Page 79 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

“Why are you doing all this? I’ve never understood why,” I asked as we got closer to the door and the rake.

“Because I can.” He laughed in the menacing tone that had filled my nightmares for almost a decade. “Get in the fucking house!” he barked.

I moved forward but pretended to trip, my hand flying out and catching the rake by the long handle. I spun around, metal prong side facing up and dragged it across his face.

He screamed like a stuck pig, the gun flying as his hands went to his face. I shoved him aside, but his foot caught mine and we both fell to the ground, me face first, scrambling for the gun. I’d just gotten my hands on it when his body landed on top of mine.

“You fucking bitch!” he roared, punching me with one hand while reaching for the gun with the other.

Blinding pain burst over my cheekbone and eye socket where he landed the first punch.

I just barely got my fingers on the weapon when I heard a gunshot ring out from behind us. We both spun to the side and rolled, grappling for the firearm. Big Beefy must have come to and found us because he had his own gun pointed at the sky, firing a warning as he barreled toward us.

“Let her go!” he demanded, another shot being fired in the air, but Derrick didn’t stop. He punched me so hard in the nose I saw stars. But I’d gained some ground and had his bodysqueezed between my thighs. I may have even heard one of his ribs crack as I used all the strength in my legs to hurt him. Derrick cried out as he was suddenly lifted off of me.

I managed to rip the gun from his hold when his body was lifted, and I pointed it at him.

“You’ll never hurt me, my sister, or another woman ever again.” I stared straight into his evil eyes as he smiled.

Then I shot him three times straight in the chest. Both the guard and Derrick fell back, the guard rolling away. He ambled up, checked his own chest, patting at his bulletproof vest, and then came over to me and held out his hand.

I was still pointing the gun, my fingers on the trigger, my body poised to kill. Reality hadn’t quiet caught up to me yet.

“Give me the gun, Maia,” he said gently. “It’s over now,” Big Beefy claimed.

I shook my head. “Is he dead? If he’s not dead, it’s not over.”

He wiggled his fingers. “Give me the gun, Maia.”

I did as he ordered and let him help me up. My entire body hurt as blood poured from my nose, which I suspected was broken. My cheek was also blazing hot and swollen. My back felt ripped to shreds because we’d fallen on a gravel path as we’d fought.

“Are you going to have me arrested?” I asked as I leaned against Big Beefy and let him lead me out of Derrick’s backyard.

“For what? I was attacked by the same man that held you at gunpoint and then threatened to kill you right before you got the gun and shot him. Looked to me like self-defense…”

When we exited the side gate from Derrick’s house we were surrounded by cops.

Rhodes was on the ground, his hands cuffed behind his back.

* * * *

Ten minutes earlier….

RHODES

“Grab everything you need quickly,” I pleaded, not wanting to scare them by shouting.

The three of them scattered to their rooms as I looked out the windows. Maia was on the phone walking in front of the house, her guard, Buddy, scanning the environment as expected.

I moved through the house to check on her mom and siblings.

Maisie had a bag already sitting on her bed. She was putting on a hooded coat. “I’m ready.”

“How did you do that so fast?” I pointed at the large bag.

“I was waiting for my chance to run away. Everything I love is already in here. I just couldn’t leave my brother…” she admitted, her eyes going to the floor.

I walked over to her and tipped her head up with a single finger while still keeping my distance. “That was very smart of you. And very courageous.”

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