“He’s not scared, but neither are we.” Austin let loose a deep breath. “Where’s Dream? Did you tell her to stay in the house?”
“She’s locked in the basement, I hope. She’s not very good at following instruction when she’s worried about me.” My blood started pumping, coursing through my veins as I remembered her the night before.
“Sounds like the two of you are getting close.”
“Yeah, something like that. And I don’t want to hear a word from you.” I didn’t need the guy busting my balls about being in love and finding romance and all that hearts and flowers bullshit. There were no bridal shops in my near future, and okay, so maybe that was only because she was already married, but with any luck, she’d soon either be a widow or a divorcee. But I’d never admit that I’d thought about it.
“Hey, you’re going to hear it from me, pal. I left Lola to be here for you and Star, remember?” He gave a chuckle, and it suddenly felt like the old times when we were in battle together.
“Yeah, yeah. I hear you, man. You know it’s a fucking vacation.” He’d been bitching about bridal shops and eating cake. This had to be better than that. We were adrenaline junkies by trade after all.
“Yeah, but I’m not getting any around here, and Lola will probably hold out on me for a week once I get back. I’m nearly as pathetic as you.”
“Who says I’m not getting any?” I chuckled.
“Fuck, man. You’re really in deep, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea man,” I said in response.
“I’ll be there soon.”
The call ended, and as soon as I put the phone in my pocket, the sound of glass shattering and a piercing scream came from inside my house.
CHAPTER 22 – DREAM
I had only opened the door thinking that Chance had come back in the house, but then I’d realized right away what a huge mistake I’d made.
Nick stood at the back door, his gun pointing right at me, and his sinister smirk gave me chills. The footsteps I’d heard had been his. “I knew I’d find my little slut hiding in here.”
He closed the distance between us so fast, I didn’t have time to get away, and since I’d closed the basement door, I had nowhere to go anyway.
I was frozen with fear and shaking so bad that I could barely walk. He grabbed my arm and pulled me close, jabbing the gun into my side. “So where’s your boyfriend, sweetheart? Did you two think I’d given up on you? You know I can’t do that.”
At that moment, the front door opened, and I heard the sound of footsteps as Nick warned me not to make a peep.
The barrel of Chance’s gun preceded him, and then once he stepped around the corner, his eyes widened with fear that lasted only a brief moment before pure rage took over.
“Drop it,” said Nick.
“Let her go.” Chance kept his gun on Nick, but I knew he wouldn’t dare shoot him with me in danger.
“I’d rather shoot her in her pretty face than let you have her. So maybe you should be the one to drop your weapon. Go ahead. Then we can talk about what you’re doing with my wife.”
I felt a wave of nausea as he tightened his grip on my arm. The pain shot down and through my elbow, causing my fingers to feel tingly.
“Don’t be a hero, soldier,” Nick whispered. Chance lowered his gun. “Good boy, now lay it down and slide it over.”
Chance kept his eyes on Nick and squatted down to place the gun at his feet, then he slid it over, and Nick put his foot on it and kicked it behind us.
“Let her go, and you and I can talk this out man to man.”
“I think we should all go sit down, don’t you?” Nick gestured into the living room and then forced us both to sit beside one another.
I wanted to ask Chance if he was okay, to hold his hand, touch him, anything. But I couldn’t make a move for fear it would only make things worse.
Austin was supposed to be on his way, so I had no idea what would happen when he showed.,.
“So tell me, Chance. Did you enjoy sticking your dick in my wife?”
Chance’s expressions didn’t give anything away, but I glanced back and forth between the two men as they stared each other down.
“I said, did you enjoy fucking my wife?”
“What do you really want? I can’t see you giving a shit about her, so what will it take to make you go away?”
“You think I need something from you, boy?” Nick threw his head back and laughed. “You really have an ego. See, I thought I asked you a question. Maybe I should ask her instead.”