Chapter 25

My world explodes in the span of thirty seconds. The phone falls against the seat as I hang up on the nurse, but I don't even have time to process that before Tanner jumps out of the vehicle.

"Don't leave the vehicle," Ranger growls, twisting to drop a gun in my lap. "Point and shoot, but only if you have to. There's no safety. Only aim at anything you wouldn't mind actually landing a bullet in." Ranger tosses his door open, climbs out, and crouches by the wheel well of the SUV.

Tanner makes it to the back of the vehicle Maverick and Gunner were in earlier. My heart drops into my stomach as someone grabs him around the throat and puts a gun to his head.

Tanner fights back, struggling against the man holding him.

I squint, trying to make sure I'm really seeing what I think I am.

Ranger runs in a crouch toward the two men, but I don't see what happens next.

This is all my fault.

I called Locke and got him involved in my mess.

Now, three guys I genuinely care about might actually try to kill each other. Tossing open my door, I grab the gun and climb out.

I don't bother shutting it as I run toward the other SUV. Nova and Haze whine and bark from the back seat of the SUV.

Locke and Tanner struggle, but Locke keeps the gun to Tanner's temple. They continue spinning in a circle, but Ranger pops up and buries the tip of his gun in Locke's dark hair.

"All of you, put your guns down," I scream, running toward them.

"Get back in the vehicle," Ranger growls without looking back at me. "I will handle this and save your precious alpha. Even though he doesn't follow instructions for shit."

Locke turns slowly, keeping his gun on Tanner, but Ranger also keeps pointing his gun at Locke.

Holy fuck.

What a mess.

The dogs continue growling and snarling.

Everything feels so chaotic, and my impulses scream to run for cover, but I keep moving toward the guys and finally come to a stop a few feet behind Ranger.

"I'd really rather not lose one of my men," Ranger says coolly. "But if it comes down to choosing his life or the life of my omega." He shrugs. "I can accept that loss. You'll be dead either way."

"Don't stress, kitten." Locke's eyes meet mine over Tanner's shoulder before moving to Ranger. "I attempted to set a meeting through someone named Mercer, but he refused to put me in contact with you once he learned who I am."

"I truly don't care who you are," Ranger says. "We're in a stalemate. Your life for his, but either way, I make it out of this. At the end of the day, I can live with that."

Tanner's resigned expression pisses me off. Maybe part of my fury is Ranger's tone and how completely out of control my life has been lately.

"No one is dying!" I stomp the last few feet to Ranger, jamming the gun into his ribs. "I said, we're all going to put the guns down." I would never actually hurt Ranger, but Locke is alone and it really seems like he needs some backup.

My eyes widen as Maverick and Gunner are led out of the woods with a group of highly armed women behind them.

"I see your stalemate." Locke looks at Ranger and chuckles. The sound actually has goose bumps breaking out down my arms. "But I'll raise—checkmate."

My foot bounces against the ground as I whine, "We're all on the same team! Stop threatening to kill each other."

"I have no intention of killing anyone," Locke says, smirking. "But you might if you don't take your finger off the trigger. With how badly your hand is shaking…"

Ranger nods, turning slightly until I can see the side of his face. "I'm not sure if it was purposeful, but you're perfectly positioned at that angle. You'd most certainly puncture my heart."

"Oh, shit," I hiss, moving my pointer finger off the trigger.

I still keep the gun in place, though.

"Aim for that spot in the future if you're ever under duress," Ranger says calmly.

How could anyone be so calm and collected right now?

It's unnatural.

My heart beats so fast, it feels like it could take flight right out of my chest, but Locke and Ranger seem placid.

"I have an offering for you in the trunk of that car." Locke nods, patting Tanner's chest. "Sorry about this, I just needed to ensure you wouldn't shoot before I had the chance to make my case."

"It still feels like a distinct possibility," Ranger growls.

"This is Chicago Guy?" Tanner asks, gesturing over his shoulder.

I nod, biting my lower lip. "He won't hurt you." I make eye contact with Locke, and my stomach rolls with discomfort. I got him into this terrible situation. I'm so thankful he cared enough to come for me, but I no longer need to be rescued. I take a deep breath and go on. "Tanner and I bonded. No one needs to hurt anyone."

