Page 23 of Handcuffed By the Bounty Hunters

Cameron shoots one of Oberon’s guys in the leg and before the guy can recover, he steals his gun, too. Good, just like we were trained. No excessive force. Do not shoot to kill.

More gunfire rings out, the shots deafening. The very fact this asshole brought in so much firepower makes it clear he never had any intent of letting Penny live.

I come up behind another of his punks. Guy doesn’t even hear me approach, he’s so focused on aiming at Cameron across the clearing. I kick in his knee and he topples. His gun is in my hand before he even sees me. I use the handle to knock him unconscious, then spin around to take stock of my surroundings.

Clive Oberon is right in front of me, a handgun held steady in his grasp and leveled at my head.

Fuck.

“Put down the weapon,” he says in a cold voice.

I consider my options, but he lets off a warning shot at my feet. Asshole isn’t afraid to pull the trigger, and because of Penny’s story I know he has no qualms about murder.

Slowly, I set down the gun and raise my hands.

“Now,” he says, “where’s the girl and my files?”

I will never give up Penny. Maybe he sees it in my eyes, because he pulls the trigger.

The pain isn’t immediate. It’s like he pushed me. I stumble back and fall. The impact rocks through my body and I stare, unblinking, at the crisscrossing pine branches hovering between me and the sky.

Oberon steps into my line of sight. I stare down the barrel of his gun. He’s going to shoot me in the fucking face and there’s not a goddamn thing I can do about it.

Penny. I’ll never have the chance to get to know her, to love her. I won’t have the chance to explore this relationship building between us. With or without Cameron, I would’ve been fine with it. I would’ve been more than fine; I would’ve been overjoyed. A relationship with Penny and Cameron might be the only kind of relationship I can have.

It’s the only relationship I want.

A cruel smile plays on Oberon’s lips. His finger tightens on the trigger.

Suddenly, he stumbles back. His cruel smile transforms, his lips parting in shock, outrage. Then he topples out of my sight. I think he’s dead before he hits the ground, but I refuse to spend my last thoughts on this earth wondering what happened to Clive Oberon.

“Roark!” Cameron shouts.

Running footsteps. Cameron presses down on my chest. Fuck, that hurts. Blinding pain, right through my shoulder. My heart stutters, my brain wants to quit but I refuse to let go.

“Penny,” I say, my voice hoarse and too quiet even to my own ears.

Cameron stares into my face, his brows pinched in concern. “She’s on her way down, I told her the coast is clear.”

I don’t know how much time passes. All I can think about is how I’m not ready to leave. My life started yesterday when I met Penny. I need more than one night with her.

“Roark, I’m here.” Penny is leaning over me, too.

They’re talking. Something about Ironwood, an ambulance.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay,” Penny says, tears streaming down her cheeks. “You’re going to be okay, Roark.”

I have my doubts. Already darkness is creeping in. If I live through this, I’m not holding back. I’ll be all-in, if she’ll have me. No matter what that looks like, I’ll do it.

“Stay with us,” Penny says, kissing my forehead.

I wish I could.

9

Roark

Aweek goes by. Penny and Cameron both come to visit me in the hospital. I think Penny even stays the night, but it’s hard to tell because the hours bleed into each other. Day and night have very little meaning.

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