“You haven’t been locked up with hardened criminals,” Rafe said as he moved toward my brother, his grip slipping from mine. “I’m gonna rip you a new one for what you did to me, for how you raped your own sister, you sick fuck.” He rolled his shoulders, his stance wide and hands balled at his sides.

I jumped back and slapped a palm over my mouth as he charged Zach. He grabbed him and brought his knee up, one, two, three times until Zach fell to his knees. Something insidious unleashed in Rafe, and it scared the shit out of me. I’d never seen him so unhinged. He pounded on Zach with his injured hand, but it didn’t slow him down.

Zach countered the next onslaught of punches and managed to get an arm around Rafe’s neck. I screamed, my heart in my throat as I watched them fight for survival. This wasn’t a battle for something as inconsequential as a title. This was a battle for life. Rafe’s, mine, even Zach’s.

Rafe tried to turn into the choke hold, but my brother was high on adrenaline and obsession and wasn’t about to let go. Rafe’s face blanched, eyes rolling back, and I recognized the burn for air by the grimace on his face, certain it was the same expression that crossed mine whenever he choked me. Except Zach wouldn’t stop at unconsciousness. He’d kill him, and not even a bloodstream full of alcohol would hinder him.

“Stop!” I pounced on his back and reached into his waistband, desperate to get my hands on the gun. I curled my fingers around the handle and jumped back, flipped off the safety, and held it in shaking hands, aiming at Zach’s head. “Let him go!” I hoped he’d hear the steel in my voice, realize how serious I was, because if I had to choose between Rafe and him, it would be Rafe. “Now!” I shouted, steadying the gun, my finger on the trigger. “You know Dad taught me to shoot. I won’t miss.”

Zach scowled but let Rafe’s limp body drop to the floor. “You’re not gonna shoot me.”

I fired a shot over his shoulder, thankful for all the times our father had taken me to the range. Zach put his hands up and backed toward the door. Rafe gasped for breath as he pushed to his hands and knees. My attention wavered from Zach for an instant, just long enough for him to flee through the front door.

Rafe rose to his feet, his breaths coming fast and hard. “Give me the gun.”

The aftereffects of jumping my brother hit me, and the gun wobbled in my hand. “I-I…”

“C’mon, hand it over. He’s gone now.”

For how long?

Rafe took the gun and curled a hand around my bicep. “I’m getting you out of here.”