This was the best chance I had with Tyler distracted fighting with Captain.
Fuck it.
I pulled my arm back and sailed the vase across the room, hitting Tyler in the shoulder and spinning him around. The vase clattered to the ground, broken pieces scattering around. A sunny array of delphinium, aster, and roses lay sadly at his feet.
He cursed loudly, but before he had a chance to process, I hurled another arrangement at him. Then another.
A battle-worthy scream left my lungs with every attack. I stepped backward toward the door, picking up every vase I could lay my hands on. I never let up, giving him no time to counter my attack. The front door was behind me now.
I spun around to find the lock in the dark room, twisting it to the right as fast as I could.
My hand wrapped around the doorknob, my blood screaming for the freedom that lay on the other side of the door.
I was ripped backward, Tyler’s fist closing around my sweater, yanking me hard.
Langston was yelling, but I couldn’t process what he was saying. Was he yelling at me or Tyler?
A crash sounded from the back room. Tyler looked up toward the noise.
I didn’t hesitate. I couldn’t. The heel of my hand connected with his nose with as much force as I could muster. His hands came up to block his face.
I ripped the door open, running out onto the sidewalk, oblivious to the cold November air, and ran into the brick wall that was Wes.
34
Luke
Scarlett’s car was parked down the block, but there were no lights on in the flower shop. I went to call her again, but Wes’s comment stopped me in my tracks.
“Someone’s inside. At least two people,” he said, craning his neck back to look in the windows.
“Then why the fuck are the lights out? Power’s not out on the block. It’s just the flower shop.”
“Turn around. I need another look.”
I was already pulling up to the curb. I didn’t have time to do a series of drive-bys. I needed to get eyes on my woman before I flipped my shit. I wanted to believe that I was overreacting, but my gut was telling me something was wrong. Jumping out of the truck, I didn’t wait for Wes before hauling up the street back toward Daisy’s business. Wes’s hand caught me around the arm and pulled me back.
“What the fuck?” I hissed.
“Get a look first. Don’t be stupid, man. You don’t want to make things worse. We don’t know what we’re walking up to.”
He was right, but that didn’t mean I wanted to hear it.
I stopped just before the windows, my back against the cold stone exterior of the adjoining building. I peeked my head around to see inside.
Never in my life had I ever felt fear like I did when I saw Scarlett pressed against the case of flowers. She held a broom in her hands, like they had caught her unaware. Cress was standing in her way, blocking her path to the front door. The knife in his hand glimmered, a reflection from the streetlight outside. On the other side of her, behind the employee counter, stood fucking Steve Langston—I’d be damned if I ever called him my captain again.
“Fuck. Langston and Cress are inside with her. Cress has a knife. I’d bet money Langston is armed, but if he is, it’s concealed.”
Shouting came from inside. Langston was screaming so loud I could practically see the spittle flying from his mouth, even though it was too dark to tell. He wasn’t looking at Scarlett though. His attention was solely focused on Tyler.
I needed to keep my head on straight. If I plowed through the front, Cress could get to Scarlett before I had a chance to take him down. Langston would be even harder to get at since he was protected by the safety of the counter he stood behind.
What I needed was the element of surprise.
“Around the back. Let’s go.”
Wes gave a single head nod, his expression a mask of pure fury and determination. I hated to leave Scarlett out of my sight, but I needed to get inside, needed to get to her, and the best way to do that without risking her safety any further was through the back door.
