Page 30 of Crossing Lines

“I’m going to kill you, slowly.” He moved closer. My heart was beating so hard my chest hurt. I had to protect this baby, no matter what.

“In your dreams, bozo. Fuck off before I have to beat you into submission—again.”

“You’re not so tough without your bat or that big meat head at your back, are you?”

Fucking hell.

“I’m not worried about me; I could beat your ass with my eyes closed.” The baby was crying even harder now. What should I do? What the fuck could I do? I was at a severe disadvantage. I couldn’t even reach for my goddamn gun because I was holding the baby. Why had I done this? Why had I put him in danger?

No, this was not my fault. I would not let this asswipe make me second guess myself.

He charged at me, with a crying baby in my arms! I spun, smacking him in the face with the bags hanging on my arm. His grunt as he hit the sidewalk made me grin. Jerk off! My cockiness cost me. He got up, and I didn’t see it until he hit my jaw, spinning me again. I hunched over, keeping the baby away from him. I carefully and quickly braced the baby against me with my bad arm, jerked up as his foot came at me, and dodged just in time.

I got in a lucky punch right to his nuts, or close enough that he cursed and dodged away. I was at a loss of what to do. I felt like I was spinning out of control. My head was buzzing, my stomach was churning, and all I could do was protect this baby in my arms.

“You stupid bitch!” As he spoke, his gun hand came up. I pulled my .45 from my back holster and fired off three rounds to his one. Fire burned through my shoulder, making me curse. The baby was screaming so loud now I couldn’t hear. I jerked up as he stumbled but bent over when he tried to hit me. I aimed for his legs, but dodging a foot coming at my face and bullets wasn’t that easy. I didn’t have a shot. I couldn’t do anything else, not while holding a screaming baby.

I did, however, lose my lunch. I was going to die while puking. Fabulous.

When a hand landed on my arm, I spun, trying to take his face off with the butt of the gun.

“Stel, it’s me. It’s me. Calm down.” Jacks stood there, murder on his face. “Where did he go?” I rasped out. My head was spinning. I needed to sit down. And I did, not that my body gave me a chance to actually do it. Nope, it took it upon itself to collapse onto the sidewalk. My knees were nothing but Jello.

“Hey, come on. You’re okay. Charlie and Lt. Dan went after him.”

“He tried to shoot me…” I sobbed. My eyes leaked whether I gave them permission to or not. He had hit me in some way or another. My shoulder was on fire, and I could feel warmth coating my shirt.

“Stella! Jesus. What the fuck happened?” Derek was at my side with a first aid kit. I sighed, but before I could say anything, another voice called out.

“Sissy! Sissy, what happened?” Carter was a little lopsided at first. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Then…nothing.

“Y’all, she’s fine, I assure you. The graze was small compared to what it could have been. It was about an inch thick. I got it cleaned, sewed up, and bandaged. Her hand is much better. Itdid get jostled in the fight—standoff, whatever it was. I removed the bandage, cleaned it, and rebandaged just her palm. She’ll have more movement now.”

“What about the baby?” I heard Dani Lynn’s voice.

“He’s fine. Not a scratch on him. He had a muddy hiney when he came in, and we took care of that too. He’s in the kitchen with Papa and Kaitlyn.”

“Well, that’s great, but I meantherbaby. Jesus, that sounded bad. I should have said babies.” Dani Lynn sounded upset.

I groaned as I tried to sit up. It felt like my head had been used as a bowling ball. A hand took mine, and my eyes flew open. Trace. My sweet man was holding it to his lips. “You have to stop scaring me to death. The Reaper might take me next time.”

“It’s not my fault. He just popped up like a zit on picture day.” I rubbed my head, yelping when my fingers brushed my cheek. “That fucking bastard. I’m gonna kill him. He hit me while I couldn't defend myself. He shot me. The baby? Oh God, where’s the baby? Is Ethan all right?” I slid off the table, wobbled, and moved to the door, flinging it open. The crash against the wall wasn’t what stopped me. Nope, that was the blood-boiling pain that pierced me at the movement.

“Sissy!”

“Stella, calm down.” Shelby’s voice was lost when arms went around me so tight I couldn’t breathe. I swear my ribs squeaked in pure fiery pain under the pressure. The jerking only added to my pain, but I gritted my teeth, holding my arm gingerly as I wrapped them both around Carter.

“Can’t…breathe...” I wasn’t playing. I really couldn’t breathe. “Cart…”

“Carter, she’s turning blue, man, come on. Release her.” Trevor tugged him gently, and he released his grip enough that I could breathe at least. I held up a hand when he went to reach for me again. The kid was taller than me, but I just let him hang onfor a minute longer. “Carter, hey, I’m alright. I think. Stop before you pop your niece or nephew’s comfy living space.”

He finally stepped back, his face red, lashes wet with tears. “When I find him.”

“Nope. That motherfucking dickless sack of horseshit is mine,” I snarled. “Mine!” I pointed to my brothers and the cops. “You hear me? I’ll have a warrant soon enough. I’m sure of it. If not, he’s still mine. Now, where’s my little man?” I shook my head. “Ethan, where is he? Is he okay—” I wobbled slightly. A strong arm went around me from behind.

Whoa. My head spun.

“He’s fine, princess.” Daddy came over and hugged me tight. He simply held me, and I let him.

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