Page 52 of Run From Me

Anger was burning a fuse far too short. Why couldn’t she see that me not being here was what kept bad things from coming to knock?

I paused at a knock at the door and the security alarm ding that there was motion.

“Xander?”

Rylee’s fingers tapped my shoulder, and I tried to rein in the anger in front of her. For Cas.

“Cas should be up here any minute. He was coming to get me, and I texted him about the cat. He has some cat supplies. But I don’t think…”

I heard the words from Rylee, but the red clouding my vision kept me from seeing anything but the woman in front of me who seemed to have no idea how many fucking buttons she’d pushed. The woman had a death wish. I couldn’t look away from her as she snuggled that fucking cat.

“Did I mention Ripple’s been stopping by?”

Fucking hell. The monitor next to the door was alive and the anger inside me seemed to find the outlet it needed.

“No, Sparky. You didn’t. Thanks.”

We hadn’t locked the door as securely as we should have because she wasn’t alone. There was one deadbolt between me and a punching bag.

I yanked on the door and missed whatever it was that Rylee and Cali had said behind me.

“Ripple, my man. Long time no see.”

I’d give the man credit. His eyes were the only things that showed me he was surprised. That, and the shake of his hand when he pulled a gun and pointed it at me.

“Aww. What, your knife skills suck so you are trying your hand at this now? Didn’t anyone tell you guns aren’t toys, sweet cheeks?”

His face was turning a pretty little shade of red, and he said something I couldn’t hear.

“What was that? I’m sorry, it’s a bit hard to hear you.”

The pain in his face was evident as he swallowed and tried to repeat himself at something just above a whisper.

“She’s ours, Spector. You have no business here. You got your revenge on Little T. Now go.”

He waved the gun toward the steps.

A dainty hand caught my attention as Cali came up behind me.

“Xander, just close the door.”

“Cali? You bitch. Come out here,” Ripple rasped out and then winced.

“I like the shade of purple around your neck. How does one get a necklace like that?” I smirked and watched his every move, hoping I was pushing his buttons.

“Fuck you. Just give me the bitch, and I’ll be on my way,” Ripple said as he tried to reach for her behind me.

I shifted my body to block the small space between me and the apartment. I already towered over him, making this an easy thing.

“How about you stop calling her a bitch?”

Something inside me felt a huge sigh of relief as he smiled at me and seemed to forget who was the crazier one in the hall.

“Now why would I stop calling her what she is? She’s nothing but a whore. A stupid bitch that’s supposed to be mine.”

I let him finish his sentence and that seemed rather big of me. But the second that last word finished, I reached for his neck, and in one quick motion felt snaps, cracks, and pops that meant he wasn’t going to be waking up, ever.

“What did you do? Did you just…?” Cali was trying to push past me, and I refused to move while I reached for my phone and texted for a cleanup.

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