Page 76 of Grim

The words had barely left his mouth when a gunshot rang out. Seconds later, he dropped to the floor with a hard thud. Derek immediately started scooting back as he pleaded, “Wait! Stop!”

There was a second gunshot, and Derek fell dead right next to me.

I couldn’t move.

I couldn’t breathe.

I was absolutely petrified as I lay there listening to the sound of footsteps coming towards me. I braced myself as I awaited my fate, and just when I thought my end had come, I felt his hand on my shoulder, “Baby, it’s me.”

“Lawson?” I glanced over my shoulder, and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest when I saw his handsome face. “Oh, my God. It’s really you.”

“Yeah, baby. It’s really me.” I sat up and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly. “It’s okay. I’ve got ya.”

I couldn’t hold back my tears as I muttered, “You killed them.”

“Yeah, I did.” He showed little emotion as he added, “They were trying to hurt you, and there’s no way I was gonna let that happen.”

He looked down at me with worry in his eyes. “You’re gonna have to tell me what the hell is going on. What are you doing here?”

“I came to get the bag.”

“I’m gonna need more than that, babe.”

He stood there waiting for me to explain, but I was having a hard time forming the words. The past few hours had been the worst of my life, and just thinking about the moment Delgado ripped Luna from my arms brought tears to my eyes. “He’s got Luna, and it’s the only way I can get her back.”

“Who’s got Luna?” Just thinking about her out there alone, crying for me to come and save her broke my heart. I was overcome with guilt and struggled to keep it together. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I had to fight to keep myself from breaking down as I explained everything that had happened and why I’d come to Jimmy’s. When I’d told him everything, I added, “I know it sounds crazy, but it was the only thing I knew to do.”

“You could’ve come to me.”

“I thought I could handle it, but clearly, I thought wrong.”

He brought his hand up to my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “Do I mean something to you?”

“Yes, of course you do.”

“Then, you come to me. No matter what.”

I nodded, and then we both got to our feet. Lawson leaned down and kissed me on the forehead as he whispered, “We’re gonna get her back. You have my word on it.”

He grabbed the duffle bag and led me out of the room. As we started down the hall, I glanced behind me and asked, “What about them?”

“I’ll take care of it.”

I thought back to the day he and his brothers killed Jimmy and Steven. They’d torched Steven’s entire house, and I hoped they would do the same with Jimmy’s. I’d always hated this house, and I hated the men inside even more. Seeing it burned to the ground would be nothing more than a relief.

When we got out to his truck, Lawson opened the door and waited as I got inside. I paused and studied him for a moment, then asked a question that I doubted he would answer. “How did you know I was here?”

“Best you didn’t know.”

“You tracked my phone or something, right?” When he didn’t answer, I let it go and asked, “So, what are we going to do now?”

“I’m taking you to the clubhouse.” He tossed the duffle bag in the back seat, then walked around and got inside next to me. “I’m gonna need you to tell Prez and Creed everything you told me. Can you handle that?”

“I’ll do anything if it means getting Luna back.”

“That’s what I needed to hear.”

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