Page 104 of Wanted

I shrug noncommittally.

We set out again on our final loop. I think about sending Jude a message, but I don’t want to interrupt, and with how we left things, the time apart will probably do him some good to process his thoughts.

I don’t want to rush into anything he isn’t ready to, and I’m content with waiting. I just wish I could tell him not to overthink what Aiden said.

We’re near the pond when Aiden casts his gaze in the distance.

“Did you hear that?”

I strain to listen for something other than the rustle of dead leaves on the ground and the birds chirping.

“I don’t think I hear anything.”

The snap of a twig underlines my statement.

“Who’s there?” Aiden calls. Ashe and Remy stand still, ears tall and fur raising on their backs.

Dillon steps out from behind a thick oak, swinging his arm in our direction. I don’t immediately understand what’s in his hand until the sun glints off the slate barrel. The hairs on my neck rise, and goose bumps break out over my flesh.

“Don’t fucking move.”

“Whoa…” Aiden slowly eases in front of me, hands raised placatingly at Dillon. Remy crawls behind his legs and growls. “Hey man, put the gun down.”

My eyes widen, shifting between the gun and Aiden. Shock renders me speechless. I cover my mouth with my hands, still clutching the leash.

“Step away from her,” Dillon orders.

“Like hell I will.”

Dillon rolls his head back and scoffs. “Where did you find these fuckers, Frankie? Not one of them seems to have a fucking brain.”

“Please put the gun away.” I find my voice then and step away from Aiden. He doesn’t deserve to get caught up in my mess. It would kill Jude if something happened to his brother.

“You did this, Frankie, not me.” Dillon waves the gun, first shoving it in my direction before pointing it at himself. I flinch as he stabs the barrel into his chest, bracing for an accidental shot. Ashe crouches and growls at my feet. “We’re all out here in the middle of fucking nowhere because of you.”

While he tips his head to rant and rave at the sky, I study him. This isn’t anywhere close to the guy I used to know. The one who I spent days with while scraping together spare pennies, discussing plans to leave Minnesota behind us. The one who dropped down on one knee and proposed while a grin split his face because he finally found us an opportunity to sustain ourselves. This version is disheveled and worn down. The past few weeks have been unkind. The purple circles beneath his eyes are more pronounced, and his hair holds enough grease to slick the strand away from his face. His skin is broken out, as if he hasn’t been able to maintain proper hygiene and take care of himself.

“What happened to you?” I ask softly. I feel Aiden watching me out of the corner of his eye.

He swings the gun at me again. “You. You fucking happened to me.”

“You could have gone to California without me. I don’t know why you’re here.”

“There’s no California without you. How don’t you fucking get that?” His eyes narrow as if he’s waiting for something.

Something I still can’t remember.

“Then explain it to me.” Keeping my voice gentle when I want to vomit isn’t an easy task. The words shake on their way out. I grip the leash tighter, keeping Ashe close to my side. I have to protect her as much as I have to protect Aiden and myself.

If I can keep Dillon engaged and focused on me, I can delay whatever it is he has planned.

The thought that immediately follow sends a sinking feeling to my stomach.

Aiden and I are on our own in this. Jude and his brothers are going to be gone for hours. Nobody is expected to check in on us. Unless one of us can get away, we’re stuck at the end of Dillon’s gun.

But he isn’t a killer.

He wouldn’t do something like that.

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