Chapter 25
Summer
Footsteps fall on the floorboards above the basement. They move back and forth outside the locked door. Hopefully that means Kurt and Travis are taking the bait.
“Keep going,” Violet encourages in a whisper.
I try to imagine childbirth as I commit to our play. Or at least the version they always show in the movies. With lots of frantic nervousness and loud wails. Sucking in a deep breath, I scream as loud as I can. “It hurts. It hurts so much. I think I’m losing my babies.”
From the top of the steps Dawson shoots me a thumbs up as the footsteps move more determinedly. They stop directly outside the door.
There’s a scraping sound—they must have put something in front of the door to jam it closed—and then it opens.
Kurt fills the space, the scent of automotive grease, metal, and cigarettes preceding him. “If you don’t shut the fuck up—”
His eyes bulge as Dawson lunges at him. There’s a scuffle as they both grapple for the upper hand.
Violet grabs my arm with both hands, her nails curling into my flesh. “Dawson, be careful.”
The blows come to a sudden stop with Dawson’s hand around Kurt’s throat. It’s followed by a loud crack from Kurt’s head slamming into the wall.
Kurt goes limp.
The stairs creak under Dawson’s heavier steps, as he brings Kurt down into the basement. He drops him on the floor.
“Is he dead?” Violet is shaking and her breath is too rapid. She’s going to hyperventilate.
“I don’t know.” I’m not about to check for a pulse. We need to get out of here. Every second counts.
“He’s unconscious. Let’s get a move on before he comes to.” Dawson runs back up the stairs and leaves the basement. He’s back almost immediately, curling his fingers and beckoning us to follow. “Coast is clear.”
I rush for the stairs, dragging Violet with me. We run up them together, the light from the exit guiding us.
Travis is still in the house somewhere and Kurt could come to at any moment. The others could be back soon too.
“Ready?” Dawson asks as he looks around the next corner on our way through the house.
“We need to be careful, quick, and quiet,” I tell Violet. The only thing that matters is getting out of here.
Violet nods.
Dawson leads the way through the house he knows better than we do.
He stops when we reach the living room we were in earlier.
Puts his hand up to indicate we should do the same until he’s certain we can make it to the front door.
“You girls get out of the house and straight to my truck. Summer, take the backseat. I have a rifle…”
He remembers I can shoot.
“It might be necessary if we run into them on the way out.” Dawson flicks two fingers indicating we should follow and begins to move again.
I shepherd Violet between me and Dawson.
When I decided to make these men who hurt me when they were boys pay, I saw them as they used to be.
I didn’t expect to need a gun to be safe.
They’ve gotten much worse in the years I’ve been gone.
I have the aim, but would I be able to kill one of them if it came down to it?
Let’s hope we can get out of here before I need to find out.
Dawson reaches the door. He yanks it open.
As Violet and I cross the threshold, Travis’s voice makes my blood run cold. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Run!” Dawson bellows, turning to face Travis.
The sound of them fighting follows us across the yard.
Violet gains speed. She’s almost to the car. But then it grows quiet and my feet falter. I twist around. Travis has one hand on Dawson’s left shoulder. And his gun pointed at his right temple.
“No.” My heart skips a beat. Time slows.
Violet must have turned back too, because she lets out a broken, “N-no.”
“It’s okay, Violet.” His gaze locks on hers then he focuses on me. “Get in the car. Don’t look back.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Travis barks. “Now, back in the house. Or I’ll shoot him.”
Headlights bounce over us from far down the driveway.
Are Duke and Kyle coming back? No, Duke told Kyle to deal with Violet’s shop. Duke then. It has to be.
“Go!” Dawson shouts as he shoves an elbow into Travis’s gut and grabs for the handgun.
“Go!” I scream at Violet, breaking into a run.
Violet slams into the car. Racing around it, she throws open the door and starts to climb in.
I reach the backseat. Yank open the door and retrieve Dawson’s firearm.
Bang.
My heart staggers. My heavy breaths are the only thing I hear as I spin around scared of what I will find. Safety off, I level the gun at where the two men were fighting. Please, please, please be okay, Dawson.
The vehicle makes it to the top of the driveway. Duke.
Dawson stumbles. His knees collapse under him. He lands heavily in the dirt.
My breath comes in short, sharp, continuous bursts. I can’t… catch it. Can’t spot the wound I fully expect him to have. Did he not get shot or…?
A small red stain appears low on the front of his shirt. With growing horror, I watch it spread in an ever widening circle. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Should have done it a long time ago.” Dawson turns ashen as he touches the crimson spot and his fingers come away bloody. “I let you girls down.”
