Page 109 of Tempting God

If this man thinks he can use me, he has another thing coming!

My gaze darts around the room. The nearest item I can use is an iron fire poker. I leap without thinking, grabbing the poker. Walt’s eyes widen in surprise as I lunge for him, hitting the wrist of the hand holding the gun. He cries out, dropping the gun, and I kick it across the floor.

“You stupid bitch!”

He swings at me, but I strike him in the gut with the poker.

“Get the hell out of my house,” I scream.

I swing again, hitting his shoulder. He cries out in ire and maybe even in pain, but he retreats toward the garage door. Victory courses through me. I did it!

But then the front door opens, and Grant runs in. His expression turns murderous when he takes in the scene. But he doesn’t realize that Walt is near the gun.

I run across the room at the same time someone slams into me, knocking me over. I groan when a fist slams into my stomach and then against my face.

Spittle sprays over me as Walt says, “You should have just let me kill you the easy way.”

“Never!”

He strikes me again and then suddenly he’s off me. Grant pulls me to my feet, holding me close.

“Baby, are you okay?”

I don’t get to reply because Walt slams into Grant, and both men fall to the floor, nearly taking me with them.

Walt says, “I’m going to kill you, Carter!”

Grant kicks Walt off him and both men get to their feet. Horror spreads through my entire body. The gun is right in front of Walt. He sees it and reaches for it.

Grant holds up his hands. “Easy, Ryans. No need to do this in front of my wife.”

Walt sneers, “Shut up! I’m the one in charge. Walk outside, and we’ll make this nice and easy.”

Grant meets my gaze. I silently beg him not to do this. He gives me a small smile and then walks outside. I’m so busy watching him I don’t see Walt approach.

He backhands me across the face and says, “My condolences on the loss of your husband.”

He then follows Grant. I rush to the door and see Walt ordering Grant into the back of an SUV. Grant gets in, keeping his hands where Walt can see them. A moment later, Walt gets in the driver’s seat and takes off.

Crying out, I run upstairs, grabbing my phone. Hendrix’s phone goes right to voicemail, so I dial the only person I can think of.

Charles answers on the first ring. “What in the hell is going on at your house? I received a call that I needed to get over there immediately.”

“How close are you?”

“I’m turning onto your street now.”

I end the call, rushing downstairs. By the time I get to the front door, Charles is parking.

When he sees me, his eyes widen, horror etched across his face. “What in the hell happened, Greer?”

“Walt Ryans attacked me. He attacked Brooks Henderson, too. I think something happened to Hendrix because he’s not answering his phone.”

“Where’s Grant?”

“Walt made him go outside, and they left in his SUV. He had a gun, Charles, and I don’t think Grant did.”

Charles says, “I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry. Now, I need you to go somewhere safe. Can you drive to my house?”

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