Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Ray got to his feet but he grunted.
“On the count of three ... one ... two ... three.”
They both moved in separate directions. Willow going out into the hallway, locating her phone. Her hand shook so badly that at first she couldn’t think. She couldn’t even get into her cell phone. When she finally did, she pulled up Cyrus’s number and it started to ring.
She cursed as it went to voicemail. Hanging up, she called again.
In the distance, she heard the sound of another gunshot and she froze. There was silence.
What had happened to Ray?
Fear ran down her spine. She tried to think. Only, thought had left as the guy with a gun suddenly appeared in front of her. The moment she looked at him, up close and personal, she recognized him. That day, several months back, the guy who had taken the girl. The girl had been signaling for help and doing it discreetly.
This man looked different. Gone was the clean-shaven face, and his eyes had a murderous intent as he looked at her. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know what to think.
But her cell phone went to voicemail again. Cyrus wasn’t picking up his phone.
On instinct, she lifted her hands up in the air, dropping her cell phone as she held them out, showing she was no threat.
“Please,” she said, hating that she was having to beg this man.
“You. You couldn’t leave your fucking fat nose out of my business. You had to act like a little fucking savior. The moment they took me in, I knew I was getting out. I was coming after you, and you’re going to die.”
Willow looked at him, and she knew if no one came to save her, she was going to wish for death long before he granted it.
“My ... boyfriend. He’s coming,” Willow said. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I know I don’t have to. There are a lot of things over the years that I didn’t have to do, but guess what? I did them because they were fucking fun. Now, what should I shoot at first? Your legs? Your arms?”
Willow gasped as he wasn’t able to get out another sentence.
At the same time, she heard a commotion as Cyrus, Daniel, Old Sheriff Billy, as well as several other men were close. Hank was there and George, and a couple of others that surprised her.
They were not in time, because Ray, who looked like he had seen a ghost, had snuck up on this man and thrust a blade deep into his neck, killing him. The moment the man dropped, Ray collapsed to the floor and Willow went to him. He had the gunshot wound at the shoulder, and it looked like he had another to his abdomen. He put his hand to his stomach, and Willow pressed on his wound.
“We need a medic,” Willow said.
The Reapers all responded and Cyrus was there. “Hey, man, what the fuck?”
“I wasn’t going to allow that shit to happen to your girl,” Ray said. “I fucked up before, not now.” He let out a cough.
Daniel moved closer.
Ray had saved her.
“I ... uh, I wanted to give you this.” Ray put a hand toward his jacket and then coughed. Willow helped him by reaching into his pocket. There was a single white envelope, now covered in blood. “I shouldn’t have—”
“Damn it, Ray. Shut the fuck up! He gets it. You’re sorry for the way shit went down, but you need to stop. You’ve been shot, and we all get it, okay? Just rest. Just stop and rest.”
They all attended to Ray. Several of the guys, including Old Sheriff Billy, dealt with the body of the guy who was shooting.
Within the hour, the body was gone and the guys were already starting to look at repairing the house.
Willow made her way to the kitchen and poured herself a tall glass of whiskey. Cyrus had a bottle. That was where he found her, drinking some whiskey.
“Are you okay?” Cyrus asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Do you want to come to the hospital?”
She took another sip of whiskey and nodded her head. “Yes.”
He went to her, cupping her face. “I’m sorry.”
Cyrus told her everything and Willow cupped his face and shook her head. “Stop. Stop worrying.”
“Babe, you ... that couldn’t have been easy.”
“I’m not nervous or scared about what happened to that guy. He hurt people. You’ve just told me that. He took on a new identity and continued to hurt people. For me, that’s not okay.” She let out a breath. “I don’t know if that makes me a good person or not. I don’t care that he’s dead. I’m glad. I thought he’d killed Ray and was going to kill me.” She stopped. “I’m worried about your brother.”
“Ray is going to be fine.” He pulled her into his arms.