“No,” Violet’s voice is full of fear.
Kurt comes out of the house at the same time Duke gets out of his car. He levels his rifle at me.
“You two couldn’t keep a couple of women and my idiot brother contained for thirty fucking minutes?” Duke turns his back on his brother and marches toward us. He doesn’t seem bothered by the state Dawson is in. “Get out of the car, Violet. You aren’t going anywhere.”
Violet cries out, but she does as he ordered.
Only then does he turn his judgemental gaze on Dawson. “You’re a traitor.”
As much blood as he’s losing, as pale as he’s turned, Dawson lifts his chin. “You’ve gone too far.”
“You would think that,” Duke says to him before he takes the rifle from me.
He leans in as though to confide in me. “I convinced him what we did to you was a matter of miscommunication. You told us you wanted it, then you changed your mind… but how were we supposed to know that when you were so drunk, you were slurring your words.”
“So sorry, Summer.” Dawson is panting. His blood is dripping onto the ground, mixing with the dust. His eyelids are growing heavier. “I’m sorry.”
It’s not okay that he chose to believe the lies Duke spread about me. If I was too drunk to speak straight that should have been enough for him to know I was telling the truth. But I can accept his apology and that he’s tried to help us tonight. “I forgive you.”
“Isn’t that sweet?” Duke drawls. “Now, let’s move this reunion back inside the house. Summer, if you don’t want to see a man die in front of you tonight…”
Violet’s hand finds mine and clings.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing a dead man.” I glare at Duke. “If it was you.”
He chuckles. “You know… we were going to kill you that night. We’d talked about it for weeks. Planned it. First, we’d take turns. Then we’d kill you. We had the perfect place to bury you picked out.”
Holy shit. If Owen hadn’t come… that bathroom floor might have been the last thing I saw. I wouldn’t have survived the hellish gossip in Devil’s Bend. I would never have moved to L.A.
I wouldn’t have met Rebel. Wouldn’t have fallen in love. I never would have learned how strong I was or found a place I belong.
I wouldn’t have gotten to experience a rich, full life… or get married… or start a family…
Even if that’s all I get, I’ve been far luckier than I ever realized.
“March,” Duke orders.
I stand my ground. If I go back in that house without a fight, I’m probably not coming back out.
“Summer,” Violet says when she moves and I don’t.
“Move slut,” Duke orders.
This can’t be it. The last time I saw Rebel, can’t be the last time we’re together. Thinking of Rebel hurts my heart. Our babies. If they kill me… The air is stolen from my lungs. My knees almost go out from under me.
“Fine. Don’t.” Duke turns the weapon on Violet.
“No,” Dawson roars, fighting to get back on his feet. But Travis holds him down easily.
Bang.
Gaze glued to Violet, I hold my breath as I wait for her to crumple. But she stays standing.
There’s a thunder in my ears that grows louder and louder. It confuses the scene I can’t make sense of even more.
Dawson topples sideways, clutching at his shoulder.
“Dawson.” It comes out a whisper. Is he still alive? Please don’t be dead. “You shot your own brother?”
The trucks cadence is familiar. Owen’s truck engine. There have been so many times I’ve heard it come up the driveway at Heart Ranch and known it was Owen without laying eyes on him.
My brothers are coming for me. For Violet. For us. The utter despair that tried to take me out a second ago lightens as hope, like Owen’s spotlights, shines on me.
“Fucking hell.” Duke’s expression turns sour and twisted. He shakes his head and pokes his gun into my back. “Your brothers… again?”
“They’re going to kill you.” And I’m not going to stop them. A calmness falls over me.
“Hurry up,” he shouts at Travis and Kurt. “Forget about him. Get them in the fucking house.”
Violet tugs on my hand and I stumble forward,
“No.” I shake my head. He shot his own brother. He’s going to kill me. I cover my belly with my free hand. I can’t let that happen. “No.”
“Stupid bitch,” Duke snarls at me. His eyes widen. The brightest light bathes the scene. I can’t see.
Bang.
Blinding like a spotlight.
Bang.
Violet screams. Instinctively I flatten myself on the ground. Violet does too. Hands over her head she whimpers as more bangs follow.
Men yell and cuss. All their voices are familiar. My brothers. Rebel.
Something heavy falls on top of us. Sticky heat spreads over my back. Violet screams.
Everything stops. It’s quiet. Car doors bang. Heavy steps cover the ground.
“He’s dead,” Owen’s grumbling voice reaches my ears.
“Travis too.” Burke uses his boot to nudge his lifeless body. His eyes are wide open, unseeing.