Barely hanging onto his pistol, Gabe landed on his hip. A fist slammed into his kidney, sending a blast of pain through him. Twisting, he rammed his elbow backward into Spyros’s face. He rolled to his feet.

Spyros had his knife.

Gabe shot from the hip—double-tap.

The bastard fell.

Audrey. Gabe charged across the clearing.

Bull was already there, bending over her. He saw Gabe. “She’s okay.”

As she sat up, the relief made Gabe’s head spin. Thank God.

He made a quick assessment. All the bad guys were down but one.

Baumer.

At the helicopter, the ex-officer yanked open the rear door and climbed in.

Gabe sprinted toward the chopper.

The sound of the engine changed. Rather than taking off, the chopper powered down. What the hell?

Pistol in one hand, keeping out of the line of fire, Gabe sidled up to the open door.

Fingers laced on top of his head, kneeling between the passenger seats, Baumer didn’t move.

Gabe blinked and glanced at the pilot.

Pistol aimed straight at Baumer’s head, Hawk smiled at Gabe. “What the fuck, bro. You threw a party and didn’t invite me?”

Fist pressed against her mouth, Audrey tried not to scream for Gabe to be careful. She tried to rise, but her leg gave out and dropped her back onto her butt.

“Hold on, champ.” Bull wrapped his coat around her. “I think your ankle got messed up when Knox landed on you.”

“Help Gabe. Leave me and help Gabe.” Her heart pounded so intensely she had trouble speaking. Gabe wasn’t moving, was staring in the helicopter door. Did someone have a gun on him?

Then Gabe grabbed his handcuffs from his belt and leaned into the helicopter. A minute later, he dragged a cuffed Baumer out and shoved him to his knees.

When the pilot came around the helicopter, Gabe slapped his shoulder.

Gabe knew the pilot?

Audrey’s view was blocked when Caz dropped down on a knee beside her and pulled Bull’s coat back. “Your arm needs tending, chica.”

She pushed him back. “Knox needs help first. Something hit him in the head.”

Caz’s gaze swept over her, then he nodded and gave her a fleeting smile before turning to Knox. “Let’s see.”

Hand to his bloody head, Knox sat up. “Don’t think I cracked anything.”

Still standing guard over everyone at the woodpile, Bull raised his voice. “Yo, we got company, Gabe.”

A wave of people emerged from the trail and spread out into the clearing.

Oh God, no. They must be Spyros’s backup men. Heart sinking, Audrey straightened her shoulders. “I need some bullets. Who has bullets?” She braced for the shooting to begin.

“Don’t shoot them, chica. They’re ours.” Caz opened his pack, pulled out a first aid kit, and tossed gauze to Bull. “Put pressure on her arm for me, sí?”