The monster roared to life, and I knew with a certainty beyond comprehension, I would kill that man today. I knew the likelihood was I would die trying, but as long as he was extinguished from this world, that was all that mattered.

He was going to take the one thing in my life I would give the world for, so it mattered not if I lived. A world without Evie wasn’t a place I wanted to be anymore. She had become the nucleus of my life, and I revolved around her like the earth orbiting the sun. Without her warmth, I would perish anyway.

I listened as that piece of shit followed my wife, his vile words making my stomach churn and my resolve strengthen. The car was already traveling well over the speed limit, dodging other cars and going through traffic lights. We had been getting ready to leave to return home when the call came in from Evie, so we weren’t far away. I prayed we got there fast enough. When the shot rang out and I realized it was Evie who shot Raoul and not the other way around, my gaze flew to Marcus.

“Where did she get a gun?” he asked in wonder.

“The second holster under the desk.” She had asked me one day, and I had shown her how it worked, although I made her promise never to touch it. She had remembered, and I was grateful for her cleverness.

Marcus was barking orders into his phone, the car phone, and the spare he carried. All were on speaker. Men were already at the house and the override code being engaged. If Raoul thought I was stupid enough never to plan for this situation, he was more arrogant than I thought. It was probably his greatest weakness.

“We need to go faster,” I yelled.

“One minute and we’re there.”

We arrived to chaos. Mrs. Armstrong’s Toyota was by the gates, the driver’s side door open. I was out of the car before it stopped moving, Marcus on my heels. My stomach clenched as I saw the scene unfolding in front of me. Evie running, Raoul’s feet planted as he took aim at her. I knew he would kill her even with her trying not to go in a straight line. I lifted my gun at the same time Marcus did, both of us moving forward. We fired, hitting the scum just as his gun went off. He pirouetted, his arms thrown up, the shocked look on his face as he fell almost comical. I kept running, shouting at Marcus.

“Make sure he’s down! Get an ambulance!”

As I went past, I saw Raoul’s chest moving, and without a thought, I lifted my gun and shot him. Repeatedly. His body jerked on the grass, and I kept shooting until the chamber was empty, then tossing the gun away.

Evie was still on the ground, and I dropped to my knees, gathering her in my arms and turning her gently. Blood spread along the left side of her, soaking her shirt and cardigan. I grappled with the image of her in front of me. Of how pale she was. Knowing that if she was gone, if my child was taken as well, this world would no longer hold any place for me. A life without Evie and my daughter was not one I would be able to face.

I began talking, crying, begging all at once, my hands never stopping in their movement over her.

“Don’t leave me, Evie. God, don’t leave me…”

“I have you, baby. Help is coming. Stay with me…”

“Please, God, don’t take her. Please…”

“Evie, open your eyes. I’m here. I love you…”

“You were so brave, baby…”

“Please, God…”

Marcus appeared beside me, pushing my hands out of the way and pulling down her cardigan.

“It’s below her shoulder, Matteo.” He grabbed my arm. “She’s unconscious, not dead.”

“The blood,” I mumbled, unable to think clearly. “So much blood.”

“There always is,” he said. “You know that. Listen. The ambulance is here. Can you hear it? She’s going to be fine. They are both going to be fine.”

I wasn’t sure either of us believed his words. But I held on to them with everything in me.

Evie

I awoke gradually, my head aching, my body on fire, and the strangest sensation in my arm. My eyes opened, blinking in the dim light. I was surrounded by machines that beeped and whirled. I frowned, confused. Why did heaven look like a hospital room?

I looked over and discovered the source of the strange sensation. Matteo was asleep, his hand wrapped around mine, his cheek resting on my forearm. My arm and hand were numb from the weight of his head. In the corner, Marcus slumbered, his large frame taking up most of the small sofa.

“Am I dreaming?” I asked, my voice low, raspy, and confused.

Matteo’s head shot up, and Marcus pushed out of his chair, hurrying toward the door.

Tags: Melanie Moreland Men of Hidden Justice Romance
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