With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

and be here for you, but I have to give Aubrey a chance. Just come back with me. It’s not too
    late.”
    Jordan turned and smiled down at Matt. The tears ran down his cheeks in streams. “Yes, it is.” He
    cupped Matt’s face and kissed him on the nose. The acrid, nervous smell disappeared entirely. Drawing
    back, he stared at Matt with a serene expression on his face. It gave Matt the creeps, and he realized he should’ve taken the gun when he had the chance.
    “I’m going to miss you, Matt.” Jordan strode past him and picked up the revolver.
    “No!”

    Aubrey pulled his brother-in-law’s truck up in front of the cabin behind Jake’s SUV. He and Gadget
    got out and the first thing they heard was Matt’s voice full of fear. Terrified, Aubrey darted from behind the cover of Chay’s truck toward the door.
    A gunshot rang out, stopping him in his tracks. Everything grew silent except for the pulse thundering
    through his ears. Oh gawd no! Aubrey sprinted toward the cabin.
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    With Abandon
    Rhys tried to grab him and someone said, “Aubrey, wait,” but he paid no heed. He didn’t give a damn
    about his own safety. He had to get to Matt.
    Aubrey’s entire focus narrowed on his destination. He ran as fast as he could, but it was like wading
    through knee-deep mud. Anguish like he’d never known swamped him. “Matt!” It came out in a strangled
    whisper instead of the holler Aubrey intended. If that son of a bitch Jordan killed Matt… Panic joined Aubrey’s fear.
    He hit the door full force, putting his shoulder into it and busting it wide open with a resounding bang.
    The overwhelming metallic scent of blood burned his nostrils, and the acrid taste of bile rose in his throat.
    A cold sensation ran down his spine to his feet. It took only a second for his sight to adjust to the dark room, but it was the longest second of Aubrey’s life.
    Tears filled his eyes at what greeted him. In the dark oppressive cabin, Matt stood out like a beacon.
    He knelt on the floor with his head in his hands, rocking back and forth. The despair tugged at Aubrey’s heart, mixing with the subsiding panic. Several feet away from him, Jordan lay in a puddle of blood with half his face gone. Splatters covered the wall and a gun lay on the floor next to Jordan.
    Afraid to trust his eyes, Aubrey inhaled deeply. No, the blood wasn’t his mate’s. He’s okay. Jordan didn’t kill him. Staring at Matt, he took another breath, but it did nothing to calm him. Jordan shot himself?
    Aubrey shook his head to clear it. It didn’t make any sense, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that Matt was alive. Sweat dripped from Aubrey’s forehead and his vision whited out. He’d thought he was
    never going to see his mate again.
    Someone caught Aubrey’s shoulder, steadying him. “Breathe,” Jake whispered.
    Heavy footfalls raced past, and Gadget gasped, “Matthew,” much more calmly than his scent
    proclaimed.
    “Dad?” Matt’s voice shook.
    Aubrey sagged, dropping his hands to his knees. He wanted to go to his mate, to hold him and never
    let go, but his feet were rooted to the floor. Over and over in his head he kept repeating, he’s all right, he’s all right . Aubrey wasn’t sure if he believed it, but he willed it to be true.
    Someone touched Aubrey’s back. “Aubrey, you okay?” Rhys asked.
    Aubrey nodded, but it was Jake that answered. “Yeah, too much adrenaline. He’ll be fine in a
    second.”
    When Aubrey’s vision began to clear, he ran a shaking hand down his face.
    Matt stood. His father looking him over from head to toe. Making a fuss over him like Aubrey longed
    to do, if he could just get his legs to cooperate. His entire body was numb.
    “Aubrey, you and Gadget get Matt out of here. Rhys and I will see to getting this cleaned up.” Jake
    holstered his gun and grabbed his phone from his belt.

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    “Au—Aubrey?” Matt met Aubrey’s gaze from across the room, and time stood still. He let go of his
    dad and walked slowly toward Aubrey. Matt was a bloody mess, but he’d never looked better. And he was
    in one piece. Nothing mattered but that.
    Matt stumbled forward, stopping in front of Aubrey. He turned his head toward his father, and back to
    Aubrey with his brow furrowed. With all the dark splotches running down his cheeks his eyes looked a
    lighter blue. They were also bigger than normal. He was without a doubt the