Chapter 31 #2
“I really do dislike cops,” Spider says, rubbing Kitrick’s blood between his fingers and examining it like it’s toxic. “This one did a good job. Even had me fooled.” Kitrick groans in pain, seemingly unable to form sentences. “Now, did you warn Colt or not? A simple yes or no makes this all stop.”
Kitrick swallows, the thick column of his throat shining with sweat. He fixes his eyes on me and blinks a few times before spitting blood at Spider’s feet.
“Go fuck yourself.”
I have to close my eyes as Spider returns the knife to Kitrick’s already-torn flesh. He roars in agony, and the slap of flesh hitting the ground makes me heave. I cover my mouth with the back of my hand, squeezing my eyes closed.
“Oh dear, Kitrick,” Spider says. “You might need a doctor. Lucky for us, we have one!”
My head snaps up as Sebastian is dragged into the room by one of Eli’s men. He’s battered and bruised and shoved to his knees in front of the pile of Kitrick’s flesh.
“Now,” Spider says decisively. “There’s a rumor going around about you, Denver. Confirm or deny it for me.” He places his knife on the dining table and picks up a gun. “Is it true you killed your husband while he was on his knees?”
I scream when he shoots Sebastian in the shoulder. Sebastian shouts, pressing his forehead into the ground as he breathes through the pain.
“Fucker!” I scream.
Spider remains totally calm, spindly fingers twisting the gun in his hand. “Answer the question, Deluxe.”
“Yes!” I hiss. “I killed him on his knees, just like I’ll do to you!”
He chuckles. “My, my. You women really do want everything now, don’t you? Husbands, children, the ability to get away with murder. What a time we live in.”
Colt, where are you? How long has it been since Sebastian walked into this house?
“We’re going to play a little game.” Spider strides over to me, gripping my forearm and dragging me to my feet.
He pulls me to stand in front of Kitrick and Sebastian, tugging my back to his chest and putting the gun in my hands, his fingers securing mine in place.
“It’s called Who Survives?” He chuckles in my ear, smacking his lips together as I tremble in his hold.
“Who survives this night, Denver? Our cop, Kitrick. Our doctor.” He groans softly.
“Or you and your baby.” I struggle and whimper as his arms tighten around me.
“Only two of you will walk away. And you have my word, Denver, that whoever you choose will walk out those doors.”
“Liar,” I whisper.
He tuts in my ear. “Denver, this is my final opportunity to torture you. I was never going to sell you to anyone less than Sal Sinclair, and he’s clearly dead, so what other fun can I have?
Choose, Denver.” He shifts the gun in Kitrick’s direction.
“He’s dedicated two years of his life to saving women.
Saved a lot of them, too, I’m guessing. Gave up his reputation and let everyone in his life believe he turned, all so he could infiltrate my home and fuck up my business.
What a good guy, right?” Tears run down my face as he forces the gun in Sebastian’s direction.
“A doctor. Saved more lives than probably even he knows. Came here to save you. What a kind soul.” I whimper as he points the gun under my chin.
“What have you offered to society, Denver Robin DeLuca? What good have you done?” His other hand wraps around my waist, his hand splayed across my stomach.
“But what good could your baby do? He’s never done anything, has he?
He was just unfortunate enough to be spawned by a woman like you. ”
I close my eyes, tears falling down my face.
“Why should you get to live?” Spider hisses in my ear.
“You killed your husband. Holden Hayes. Ethan Defender died because he made the mistake of fucking what belonged to Ranger Luxe. Axel is dead because you pissed. Me. Off. Do you really deserve to live just because you got knocked up?” He moves the gun from my chin.
“Like I said, this isn’t going to be your happily-ever-after, Denver. I’ll make sure of it. Fucking. Choose.”
“Say the word, Denver.”
I’m thrown back almost two years. The night of my birthday. The night that changed absolutely fucking everything. When I pulled the trigger and ended my husband’s life to save my own.
I can feel that awful stone floor. The dampness that clung to the walls. The sounds of the CCTV footage as Wyatt mocked me. Told other women he loved them. Said I was never meant to be a mother.
Ranger’s voice in my ear.
His manipulations, his lies. I was surrounded by men who lied to me. Used me to their advantage.
Always taking.
Taking from me.
Taking everything from me.
Not anymore.
“Fine,” I whisper. I pull back the hammer and point the gun at Sebastian.
Spider laughs, and the sound is wet and thick in his throat. “I heard you were cold, Deluxe, but this is almost impressive!”
I breathe fast, focusing on Sebastian. My friend doesn’t flinch. He simply looks at me, and despite the pain he must be in, he relaxes. Calm washes across his features, and I tense my finger on the trigger.
And jerk the gun up.
The bullet slams into Eli’s chest, and Spider lets out a roar of anger.
Eli’s men shout as their boss is tossed back—not dead, but injured, by the looks of where the blood is seeping through his shirt.
I use all my strength to push Spider’s arm higher as he fires the gun again, the second bullet thudding into the ceiling, plaster dust scattering across us.
Wrenching myself from Spider’s hold, I seize the knife from the table.
Spider punches me so hard that lights burst behind my eyes. I drop the knife, the weapon skidding across the floor as my back hits the table.
“Cunt!” he screeches and lunges for my neck. I scratch and claw, knowing I’ve already gone too far to walk this back and protect either of us, and Spider tosses me onto the floor. The air leaves my lungs, and I part my lips, trying desperately to breathe.
I blink through the pain in my face and meet Sebastian’s eye. He’s trying to get to me, trying to stand.
The first mouthful air I pull into my lungs is followed by Kitrick seizing the knife I dropped. He cuts himself free in a swift, rapid movement, and, soaked in blood and sweat, he rises.
But he doesn’t go for Spider or the other men.
