Page 66 of Not Your Hero

“Just how many people did you have watching me?”

“Just me and Ren. He’s the only one I truly trust,” he replies.

“Are you sure?” He looks over, and I see the darkness in his eyes.

“I’m sure. I wanted eyes on you at all times, Em, but I didn’t want to attract Gary.”

“That backfired,” I mumble.

“No shit. I’m going to handle that, though.”

“I know.”

Gannix smiles at me before looking forward and taking off. He drives us into town and behind one of the fancier stores in town. He parks the car and climbs out, walking around to open my door. He offers his hand, and I gladly take it. Just as he closes the door, I hear what sounds like pops. Gannix moves to cover me just as the window next to my head is blown out. I scream, but one of his hands comes to cover my mouth.

“Don’t scream,” he warns as he moves us around the car and toward the door of the store. He ushers me inside and pulls out his cell, calling someone as he yells at the women to lock the store down. She rushes through the store, locking the doors and pulling the shades closed as I wrap my arms around myself, unsure what the hell is happening.

“Are you okay?” The woman asks me, but I ignore her, too lost in my head. I won’t go back. I won’t let him take me again. I can’t. I nearly died there. He wanted me dead!

My arms lower to my sides as the memories assault me. The way he beat me and hurt me. No. I can’t do that again. I won’t survive it. I have to get out of here. I have to run.

And that’s what I do. I run through the store toward the doors, pulling as hard as I can, but they’re locked. I scream in frustration as I run back the other way. I can get out the back. I just have to get past Gannix. He’s on the phone. I can do this.

I run toward the door when I hear him coming behind me. I push harder, faster, needing to get the hell out of here when I’m tackled to the ground. The air leaves my lungs in a whoosh. I try to push up on my hands, but Gannix is too heavy, and it’s useless.

“Let me go!” I yell now, needing to get the hell out of here.

“Stop running,” he growls in my ear.

“I can’t! Don’t you get it? He wants me, Gannix. I can’t go through that again! He almost killed me, and I don’t think I can handle that again,” I yell as tears spill down my cheeks.

“Fuck,” he grumbles as he climbs off me and tugs me off the floor. I try to pull away from him, but he doesn’t let me. He keeps me tucked into him, holding me as close to him as he can.

“It’s okay, Em. I won’t let him hurt you.”

“He could have killed me out there,” I remind him.

“No. That’s not going to happen,” he argues, keeping his hand on the back of my head. This is all fucked up. This is butt fuck crazy.

First, I was stalked by Gannix. Then I was taken by his brother to be killed, only to be stolen back by Gannix, and now this?

I sob into his chest, wondering what the hell I did to deserve this. Is this karma for everything I’ve done? All the men I used?

Chapter 33

Gannix

My guys were on it in no time. I got Emerson calmed down and back to the house. She locked herself in the bathroom, and I left her there for now.

Ren had the guy brought back here, and now he’s tied up in the fucking shed, waiting to see what I want to do with him. It wasn’t Gary, but we all know who sent him.

I walk out to the shed after getting one of my other men to watch out for Em. I tug my t-shirt over my head and toss it to the ground as Ren opens the door for me, and I step inside. The man sits in the chair, arms tied behind his back, a gag in his mouth.

I walk over and rip the gag out as he looks at me with fear in his eyes.

“Was it Gary?” I ask him, cutting straight to the point.

“I don’t know.”

---