"How intriguing," Locke says, jamming the gun against Tanner's temple so deeply, the skin depresses. "And with your heat right around the corner…" He chuckles darkly. "One would almost assume you were in too vulnerable of a condition to consent, especially considering they just rescued you."

Ranger nods. "I said something similar."

"Were you coerced?" a woman with long, dark, wavy hair asks, coming closer. "We all know bonds can be rejected?—"

"Bless," Locke growls, rolling his eyes. "This part doesn't involve you."

Ranger finally pulls his gun from Locke's skull before twisting around quickly and disarming me. "It seems your male companion spent a fair amount of time in female company while searching for you."

I stare at my bare hand for a second before my head flies up, my eyes narrowing at Ranger. "Are you seriously trying to start shit right now?"

Ranger's shaggy brown curls bounce as his chin tilts in the air. "I simply thought it was worth noting."

"Bless Barrett," the woman says, extending a hand to me. "The idiot with hearts in his eyes is my cousin."

I stretch to shake her hand, but two things happen simultaneously.

Ranger moves, spinning in a circle around me and somehow jamming his gun under the woman's jaw.

At the same time, Locke tosses Tanner aside and strides forward, aiming at Ranger's head.

The woman—Bless—simply chuckles, shaking my hand like she's unconcerned with the chaos. "I'll repeat my question a second time. Were you coerced into bonding?"

"N-No," I choke out, shaking my head.

"Good." Her dark eyes sparkle as she nods at Locke. "Serves you right for waiting so long." She whistles, and the women closer to the trees release Maverick and Gunner.

"I generally don't enjoy killing women," Ranger growls, tilting Bless's face up, using the barrel of his gun. "But let me make myself extremely clear. If you put my wife in the middle of our war, I will skin you alive—piece by piece, with only enough medical care to ensure you survive for the next session of torture. You will beg for death."

"Morbid." The woman chuckles, like she's not concerned in the least.

"You're speaking to the family outcasts," Locke says, holding out his arm for me. "And if you'd simply look in the fucking trunk, you'd know my words are true."

I inch closer to Locke, and when I'm close enough, he pulls me into his side.

"We're going to talk about that bruise on your jaw and scratch on your cheek," he growls, clutching me tight. "I'm going to need names."

"I've already handled it," Ranger says, sounding smug.

"It was a team effort," Tanner growls back.

Locke studies my face, still aiming his gun at Ranger. "I missed you so fucking much."

My heart races. He's the one person I trusted in Chicago, but I'm honestly surprised to hear him sound so sincere. When I had the chance to either call my dads or Locke, I chose him. I just needed him to know that I was alive and that I didn't stand him up by choice.

"Me too," I say around the lump in my throat. "I'm so sorry I got you involved in this."

"Enough of that." Locke bends, brushing his lips over my forehead, and Tanner growls.

"Please put the gun down," I tell Ranger. "There are like thirty heavily armed women looking like they want to slaughter you at this very moment. Also, I called Locke. I told him where I was and what happened. I asked for his help. This is my fault."

"She didn't ask to be rescued. She simply informed me she'd been kidnapped and wouldn't be able to make our date." Locke pushes me under his arm and toward Tanner. "Comfort your newly bonded alpha before he pops a blood vessel."

I look back at Ranger and Locke, who are still posturing, but my whole body yearns to check on Tanner. My feet propel me toward him, and when he's within reach, I jump.

He catches me easily, and I whimper as I climb up his torso and bury my nose in his throat.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry," I whisper as my fingers run through his beard on the opposite side of his jaw from where my face is buried.

"I'm good. How about you?" he asks, palming my head.

"I'm so sorry." For more than just bringing Locke here and causing this huge disaster…

"No more apologizing," Tanner says as the dogs whine and howl. He walks us closer to the others. "Neither side has taken a shot. That means no one wants to. Check the fucking trunk. Laken needs her nest. She smells stressed to the max."

"She certainly doesn't seem to be under duress," Bless says from behind me.

I twist in Tanner's hold to see what's happening. Ranger and Locke glare at one another as they lower their guns.

"Thanks for that astute observation, Bless," Locke mutters. "And you, who the hell is your wife?"

Ranger chuckles darkly. "I'll give you three guesses."

My skin prickles with discomfort.

I made a huge mess of things, and they don't even know the half of it.