Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 8

buttons."
    Mac snorted. "I do like to push."
    "Fuck, man. I'm going to have to stop this car if you don't shut up."
    Mac laughed, the sound filling Grayson with relief. After they grabbed the kids, they'd head into the city and see a doctor. These assholes wouldn't like being bested by two Americans, much less gay Americans, but they had to stop for medical help. No way around it.
    Grayson shut down the lights, and rolled slowly down the gravel road. He'd have to walk into the situation alone. Thankfully, Mac had passed out about five minutes ago.
    The small sliver of moon gave off enough light for him not to see anything too clearly. He checked his gun, grabbed an extra clip of ammo and screwed the illegal silencer onto the end of his gun. This operation had fucked up written all over it. Backing down wasn't an option though.
    Grayson made his way to the first sentry, recognizing him as one of the men who had been at the monastery the other day. Before the guy yelled for help, he dropped him with one bullet to the head. "Sorry," he whispered then headed to the second post, realizing he too had been in the bunch who'd almost killed Mac. This time his anger flared and he didn't say sorry as the guy dropped to the ground, blood spilling out of his head. In the house were the two kids and two more men guarding the place, easy enough to take them out.
    His heart fluttered and his skin grew moist with sweat. He closed his eyes for a moment, repeating over and over in his head, I'm not a bad person . The mocking words of his psyche threatened to explode, exposing him for the fraud he knew himself to be. Mac would be disgusted with him. But worrying about him now wouldn't rescue the kids and it wouldn't get Mac treatment.
    The house lay in silence, the backdoor open. He snuck in, knocking out the first guy he came to. He could live; he hadn't been at the monastery. Grayson searched the back rooms, finding them empty. He made his way to the front of the house, cautiously approaching every doorway, his breath shallow as he crept through the place.
    The sound of snoring echoed down a short hall. He burst forward, locating the guy before the jerk noticed a stranger prowling around the rooms. Grayson lifted his gun, his anger flashed hot, but he couldn't kill the dude. Instead, he bashed him over the head, making sure he stayed out for a while. He tied up both men he'd left alive and then the search for the kids started. He checked every room again, though he'd checked them once already. He'd almost given up when he realized he'd missed one closet.
    Relief filled him when he opened the door, revealing the two children. They were in their teens, both blond and fair skinned. They sported bruises, the boy taking the brunt of their captor's anger. Grayson roused them before he started untying their hands. The kids were shocked, but when he spoke English and told them he was there to help, tears filled their eyes. Before he had all of their bindings free they were grasping for each other, hugging tight and crying into each other's necks.
    Grayson let them have their moment, checking the bindings holding each of the men he'd let live.
    They needed to clear out before anyone else showed up. Spiriting the kids out of the country wasn't going to be smooth. The locals were in debt to this drug gang, and he only hoped they could find a good doctor who would protect them. The entire state of Chihuahua couldn't be in bed with the drug lord. Mac couldn't wait the seven-hour drive back to the United States to see a doctor. He needed attention now.
    After reassuring the kids, Grayson led them to the car where Mac was still passed out. Twenty minutes later they were pulling into the hospital parking lot. Mac woke, pain evident on his face.
    "Where?" Mac looked around disoriented.
    "The kids are fine. Tyler and Cassidy, meet Mac." Grayson couldn't help but smile as Mac spun in his seat, shock and anger mixing on his face.
    "You could have gotten hurt," he accused.
    "I'm fine. Come on, time to get you some medicine. Tyler, Cassidy, you both need to stick with me. Don't say a word. You understand. We'll get you back to the border, I don't want the locals to have any idea who you are or why you're here."
    "Got it." They said in unison, their hands still locked together as they sent each other nervous glances.
    The hospital visit took longer than Grayson wanted, but they were back on the road, the car pointed north before the cool morning air had