Chapter 47
Now
The guys hang back as I head in on my own. We parked the truck and the bikes far enough away that the roar of the engines wouldn’t signal our presence and ruin our element of surprise.
The narrow path that leads up to the farmhouse is half a mile from where we parked. Sticking close to thicket of trees to the left for cover, I approach the house, noting the dark grey van from yesterday parked up out front.
A gunshot rings out from inside, followed by a scream.
Kaia.
Reaching for my gun, I round the back of the house, finding the back door unlocked. I head inside the house, the sound of voices guiding me where to go. I hope I’m not too late.
Taking the stairs two at a time, careful to avoid the loose floorboards, I raise my gun out in front of me.
Crossing the landing, I peer around the corner into one of the bedrooms. The first thing I see is Watson lying on the floor, a pool of blood leaking onto the bare floorboards beneath him, his hands clutching his abdomen.
I catch his eye and I signal for him to stay quiet.
“You wanna know what happens to women who pull that shit on me, you fucking bitch?” Naylor spits.
Rounding the corner, I flick off the safety of my gun, aiming it directly at Naylor’s forehead, right between his eyes. “Kick my girl and it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”
She’s lying on her side on the floor with her back to me, Naylor’s boot raised in the air, ready to strike her, the sight has white-hot rage burning through my veins.
His eyes meet mine, his mouth twitching with a grin.
He’s be waiting for this. He’s been waiting for me to come.
He drops his foot and takes a handful of Kaia’s hair, dragging her to her feet.
He pulls her towards him so her back is plastered to his front.
His arm bands around her shoulders, keeping her fixed against his body, in his other hand is a knife.
A knife he’s holding way too close to her.
My eyes zone in on the deep bruise blooming across her cheek, the sight of it has me clutching the gun tighter, my finger twitching as it rests against the trigger.
Relief floods her features for a split second before fear takes over. “Killian, it’s a trap! He wanted you to come for me.”
My eyes soften as they hold hers. “I’ll always come for you, butterfly.”
All I want is to hold her. Kiss her. Beg her to give me another chance and never leave me. My life is meaningless without her because that’s what her love has given me. Meaning. Purpose.
Without it, without her, I’m nothing.
“It’s been a long time, killer.” Naylor’s voice snags my attention.
My stomach clenches. That nickname alone has the power to transport me back to feeling like a scared teenager all over again. But I refuse to give him any more of myself. I refuse to give him any more control of my life.
He’s my past. She’s my future. Her and our baby.
“Not long enough.”
He narrows his eyes on me. “Is that any way to greet someone after twelve years?”
“As I said, not long enough.”
“You look good, killer. Beard suits you. Very…mature.”
“I’m not that naive teenage kid anymore.” My eyes dip to the knife in his hand, the closeness of the blade to Kaia has my heart in my throat. “Let’s cut the bullshit small talk, yeah?”
“Shame. I was looking forward to catching up, hearing what you’ve been up to since I last saw you.”
“Tell you what, you drop the knife, I’ll drop my gun and we can talk all you like?” I suggest.
“Not a chance, killer.”
“Fine. Well, I’m here. Just like you wanted. Let Kaia go and we’ll settle this, just you and me.”
“Let her go? Why would I do that when I went to all this trouble to bring her here?”
To the right of me, Watson grunts in pain as he shifts his position on the floor.
“Hang in there, Watson,” I say, not taking my eyes off of Naylor for even a second. Even without the knife in his hand, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. “If anyone’s gonna kill you, it’s gonna be me. Not this sick sack of shit.”
“Please let me help my dad,” Kaia begs, her eyes tearing up as she looks across to her father, her brows pinched with concern. She tries to break away from Naylor’s hold, but he only holds her tighter.
He lowers his mouth, letting his lips brush the shell of her ear. “You’re staying right here with me, sweetheart. I still need you.”
There’s a hint of a smirk on his lips as he watches my face, gauging my reaction as his hand skims up and down Kaia’s body.
His closeness to her makes me want to vomit. Violently.
His eyes move to me. “You know I spent so many hours picturing the moment I’d come face to face with you again.
Wondering how it would play out, the things I’d say, the things I’d do…
I’ve had a decade to plan it all out. But then I find out about this little beauty right here.
” He strokes Kaia’s hair back. “It was a nice touch fucking the warden’s daughter. I’m impressed. She sure is a beauty…”
Kaia sucks in a breath as Naylor’s hands wander again, her body locking up.
