Free This Would Be Paradise (Book 2) by N.D. Iverson Page A

eyes. She got up, but Roy’s glare returned her to her seat. I didn’t see Bernice down here with her sniper rifle; she must have gone back to the roof. In total, there were only ten of us in the common room. Hardly a worthy defense.
    Elaine grilled me again on how I was feeling. The wound on my head was throbbing again, so she left to get me some painkillers. A loud cough came from the front entrance—Mac signaling that Tim was here. I took a deep breath.
    “I’m just bringing him a water bottle. Tell Elaine I’ll be right back,” I announced to the people in the room, trying to sound aloof.
    Roy looked suspicious but returned to fidgeting. I walked calmly to the entrance. Please let this work.
    I was in no shape to fight and this would get messy if we had to resort to violence.
    Mac jerked his head toward the doors as I approached. “Just saw the truck headlights pull up.”
    The outline of a figure solidified as it approached the front door. 
    “Hand me the ties!” I hissed when I reached Mac.
    We hadn’t planned this very well, but I had myself to thank for that. I grabbed the ties and retreated as I stuffed them up my sleeve. Mac opened the door, and Tim walked through. I pretended like I just came around the corner.
    “What happened?” Tim had the gall to ask.
    “There was another attack,” I started as I saw Mac widened his stance.
    With a shoulder in the lead, Mac flattened Tim. They flew to the floor, and I ran up to them as fast as I could. Tim was in shock, but he recovered fast and tried to buck Mac off. Mac had managed to gather Tim’s hands behind his back, and I tightened the zip ties around his wrists, binding them together.
    “What is this?” he demanded, attracting an audience from the other room.
    With his arms secured behind his back, Mac yanked Tim up. Roy dashed for Tim, his eyes full of pain. I jumped in front of Tim, intercepting Roy.
    “Settle down! We need to do this the right way!” I yelled.
    Roy shoved me out of the way, and before I could grab him, he swung at Tim. I heard the sound of cartilage crunching. Tim’s nose was now bent to the side and blood trickled down his chin. Mac released Tim in favor of restraining the enraged Roy. Tim fell backward with a groan, landing on his side, his arms still behind his back. Karla went to run for him, but Elaine got in her way.
    “No you don’t,” Elaine calmly said to Karla.
    Karla’s hand flew to her belt.
    “I don’t think so.” One of the older ladies pointed her gun at Karla.
    We all stood frozen in the weirdest Mexican standoff ever, except for Roy, who was still struggling against Mac, trying to get to Tim.
    “Roy, you need to calm down.” I jabbed at finger at him. “We won’t get anything out of him if you beat the shit out of him.”
    Tim was military—brutal force wouldn’t work—but I had to admit, I found myself wanting to kick his teeth in too. That would have to wait. I controlled my temper and turned to Tim, who was wiggling his face, trying to assess the damage.
    I walked up to him and he eyed me through narrowed slits. I crouched next to his fallen form.
    “I’m sure you know playing dumb won’t work,” I said. “We know you led those assholes here, and we know you sent them after me. You know I’m immune. What was in the bag, Tim?”
    His eyes lit up before he could school his reaction. He knew I’d seen.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he deadpanned.
    “I thought you were smarter than that.” I tilted my head to the side.
    We stared at each other, him refusing to admit to his guilt.
    “He didn’t do anything. You heard him!” Karla yelled.
    “That’s because he’s a fucking liar!” Roy renewed his struggles, but Mac had him pinned in his arms.
    “Get up.” I grabbed one of Tim’s bound arms and helped him to his feet.
    I led him to the common area. Everyone else followed behind me like a funeral procession. I grabbed a plastic chair, sticking it in the middle of