I jump into the driver’s seat and drag the tied up man into the middle so Warren has room to climb in as well. The man is mumbling under the tape across his mouth, I don’t have time to deal with him right now. We need to get out of here.

I press the accelerator to the floor and the tyres spin in the dirt as we take off. My shoulder is still aching from the force of the gun’s recoil. Why did no one prepare me for that? I rub just below my collar bone to ease the burn. My shirt is damp with something warm and sticky, pulling my fingers away I hold my hand up into my view.

“It wasn’t an echo,” I say more to myself, but as realisation takes over I speak again. “Warren, I’ve been shot.”

Shock starts to cloud my rational thinking. I glance in the rear view mirror – no lights are following. I come to a stop at the end of the driveway, turn off the engine, and listen. There’s silence.

“We need to find somewhere to park so that I can patch you up, Jess.”

I’m beginning to feel dizzy, my clouded thoughts now turning fuzzy, I need to get Warren … the girls – are there girls in the back of this van? I rush to the back, checking over my shoulder, and grasp the door handle.

“My name is Jesse. I’m here to help, not to hurt you. I’ve been shot, but once I’m cleaned up I will get each of you to safety. I promise.” Muffled cries respond, and it takes all my willpower to delay opening the door. Every minute counts, and we need to get to safety. Right fucking now.

“I have – I have a first aid kit in my ute a little down the road,” I say to Warren once I’m back in the van.

“Take us there,” he says with concern all over his face. “You’re only going to be able to run on adrenaline for so long.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Tanner

It’s 5.54am. I’ve been watching this clock tick since I gave up on sleep two hours ago. Not only am I concerned about Jesse and the mess he is walking into, I am also losing my mind not knowing how Kinsley will react if I have to be the one to go and get her.

All I want is to scoop her up in my arms and never let her go, but how do I know her feelings mimic mine, after I willingly walked away? She deserves someone who will fight for her. All I can hope is somehow she will understand that this is my way of fighting. There will never be a battle that she faces alone.

“Jesse? Jess, can you hear me?” I speak into the earpiece.

The seconds drag as I wait for Jesse to respond.