Page 66 of Wildest Dreams

Her eyes are fuelled by gasoline, and I know I won’t stop her from walking into the god damn fire. She gives me a small smile before she is up and walking into the crowd, my gun loose in her hand as it hangs by her side and I watch as she lifts her arm slowly, aiming it towards where Wallen is standing. But just as she pulls the trigger, he steps back and she hits the guy who is reloading his gun, the bullet hitting through his temple as he falls to the ground like a sack of shit and I watch as she drops the gun as if it’s just burned her.

“Fuck,” I mutter, slightly in awe, slightly terrified.

Lucian whistles and drags Wallen into the waiting truck as it speeds off and that's when I see Harlow on the floor. Austin falling to his knees as he screams.

Marty and the cowboys are following the truck across the dead grassed fields, the sound of guns still echoing in the distance and I want to run to them, but I can't.

Bucky is dead.

Falling and crushing my leg underneath him as he died.

Tears wet my cheeks and it doesn't matter how much I scream and try to move him off me, I can't. A searing pain burns through my shoulder and it's not until I glance down, I see that I am bleeding. He shot me.

The upper half of my body falls back into the dusty ground beneath me, and I am frozen. I can't do anything.

All I can hear is Austin crying, Riggs shouting and Aspen trying to console her brother and that's when I feel hands on my head.

“It's okay son, you're going to be okay,” my dad is on his knees, lifting my head and resting it into his lap and I can't stop the tears that are flowing.

Rolling my head to the side, I see Riggs on the floor doing CPR on Harlow, Austin is sitting on the ground, knees tucked into his chest and Aspen is now the one screaming.

Conrad is on the phone, no doubt to emergency services and it's not until Conrad steps aside, I see Pacey on the ground, sobs pulling from his lungs as pain blankets him.

“Dad,” I croak, tapping his hands that are cupping my face. “Go be with Pacey, I'm fine,” I reassure him, and I can see how torn he feels. “He needs you more than me, dad.”

“Here, I'll stay,” Dixie says softly, tears streaming down her pretty face as she helps my dad up then takes his place, my head on her lap, her fingers brushing my hair from my face.

I watch as dad jogs over to where Pacey is laying, him unbuttoning his shirt before he falls to the ground and pushes it against Pacey's stomach as he screams.

And just as I roll my head around to look up at Dixie, my little dreamcatcher, the world around me goes black.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

DIXIE

I’ll never forget what I saw when I was tucked inside the back of the truck.

I’ll never forget the way I watched the bullet hit Harlow.

I’ll never forget the way I watched Pacey hit the floor, a cloud of dust rising around him like his soul leaving his body as a bullet tore through his skin.

I’ll never forget watching the man I love go down in slow motion as his horse was killed at the hands of Wallen.

I’ll never forget the way Tripp cried out as his leg was crushed and a bullet burned beneath his skin.

I’ll never forget the way Jorge ran over, ripping his shirt from his body to stop the bleeding in his son’s stomach.

I’ll never forget the way Austin cried over Harlow’s lifeless body.

I'll never forget the way I snatched a man's life away by my own hand.

I’ll never forget the way Pacey screamed in pain, choked sobs ringing through my ears.

I’ll never forget the way I held Tripp’s face in my hands as he passed out.

I’ll never forget the way Orla screamed when we told her two of her sons were on their way to hospital.

I’ll never forget the way Orla sobbed when we told her Harlow was dead.

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