“I wouldn’t,” he warns as I take a step towards them, hating the sight of his hands on her body. “Sure is a shame I can’t do the same. The three of us could have had so much fun together. But you took that from me.”
“And I don’t regret it for a moment. Probably saved hundreds of people from the same sick shit you did to me.
How’s that working out for you, by the way?
Must be frustrating getting turned on and not being able to do anything about it.
” I don’t bother to try and hide the satisfaction in my voice.
I’m trying to get a rise out of him, get him riled up enough that he makes a mistake I can use to get Kaia away from him.
But if I play this wrong, I could be putting the woman I love in even more danger than she’s already in.
“I’ve found other ways of fulfilling my needs, don’t you worry. She’s definitely as sweet as she looks, don’t you agree? I can see why you’re so… enamoured with her.”
“Get your fucking hands off her,” I grumble.
His hand slides down her side and over her stomach, sinking further until he cups her between her legs. “And now I’ve had a little taste, I don’t think I wanna let her go.”
Kaia cringes. Her eyes dropping to the floor tells me everything I need to know.
He’s had his hands on her. He’s touched her.
“You fucking bastard,” I snarl. My body vibrates with so much rage my finger tightens on the trigger. It would be so easy to pull the trigger and end him, but I can’t put Kaia at that much risk. She’s too close and I could easily hit her.
“I was gonna torture you. Hurt you like you hurt me, really drag it out. Instead, I’m just gonna kill her and make you watch.”
“No!” I shout.
“Figure that ought to hurt just as good, if not more. Better yet…” With one arm locked across her chest, he drags the blade in his free hand down the valley of her breasts, coming to a stop at her belly, the tip of the knife pointing at my unborn baby.
“I think maybe I’ll start here. Such a shame you’ll never get the chance to see your kid. ”
“No!” Panic laces her voice as Kaia’s eyes widen on me. “Killian, shoot him.”
“Shut up.” Naylor snaps.
“Do it. Shoot him!”
“I said shut it!” Naylor shouts next to her ear, the harshness making her flinch.
“Naylor! You’re a fucking dead man where you stand. You hurt her or my baby I swear to God, I’ll make it hurt more than me hacking off your dick ever did.”
Naylor chuckles. “I have no doubt, but first it’s your turn.”
“No!”
Before I can register, Kaia tosses back her head into Naylor’s face, his nose getting the full force of the blow.
His head snaps back, the blood already beginning to pour from his nose.
The knife at her belly falls away, allowing her to break free and the second she’s safely out of the way, I pull the trigger.
The gunshot echoes through the room, the bullet lodging itself into his left shoulder and he drops to his knees with a loud thud.
In her hurry to get away, Kaia stumbles, but not before I catch her. She falls into me, my arms wrapping around her instinctively, ignoring the pain in my ribs as I hold her close.
“Fuck, butterfly,” I sigh, burying my face in her neck, in her hair, breathing her in.
Behind her, Naylor lets out a grunt. I look up over the top of her head. Fresh crimson blood blooms across his chest, soaking into his shirt.
I peer back down at Kaia, pressing a kiss to her forehead, letting my lips linger there for a long moment. “Go to your father, butterfly.”
I release her and she hurries to her father while I turn my attention to Naylor.
She drops to her knees beside him. “You’re gonna be fine,” I hear her assure him, but there’s a waver in her voice, likes she’s not entirely convinced herself.
“You gonna kill me, killer?” Naylor coughs as I close the gap between us, kicking the knife that lays beside him on the floor out of his reach.
For the first time in a long time, my body doesn’t react to hearing that nickname, because seeing him as defeated and powerless like this, the weight it once held has lifted.
“Eventually,” I reply. “Gonna have a little fun first.”
I reach down, pressing my thumb into the wound on his shoulder. He lets out a deep guttural groan, like he’s holding himself back from crying out. I press deeper, digging my thumb into the bullet hole, twisting it, making it hurt and enjoying every fucking second of his pain.
He wheezes, each breath long and laboured.
“That’s for putting my girl and my baby at risk you sick piece of shit.” Pulling back my arm, I swing, putting as much force into the hit as I possibly can as the butt of my gun cracks across Naylor’s face. “And that’s for me. It’s not nearly enough, but it’s a start.”
With my boot, I kick his chest and he falls flat on his back.
I pull out my phone, typing out a quick text to the group.
Me: Kaia’s safe. Gonna need a hand taking out the trash.
I pocket my phone and head for Kaia and her father.