Page 81 of Claiming Charlotte

“His mother was the first person I ever killed, Charlotte, she writhed under me too weak to fight,” he said in a mocking tone. “And now you're going to die, just like she did.”

I hoped he would kill me, then there would be no one to stop Rowan. And after he killed every last one of them, he could run. Run away and start over somewhere, love someone better; and safer.

“All you had to do was give me Anderson. You all could have gone home!”

My eyes threatened to close against the body on top of me, and my vision blurred. Drifting just on the edge of life and death something pulled me back; rather someone.

“Charlotte!” The panicked voice called out over the ear ringing screams and gunshots.

I realized then I was his safety, and he was mine, and I wasn't going down without a fight. I wouldn't be falling to Joshua Walker today. Today, his men would drop to their knees and beg for mercy as I emptied my piece into the back of every skull.

“I’m not scared of you, and you're not getting your hands on him,” I said with a choked breath.

My other hand wrapped around a rock, and I wheeled it to the side of his head knocking him off of me and out cold.

I rolled over and cried out over and over as I struggled to take in air, my abdomen was in excruciating pain, and deafness overcame me, hearing nothing but ringing; but I had to get up. My face throbbed as I held onto my bloodied nose and lip. He would wake up soon. I braced myself against the large container. Roe please be close. If I couldn't get to Rowan, I had to get close to someone. The world was spinning, and I fell to my knees in a sob. All of this over trying to do the right thing.

Feet approached my hazy vision, and I could hear one of my men trying to ask me questions. I tried to talk but I couldn’t, every time I swallowed, I felt a cracking in my esophagus. My mouth was dry, and I had nothing left to give right now. I just wanted Roe to take me home. I mouthed out Rowan's name, and he ran off. I laid down on the cement, letting exhaustion take over. Find me…

Rowan

I looked around in a panic for Lottie; Joshua was right where I wanted him, then I lost him, and my worst fear came to fruition as my eyes moved over her form lying on the concrete. Her face was bloodied, and she grabbed at her neck, but didn’t lift herself from the cement.

“Charlotte!” I yelled. She was no longer moving, her hand laid loosely at her side moving. Running as fast as I could, I collapsed to my knees and brought her to my chest giving her a small shake.

“Open those beautiful eyes, Princess, please.” I didn't hear the slowing of gunfire as everyone started to give up. Tears welled up in my eyes. “You're not allowed to leave, Lottie.”

I peered at her neck, it wasn't broken, just badly bruised. The hand marks were prominent, any longer and he would have killed her, but I could hear her shallow breaths. I was done fighting, Charlotte needed me; we were going home. Thomas, Arthur, and the others had this.

“Good girl, nice even breaths.” I whispered, bracing one arm under her legs and the other cradling her head.

Carefully, I rose from the ground and carried her toward the car, but a shout in the distance caught my attention too late. The bullet ripped right through my shirt and hit my side painfully, passing through each layer of skin. We almost made it. I tilted my head to the side and watched Walker's cowardly form take off with a sinister smirk. I silently commended Charlotte for the four gashes created in his ugly face.

I staggered leaning against the car and slid down, mindful not to drop Lottie.

“Roe,” she called out weakly. “Are we home?”

“No Princess, but it's over. I figured you would want to lay with me and watch the sunset before we did.”

We wouldn't be watching anything.

Not anytime soon.

She was starting to wake up and soon she would realize the situation, so I took her hand in mine and squeezed gently.

“Hey, Lottie?” I asked, choking back a painful sob.

“Why are you sad? I'm just tired. I'll be ok tomorrow.”

“Do you think if we had a chance to go back, and do it right the first time, would you have?”

“I wouldn't have changed anything between us Roe, I love you,” her voice crackled as she spoke, and I’d hoped she would let someone take care of her. If it couldn't be me. I could hear the wheezing through her words.

“Freedom would have been nice,” I breathed. I could feel my pulse slow, and my limbs become numb. “Freedom would have allowed me to love you longer.”

“What do you mean?”

I grunted in pain as I reached around to unclasp my chain and draped it loosely in her hand. Kissing her tired lips one last time, tears cascaded down my face and my head rested on the car door.

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