No, Kitrick goes for the side of the room and snatches up his phone.
He presses something and motors whirr, the shutters shooting up, light blasting into the room. I shield my eyes as the darkness is banished, particles of dust twisting in the air.
Glass smashes.
My eyes widen as bullets slam into Eli’s men.
I’ve never seen an impact so devastating, bodies flung back by the power of a single bullet. The windows give, glass collapsing into the room as more bullets are fired and men are tossed back like rag dolls, blood bursting across the dining room walls.
Eli shouts as he goes down, his shoulder torn out by whatever weapon is saving us.
Spider’s head collapses. Blood, bone, and brain erupt from where he was standing, spitting across the dining table. He slumps to his knees.
“Denver.” Sebastian is by me, sweat dripping down his face.
Bullets are still flying, but now they’re beyond the windows and walls, orders being shouted across the property.
“We need to go.” He looks up as Kitrick comes to our side, taking the gun out of Spider’s hand.
His skin is raw, muscle visible where Spider dug deep.
“You both go,” Kitrick says.
I shake my head. “You’re coming with us. You can’t fight like that. And no one on Colt’s side knows who you are—they’ll shoot you.” Kitrick swears under his breath. “We’re staying together.”
Reluctantly, he nods. Sebastian is bleeding heavily from his shoulder too, but he grips my hand as we follow Kitrick out of the door that leads directly into the kitchen.
One of Eli’s men blanches when he sees us but raises his gun too late. Kitrick shoots him twice, and I snatch up the gun as we pass his body.
The weapon feels strange in my hand after so much time. Holding one with Spider hadn’t felt the same, but this … I feel safer. Stronger. I tighten my grip on Sebastian’s hand.
There are no other men in the kitchen, so we keep moving.
“You spoke to Colt?” I ask.
Kitrick nods. “He was trying to access the security system, but I knew he wouldn’t be able to do it.
I told him I’d raise the shutters, but before I could do it, Eli got to me.
” We open the door into the foyer where two men whirl on us.
Kitrick and I take them both out, the kickback from the gun tense against my palm.
The double doors into the home open, banging against the wall, and three men back into the room, guns drawn, firing at whoever is advancing on the property.
I kill two of them, blood pooling around their heads as they hit the ground. Kitrick takes out the third, and we go to the open doorway.
Fear grips my lungs as I take in the sight before me.
The gates are blown open, the bronze metal hanging from its hinges, smoke rippling from the small security office. Bodies litter the ground, and shots fire from all sides, punctured occasionally by shouted commands.
An early morning mist creeps across the grassy grounds, disturbed only by the line of armed men taking coordinated steps toward us. It’s a sea of black clothing, a wall of dozens of men taking out Eli’s security like they’re merely an inconvenience.
And in the center of those men is Colt. My husband. My everything.
Dressed all in black, a single gun in hand, he strides with total confidence into danger. He radiates calm, brow relaxed as he takes men out with the squeeze of the trigger, then moves to the next, then the next.
A smile spreads across my face, and I go to step forward, but Sebastian grips my wrist. It isn’t safe, I know it isn’t, but after nearly two months away from him, I’m so close. Every atom in my body is calling out to him, to cling to him, to finally feel fucking safe again.
A bang behind us has us all spinning and Sebastian pulling me to him.
A cry of relief leaves me when I see it’s Lewis.
My name is closer to a sigh on his lips, and I rush to him.
He cups my face, brow furrowed in concern and relief.
“You’re okay?” I nod quickly, and he presses his finger to his ear.
“I’ve got her.” He winces as if whoever responds shouts it.
“The foyer. Yes, she’s fine, she—” He rolls his eyes. “You don’t have to shout, Colt.”
I tug on Lewis’s shirt. “Is it safe to go out? Can I go out?”
He pauses as Colt is clearly bellowing in his ear. “She’s asking—” He tuts. “For fuck’s sake, can I talk? She wants to come out—” He scowls. “No.”
“No to me or no to Colt?” I ask, bouncing on my feet.
Lewis sighs. “He said you have to wait while they check the grounds are cleared.”
Frustration bubbles through me. “I don’t want to wait!”
I’ve waited weeks. I’ve been patient long enough.
Fuck this.
I spin on my heel and storm outside. Kitrick tracks me as I pass, and Sebastian asks what I’m doing while trying to take my hand before remembering his injuries and wincing.
The line of men has stopped moving, but Colt is still at the center, finger to his ear, looking back at the gate and giving instructions.
Taf is by his side, guns strapped to his hips, looking more terrifying than he ever has.
He runs his fingers through his blond strands, then spots me.
A grin quirks his lips, and he nudges Colt.
He faces me, and I can no longer control my breathing. This isn’t a dream, a hope, a prayer. He’s here. He’s really here.
He mouths my name—either from shock or frustration that I’ve gone against the one thing he’s asked of me—but I don’t care.
I break out into a run, a sob escaping my lips as my feet touch the gravel and I eat up the space between us.
He’s moving fast, his anger at my disobedience clearly melting away and making way for relief.
I don’t remember leaping into his arms, but then I’m in them.
My legs and arms are wrapped around him and I’m sobbing into his shoulder, clinging to him with what energy I have left.
The ache in my face is forgotten, taken over by the uncontrollable tears that pour down my face and wet Colt’s shirt.
“I’ve got you.” He says it twice, three times more, and every time the words leave his lips, a piece of me unravels further.
Because I’m safe now. I can fall apart, and he won’t leave a single shard behind that would have me feeling less than whole. He’ll collect every piece of me and put me back together again.
“You found me.” I can barely get the sentence out, each word punctuated by sobs.
“I’ll always find you, Del.” His arms are tight around me, loosening only a fraction so I can pull back and look at him. “I’ll always find you.”