Free Blake, Abby - Mikayla's Family [A Bride for Eight Brothers 6] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) by Abby Blake Page A

the device from around her neck. He left the house without a backward glance. Mikayla went to follow him, but Ryan wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
    “Bryce knows what to do,” he said confidently as Mikayla’s reaction suddenly began to set in. It seemed that every muscle she owned somehow shook independently from the others. Her knees wobbled like jelly, and Ryan quickly sat and lifted her onto his lap. He smoothed a hand over her hair when her teeth started to clatter as if from extreme cold. Ty hurried into the room with the first aid kit. Ryan quickly wrapped a light blanket around Mikayla as Ty dropped to his knees and checked Leila’s medical status.
    “Emergency services should be here any moment,” Ryan said with a warm smile. “You did well, sweetheart.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and then held her close.
    Mikayla tried to smile in acknowledgement, but considering how hard she was shaking, the compliment seemed misplaced. When nausea heated her face, she tried to scramble off Ryan’s lap. He must’ve realized her predicament because he carried her to the nearest bathroom, and then held her hair back as her stomach emptied violently.

    * * * *

    Bryce ran.
    Leila Sanderson had actually set the damn bomb to explode. He’d managed to get his thumb over the spring loaded trigger before the distraught woman had lost consciousness, but that was his only piece of good news.
    If he let go the bomb would go off, and he had no idea what the explosive range would be. He needed to get as far away from the house as fast as possible. He headed to the lab in the research station and only as he opened the outer door did he realize Lachlan was right behind him.
    He smiled at his brother gratefully. Bryce didn’t want his brother in danger, but Lachlan had far more experience with explosives that Bryce. If any of them had a chance at dismantling a bomb, Lachlan was the one.
    If they could somehow clamp the trigger in place, they might have a chance to dismantle it before it exploded. At the very least Lachlan might be able to determine its explosive capabilities and figure out how to store it safely until a specialist arrived to help.

    * * * *

    The explosion made the windows rattle.
    Mikayla scrambled to her feet. Her mind screamed at her to run toward Bryce and Lachlan, but Ryan and Ty stood in her way. Their concern for their brothers was written plainly on their faces, but it was very clear that they intended to protect Mikayla—even if it was from her own stupidity.
    John, Peter, Matt, and Brock all crowded the doorway of the small bathroom where Mikayla stood in Ryan’s embrace. Each of her husbands checked to make certain she was all right before leaving the house once more.
    Terror griped her anew, but she refused to let Ryan lift her into his arms. She wanted to know—needed to know—what had happened. “Mikayla, please just wait for the others to return.”
    Ryan must’ve interpreted her expression correctly because he let out a deep breath and turned to Ty. Ty nodded even though Ryan didn’t say a word, and then Ryan held her hand as they stepped into the mudroom and then outside.
    Smoke rose from the far side of the research station, but it was the two men running toward her that made her knees go weak. Inexplicable anger gripped her as two smiling men reached for her at the same time.
    “You scared the fuck out of me!” She truly hadn’t meant to swear, but the fear of having lost them and the incongruity of finding them not only fine but smiling like they’d just had a great time was messing with her head.
    “I’m sorry, little one,” Lachlan said in a voice that suggested he wasn’t really sorry at all. “But you know Bryce. He insisted that we make certain the bomb was no longer dangerous.”
    “I did?” Bryce asked with a matching smile on his face. “Hey, you’re the one with the experience. I was just along for the ride.”
    Able to breathe a little easier now