The fellow turned and ran, rushing though Ben’s home. Ben shoved onto his knees, intending to go after the piece of crap. He even made it up to his feet. A full-on stand, even as blood dripped into his eyes. He lunged forward. “Stop!”

Then Ben fell face first onto the floor. But he kept his grip on his trusty steak knife this time. He kept the grip, even as he felt himself start to pass out.

***

“I have your brother. Tell Piper I’m killing her lover right now.”

Those words had turned Eric’s blood to ice. The voice had been grating, rasping, and the SOB had called from Ben’s phone.

“He should never have touched her. Never have touched what was mine. Never have fucked—”

“Eric, does he really have Ben?”

They were racing to the scene, and he’d brought Piper with him. For all Eric knew, the guy could have been bluffing. Maybe it was a trick, one designed to take Eric away from Piper. To separate them. Until he could figure out what the hell was really happening, he intended to keep her close.

Julia and Rick were racing right behind him. “He called from Ben’s phone.” Could mean nothing. Could mean the guy had just swiped his brother’s phone. But…

I thought I heard Ben in the background.

They rounded the final corner that would take him to Ben’s place, and Eric could hear sirens. He’d told Simon to have the cops go in with guns blazing, and from the sound of things, they sure were. They were going in loud and hard. A swirl of bright lights illuminated the scene, flashing in front of Ben’s condo building.

Uniforms were running toward the building. An ambulance had parked nearby. The back doors hung open.

Eric braked his car. The Benz came to a rough stop. “You stay with me, every second, got it?” He didn’t give her time to respond before they raced from the car. Eric grabbed her hand, making sure he had her close. Rick joined them immediately, his face even harder than usual as the blue lights hit him. Julia hurried forward, and Simon—

He was already rushing from the building.

EMTs passed Simon as they hurried in with a stretcher.

Eric raced for his friend. “Simon!”

Simon’s head whipped toward him.

And Eric realized something was on Simon’s shirt. Something dark. The blue lights hit him and illuminated Simon for a moment. Dark and red. Blood?

“He’s alive!” Simon ran down the steps. He shoved past some of the uniforms. “Did you hear me, Eric? Ben is alive.”

Eric let go of Piper’s hand and grabbed Simon’s shoulders. “That’s his blood?”

Simon winced. “He was stabbed, but he’s going to be okay. You just have to stay calm for—”

Eric shoved him out of the way.