24. Olson Makes A Decision

Olson’s hands shook.He scrambled for his phone, his chest so tight that he couldn’t breathe.

It took him three tries to hit the Call button.

Jag answered. “Olson?”

“They took Rex,” he said, trying to keep his voice low in case the men came back. “They’re moving him away. What do I do?”

“Fuck.” A chair clattered in the background. “How many men were there?”

“T-two.”

“Can you follow them at a distance? Keep out of sight. I need to know which direction they’re heading. What vehicle.”

“Okay,” Olson said, his voice stuck in his throat.

Hunter was still crying. He’d been crying this whole time, the sound adding to the pounding of Olson’s heart.

How much time had Olson lost by calling Jag for help? He grabbed the gun under his pillow, glancing around the apartment before poking his head out the front door.

Rex’s captors were nowhere in sight. Olson’s stomach clenched. He shut the door quietly and turned in the direction he’d seen them go—toward the parking lot.

Jag had been quiet on the other end of the line. “Storm is en route. The rest of us are heading out.”

Was it going to be enough?

A movement in the parking lot caught his eye. Rex and his captors were at a car on the other side of the lot; Rex was struggling, refusing to be shoved into the backseat.

One of the alphas bashed a gun against his head. Rex lurched sideways, and Olson’s stomach clenched so hard, he thought he’d throw up. “I-I found them,” he told Jag shakily. “White car.”

He tried his best to describe the car, but he could hardly even see it through the other cars.

“I have a gun,” Olson added.

“Only shoot if you’re sure about your aim. Otherwise, don’t. You might end up hitting him.”

Olson dropped slowly to his hands and knees, crawling along the sidewalk. The concrete dug into his trembling fingers.

Rex and the alphas were fighting now. Rex slammed his head into one alpha’s face; the other alpha punched him. Then fists flew; Rex snarled, and all Olson knew was that his alpha was getting hurt.

He edged along the sidewalk, getting closer and closer until he had an unobstructed view of all three of them.

When he couldn’t risk getting any closer, he lay down on the sidewalk, his locket clinking against the ground. The cool concrete scraped his bare chest and nipples.

To reduce the violent trembling in his body, he stretched his arms over the sidewalk for support, and took aim at the alpha further from Rex.

He only had one chance before they noticed him. He had to get it right.

Rex turned, then. He saw Olson, his eyes going wide.

Olson shook his head hurriedly.

But the alphas noticed Rex’s distraction and followed his line of sight.

They saw Olson at the same time Rex roared, slamming his head into the nearest alpha.

The other alpha pulled out his gun.

Olson had no time left.

He flicked off the safety, his pulse thundering as he took aim. There was a chance that his shot might go sideways, and hit Rex.

But the bigger risk was the asshole shooting point-blank at Rex, or taking multiple shots at Olson. Who couldn’t escape fast enough from where he lay on the ground.

His instincts screeching with anxiety, Olson made his choice, and fired.