*
The last hours at the convenience store were jammed pack. People came for last-minute purchasing. I drove home at around eleven, my head dizzy and my body tired from all the work we had done.
Arriving home was a relief. Soon enough I would finally collapse on my bed, or so I hoped. After I had parked my car, I dragged my feet like a lazy dog to the front door feeling so far beyond exhausted. I searched for my key to the house when I heard footsteps behind me.
Goosebumps raised on my skin as found the key and poked it in the lock. I was just hearing things. Everything was fine.
As soon as I stepped into the house, a familiar voice rose up behind me. “Kylie. You finally made it home. I don’t think I realized it was you who lived here.” Lies. He laughed, and I jerked around, my heart almost stopping in my chest. The pale-faced guy from the store. “Guess fate brought us together again, hmm, pretty lady?”
“What do you want?” I whispered as I realized he had a gun.
He was holding a long gun, one I recalled Hunter saying was illegal. It was pointed right at my head, and his finger was pressed on the trigger from what I could tell.
“Hunter’s a nuisance to my black-market business. I needed to wipe out the competition, just like what I did with his dad. But I decided, why not play a game to make things fun? Ruin his property, get him to love somebody, kill the ones he loves, and make him devastated. That’s a better suffering for him, right?” The last few weeks raced through my mind. This asshole knew good and damn well that I lived here.
“How
dare you.” I felt all of my sorrow and loss turn into hate and fury, leaving me willing to do anything to watch him suffer instead of Hunter.
“Luckily, I controlled the game completely. You should congratulate me for a job well done, no?”
I pulled my gun out of my purse and lifted it as quickly as I could, taking a risk that he would put a bullet in my head while I did. I had failed to protect myself so many times. I couldn’t let this be another time.
“Stay there, or I’ll shoot you in your head.” My voice was full of strength, but fuck me if I didn’t have the safety on. How was I going to get it off without him seeing me? I couldn’t. Once again…I’d failed at life.
He laughed. “Brave effort, Kylie. I admire you for finally pulling that up. I’m sorry to say this though, but it’s time to go.”
In a blink of an eye, I lost track of everything. A light flashed behind him, and he screamed as the sound of a gun going off filled my ears.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Hunter
I’d been sitting on the back porch when Kylie drove up, and I got to my feet knowing that I needed to talk with her about Vince. I’d apologize for being such a dick myself too, but my deepest desire was to make things right for my boy. I deserved to be alone. Obviously.
As she walked to the house, a guy moved out of the shadows with a gun in his hand. I almost swallowed my tongue. Grabbing my gun, I jogged over there as quietly as I could and lifted my gun.
His words shocked me.
Without another thought, I lifted my weapon and fired, putting a hole in his arm as Kylie screamed and ran into the house.
That creep fell to the ground and bled profusely. He was cringing in pain, his gun lying near the open doorway as I ran over. I picked up his gun before he could get it and pointed my down at him.
“Kylie. It’s Hunter. Call the cops, baby.” I narrowed my eyes at the guy as he blinked rapidly and passed out. “Bastard.”
I could hear her talking to the cops, her voice broken as she cried and shook. The minute she finished the call, I called out to her. “Kylie. Everything is okay. Come out here so I can see you.”
She walked out and moved into my arms without hesitation. I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close, kissing the side of her face. “Shhh…I’m right here. It’s okay. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” I had her back, and I would protect her no matter what, just like I promised Vince I would. I was grateful to be able to keep that promise after fucking up so many other ones.
Upon hearing my voice, she seemed to gain back her consciousness. She looked up at me, tears rolling down her face. “Thank you for the help.”
“I got you, okay? Just rest against me.” The softness of her body pressed against my side coupled with her sweet scent had my heart doing flip-flops, my body aching. What had I done with her? I’d fucked up everything to protect myself. Shame rolled over me in great waves.
She buried her face against my neck and panted softly. “Thank you, Hunter. Thank you for saving me.” Her hands clung to my shirt as her lips touched the side of my neck.
I stifled a groan and tightened my arm around her thin frame. “No problem.”
I held her until I heard the siren of the cops, coming to the rescue. The lights of their patrol cars were blinding us. In a few more minutes, the ambulance came to the scene of the crime too.