Page 116 of Double the Redemption

The woman’s face contorted. “Get back here, you stupid brat,” she screamed, rushing for Asher, but he kicked her hands away, making her shriek and yank back, cupping her hand.

Ink hit her like a battering ram, sending her flying away from Asher and crashing into a nearby tree. She groaned, falling to the ground, lying still. Ink scooped up Asher and ran into the trees, heading in the general direction of the clubhouse. He didn’t want to leave Ice alone, but the man was a fucking sniper and could handle himself.

He had to get Asher to safety.

Asher sobbed in his arms, begging for his mother. Ink had to force himself to ignore it, even though he wanted to stop and make sure he was all right. He was covered in dirt, and Ink felt blood on the back of his head from where he’d fallen.

“You’re not going anywhere with him!” the man roared, running up behind them.

Ink jumped over a fallen log but barely managed to keep himself upright. He heard him gaining and cursed. With the rumble of engines sounding around them, he knew help was on the way, but he didn’t know if he could reach them in time.

He had no idea if any others were lurking in here.

The fenceline came into view to his right, so he headed for it. He could follow it to an opening.

Another bullet grazed the side of his head, and he hissed and jerked away, curling his body around Asher more. “I’ve got you,” he panted. “I’ve got you, buddy.”

“Give me back my grandson. Now!” the man screamed. “You don’t get to have him. He’s mine. He’s my legacy.”

Grandson? This was Naomi’s father?

Everything in him raged for revenge. To take this fucker down and make him pay for everything he’d done to Naomi and Asher. But he kept moving.

Until he reached the end of the fence and found himself staring at a wall of men dressed in all black and holding guns. Ink twisted, turning until he was behind a tree, breathing hard, and trying to figure out a way out of this.

Asher continued to sob, but Ink tried to shush him. “Shhh, Asher, buddy, I need you to be quiet for me okay,” he whispered into the little boy’s hair. “Please, Asher.”

“There’s nowhere for you to run now.” Naomi’s father panted as he came to a stop on the other side of the tree. “Give me the boy and I won’t make him watch you die. I’ll kill you after he’s safely away.”

“You’re not getting your hands on him, fucker,” Ink bit out, grabbing his phone and typing as quick as he could to Savage to let him know his location.

“You think you’re going to stop me?” The man laughed. “Once I have him, I’m going to have my men burn this entire fucking place to the ground, including my daughter. She’s of no use to me anymore. I have what I need from her.”

“Your men?” Ink scoffed, scanning the fenceline. Could he get Asher and himself over it before they noticed? Or before they fired at them? This asshole wanted the boy alive, so it might buy them time. “You mean Diego’s men. You’re just a lowly soldier, you don’t have any power.”

He was silent, then he let out a dark laugh. “You really think that idiot has been running the show? I’ve got him right where I want him now. I’m going to run things, and I’ll do even better than he ever dreamed. With what I’m creating, I’ll be unstoppable.”

“You mean the children you created after forcing doctors to take her eggs?” Ink spit, disgust in every word. “You sick fuck.”

“Perhaps, but soon enough I’ll have something every criminal enterprise will pay me millions, maybe even billions for. People create memories that will make their lives so much better. Make their businesses thrive.”

“You have no guarantee that any of that will happen.” Ink felt obligated to point out, gathering his strength.

He was only going to have one shot at this, and he couldn’t miss. He couldn’t make any mistakes.

“Then they’ll be disposed of. With the technologies we have now, I don’t need more than DNA and an excellent doctor and lab. I can create what I need.”

Yeah, he really was a sick bastard. “You’d kill your own grandchildren just because they didn’t measure up to your standards? What, you thought you’d do the same with Asher?”

“Lucky for him, he showed promise from early on when I had the doctors run tests. His brain fired up the same way Naomi’s had when she was young and I realized her potential. He’ll be my first kick at the can, as they say. Now, you have three seconds to come out and give him to me, or I’ll have my men do it for you.”

Time was up. It was now or never.

He braced, ready to move, but stopped when he saw the figure moving through the trees. His heart pounded. He was trapped.

What the fuck was he going to do?

Until he realized just who it was, and he’d never been so fucking grateful in his life.