Chapter 31
Last Kiss
Cash
My hand pressing into Duke’s back, I use him as a grounding force as we approach Callie’s bedroom door. It’s gotten quiet behind the door, and I don’t know what it means. I try to take a few deep breaths to calm my heart but it’s racing out of my chest at what we may find on the other side.
Duke reaches out to turn the knob and my senses are on high alert, for anything.
I can faintly hear cars out on the street.
I can feel my skin stretched over my muscles.
I can feel the flannel under my fingertips, the knife in my other hand, the handle slick with sweat.
I can smell the adrenaline rolling off us mixed with the sweet smell of Callie in the air.
I see Duke shaking under the weight of our actions.
Raising his gun, he pushes the door open, stepping through in a quick movement, finding nothing.
Looking around, he clocks the open bathroom door and the closed closet.
We move in lock step toward the closet. There’s shuffling and labored breathing behind the door.
Reaching out, his hand shaking so much he can barely grab the knob, Duke pulls the door open, gun raised in front of him.
Despite being on edge from the moment I realized what the text on Duke’s phone meant, I am not prepared for what we find.
The entire scene is thrown into stark relief, from Callie’s shaking, nearly naked form wearing only a short tank top and tiny sleep shorts, to the dark-haired man behind her, his hand wrapped tightly around her throat, a large knife pressed to her side.
I zero in on the blade as the tip presses against her, a tiny bead of red welling.
Her knees are knocking together, and she has both hands clamped over her mouth, fear in every line and shudder.
She whimpers and the man tightens his hand.
I can see the ligaments in his hand move slightly as he strains.
Tears are running down her cheeks, her hands covered.
“Oh, a fucking cowboy,” comes from the mouth of the man, disgust and anger twisting his features. He stares me in my eyes, completely having disregarded Duke as a non-threat. “You been fucking my wife, cowboy?”
Roger.
I can’t even formulate a reply to his words.
“Roger,” Duke breathes beside me. “Look at me, you goddamned coward. I’ve been fucking your wife. Look at me!”
Callie’s tears increase and her eyes start rolling.
“Don’t worry baby, you’re going to be fine. Okay, Hurricane, don’t worry.”
“Don’t speak to her!” Roger roars at me, before looking back at Duke. Tilting his head, he scoffs, “Oh you’re a dirty fucking whore, Callie. I should have known. Actually, I did know. Disgusting.”
Pointing his gun at Roger’s head, in a low and lethal voice, Duke says, “Take your hands off her.”
“She’s my wife. Just because she’s been here on both your dicks doesn’t mean she isn’t mine. Right, baby?” He rubs sweaty hair off her forehead before laying an angry kiss on her temple. Her eyes widen in fear before she winces.
Taking her hands from her mouth, her chin wobbles before she says, “Roger, just leave them. Roger. It’s okay. I’ll do whatever you want.” Her voice is hoarse as she tries to breathe. He continues to squeeze her throat until her eyes start to roll back, her eyelids heavy.
“Like I would want you after this. Dirty Cunt.” He bites her, hard, on her shoulder causing her to cry out.
I lose all semblance of control and step forward.
“I’m going to kill you, you fucking coward. Hiding behind a woman.” Knife out, I move toward him and Duke places a restraining arm around my middle.
“Just a pretty little piece of ass. A little fat for my taste.” He pinches her stomach, hard, and a pained whimper escapes her lips.
“Let her go.” The fury in Duke’s voice even makes me step back. He’s shaking, like a man holding a monster under his skin. “Now.”
“I will, I will. Let’s see if she can still keep you warm.
” And he slowly, so slow, slides the blade he has pressed to her side through her ribs.
Her eyes widen as he pushes. Time seems to stop as he continues his slow push until the long blade has disappeared into her side completely.
I hear boots stomping across the floor. He flings her limp body at me, and I catch her, sinking to the ground as I hear a single shot ring out in the small closet.
“No!” I scream as I crumble to the floor, the woman I love cradled in my arms. I feel Duke collapse next to me.
“Baby, Hurricane? Callie, please!” I crush her body to me, so warm, so soft.
I sob into her chest, the knife protruding from her side glaring at me, angry I didn’t do enough to save her. Blaming me.
“Caroline, please wake up baby girl, please.” I hear Duke, I see his blood-soaked hands feeling for a pulse, terror in his eyes. “Baby, please.” His voice cracks as he pleads with her prone body, running his hands over her neck, her face.
I feel a tap on my shoulder and look up into the eyes of a paramedic. I know him. My brain won’t tell me who he is though. I’m cold. My body shakes. My teeth are chattering.
“Cash, let me see her. Come on.”
I sob as I hug her body to me, feeling her blood soaking through my clothes, the puddle expanding on the floor around us.
“Cash, let her go,” Duke tells me, trying to move my fingers where I grip her. I look at him, my eyes wide. He looks shell-shocked, his face a mirror of my own. I release her and the paramedics lift her gently from my lap.
“Please be careful with her. Please,” I whisper through tears as pain rips through my chest. I lay back on the carpet as they take her away.
I roll my head to the side and see police have filled her room, one leaning over Roger, checking his pulse, as blood flows out of a single shot, in the center of his chest.
Sitting up, my head swims, my sight blurs, and I fall back to the carpet, everything going black.