Page 92 of Hold Back
“Put the gun down, Tony," Red said, his voice low and deadly. "Or I'll end this right now.”
Tony's eyes narrowed, then he forced a wide, almost manic grin—making Kit's skin crawl. “Come on, Red. It’s me—Tony. I’m your president, your friend. We’re family. We’re supposed to look out for each other, right?” He glanced between them, searching for any sympathy he could use.
Red shook his head, eyes never leaving Tony. “No, Tony. Not anymore. You lost any claim to my loyalty when you decided your own brother was expendable. Your rifle's still pointed at him.”
Tony’s lip curled in contempt. He kept the rifle steady. “So you screwed him, even after I told you not to? I expected more, Red. Thought you were supposed to be a professional. Guess he always was a man-whore.”
Kit scoffed softly, the sting of Tony's words hitting harder than expected. “Thanks,” he muttered under his breath. Family, he thought. So much for brotherly love.
“I’m a Daddy,” Red said, voice strong, “and Kit’s my boy. I’ll protect him, especially now that his brother has turned on him.”
Kit tried not to let hope bloom inside him. Red was just negotiating—he couldn’t believe anyone would truly pick him over Tony, not when family meant so little here.
“Why kill me?” Kit demanded, desperate. “You could have just asked me for the money, any time.”
Tony’s expression turned cold, gun unwavering. “You don't have enough. But with your life insurance—and the claim on the clubhouse—I could disappear somewhere warm, somewhere sweet.” His voice dropped to a final, chilling note. “Sorry, Kit. This is it.”
Kit heard a branch snap behind him—a sharp crunch in the snow. He barely had time to turn before a bullet zipped past, grazing his cheek and searing his skin. Pain flared and he crashed to the ground, ears ringing as gunfire echoed through the trees. Another shot rang out, followed by Tony’s scream. Kit found himself face down in the snow, Red’s body shielding him, heavy and warm, his heartbeat pounding so loud he could barely hear anything else. Blood trickled down Kit’s cheek, hot against the cold. For a moment, he couldn’t move—couldn’t think. Was he really safe? Or was this just another moment before everything changed?
Hadn’t they already been through a nightmare like this before? Kit’s mind spun, repeating the question as fear and relief warred inside him.
“Stay still,” Red whispered, breath warm against Kit’s ear.
Lucinda spoke, her voice calm and cold and utterly devoid of emotion. “You and your boy can get up, Mr. Baxter. Monroe isn’t going anywhere.”
Red lifted himself off Kit, careful and steady. Kit sucked in a shaky breath and raised his head. Tony was sprawled on the ground, clutching his knee, face twisted in agony. Lucinda stood over him, holding Tony’s rifle and aiming it down at him, her eyes fierce.
“Call 9-1-1!” Tony screamed, his voice ragged. “She blew out my kneecap!”
Red shot Lucinda a look, one eyebrow raised. “You did that?”
Lucinda’s mouth twisted. “I was aiming for his head,” she said, voice flat. She lifted her bandaged hands. “Can’t shoot straight anymore.”
“You tried to kill me!” Tony croaked, fury and fear mixing in his voice. “You took my rifle and shot me.”
Lucinda rolled her eyes. “Do shut up, Monroe. I’ve been in the business for forty years and criminals still don’t know when to keep their mouths shut.”
Kit clung to Red, shaking, as Red wrapped his arms around him, grounding him. Kit wanted to melt into that warmth, to forget everything else. His heart felt like it might burst from gratitude and terror all at once.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart. I won’t ever let you go.” Red whispered, and Kit believed him—for just a moment, he let himself believe.
Chapter Nineteen
RED
“Kit!Talk to me! I’m your brother. Don’t leave me here! Kit!”
Standing well away from Tony who’d been shouting at Kit for what felt like hours, Red held Kit enfolded against his heart as his boy shivered. “I know he’s hurt, but he tried to kill you. Don’t listen to him.”
Tony was surrounded by armed men. He wouldn’t get near his brother in this lifetime. Red would make sure of that.
Kit whimpered. “He’s my brother. He’s all I have left. It’s so hard.”
“I know it is, sweetheart, and I’m sorry. But you have me, I promise.”
Despite his shattered kneecap, Tony did not stop yelling at Kit to talk to him, to take care of him because they were brothers and family was important. The whole reason he came, to kill his younger brother, seemed to have flown out of his head.
Kit sighed and leaned into Red. “How did you know he was here?”
