothing to do but sit and wait.

***

ZZ

I’m having a hard time focusing, knowing I left my daughter, ma, and my girl back at the compound with limited brothers there to protect them. I feel like I’m in the middle of some f**ked up video game where you sit and pick son of a bitches off one by one. We’re literally moving from one place to another, taking them out with our sniper rifles. I mean, most of the time they’re making it f**kin easy on our asses. Take for instance a black sedan was sitting on the long desert road that leads to the Gunner’s burnt down piece of shit club. Just sitting there, waiting for us. Sniper pulled us back. We parked, paid a building owner a hundred bucks, climbed to the top, and took them out.

That’s the thing about visitors; they don’t have the place wired like we do. One look at who we were, and the building owner didn’t hesitate. Braxxon just threw in the money for good standing. When we’re riding around, Braxxon spots Winter’s spa building on fire, and we take off like a bat out of hell towards it. We know they’re not there, but it still pisses us off. They’re trying to draw us out.

***

Storm

It’s been dark for about an hour when the gunshots start ringing out. I quickly grab Rap and start wheeling him away while I drag a protesting Berry alongside me. She’s screaming at me, and I don’t give a shit. She’s part of Mason’s family; she can scream and kick if she wants too. I wheel them into the downstairs restroom, flick off the light, and order Rap to crawl into the bathtub. He does without protesting; he knows what I’m about to do. I’m about to put his ass in charge of Mason’s stubborn ass mom.

“Go Berry!”

I point to the tub.

“God, you’re a perfect match for him, do you know that?” She huffs climbing into the tub.

“Thanks. Rap, I’m shutting off the light, and locking the door behind me. Don’t f**kin make a sound. Don’t let anything happen to her!”

I have no time. Tatiana took off running from Mace and me when the gunshots started. I promised her father I wouldn’t let anything happen to them, and I f**kin meant it.

I flick off the light and locking the door, shut it quietly behind me. It’s loud from the gunshots ringing out, but I’m not gonna hang a sign on the door that says ‘look, I was just slammed shut’.

I see Mace peeking around the corner, holding his knife. “Mace,” I whisper yell and his eyes flick to mine. “Where the hell did Tatiana go?”

He growls, “I don’t know.”

Just f**king great. “Winter?”

He shrugs. Oh, shit. She’s probably off playing pregnant Rambo. I point to Mace. “Don’t get killed; go find your sister.”

Mace takes off up the steps. We know Tatiana is in here somewhere. But the new building is bigger than the old. My steps are light as I make my way towards the door that leads to the compound parking lot. I need to get over to the old building; I know that’s where Winter is. I know her. She’s most likely trying to help. Just when I’m about to open the door, it flings open, and Winter comes rushing in, slamming it shut.