Page 18 of Ruthless Angel

“Do it and you’re a dead man.” Cash’s tone was thick with the need for violence.

Dan dragged me with him as he turned sideways, trying to keep both groups in sight. “I don’t want any trouble here.Everyone stay calm and nobody has to get hurt. We’ll just be on our way.”

He kept dragging me along with him as he inched backwards. My heart thundered in my ears. Should I pull the gun in my skirt? Would that help or hurt this situation? I didn’t want to take a bullet in the head.

Daire’s eyes met mine. He nodded ever so slightly to where the gun was hidden on me. Frozen in fear, I did nothing. Dan kept dragging me away, slowly but surely putting space between us and the guys.

“We’re going to ruin you, Dan,” said Riot. “We’ve already got your license plate number. We have the power to destroy your life. Ruin your credit. Empty your bank account. You’ll lose everything. Does your wife know about your sick interest in underage girls? She will now.”

That made Dan pause. He sounded unsure when he said, “You’re full of shit. You can’t do a damn thing.”

Riot laughed. “I love it when people underestimate us. Let her go and maybe we’ll leave you a few bucks. I’m sure you’ll want to drink yourself to death after we fuck your whole life over.”

Brimming with impatience and frustration, Daire took a step forward. “Fuck that shit. He’s going to die tonight.”

My breath caught when Daire raised his weapon. He’d have to be a perfect shot to hit Dan and miss me. Dan didn’t want to give him the chance. Taking the gun from my head, he aimed at Daire and pulled the trigger. No hesitation.

I screamed as the bullet nailed Daire in the shoulder. Dan pulled the trigger again, this time missing completely. He was in panic mode, ready to go down shooting. I couldn’t let him hurt anyone. I refused to lose anyone else.

Pulling the gun from my waistband, I jerked free of his hold and whirled around to face him, firing at the same time.The kickback would have shocked me if the bullet hadn’t hit him right in the forehead. Watching it smash into his skull stole my focus.

Dan’s mouth dropped open as he fell straight backwards. The gun fell from my hand to land on the grass next to me. I struggled to breathe. I’d just killed someone.

“Holy shit. Good job, Sunshine. That was fucking amazing.” Cash rushed over to pick up my dropped weapon. After shoving it into his pants, he put both hands on my shoulders, turning me toward him. “Are you okay? You did great, Clover. One less piece of shit roaming the planet.”

“We are not fucking part of this.” Raising both hands, Riot began to back away. “We didn’t agree to murder.”

Clutching the bloody wound in his shoulder, Daire snarled, “What did you think we were here for? You think messing with his bank account is enough to stop a creep like him? Grow the hell up.”

“Whatever man,” Felix joined in. “You got your information. We’re done here.”

The Sinners took off, not wanting to be around if someone heard the shots and called the cops. Daire shouted obscenities after them. I stood there in shock, unable to speak. Staring down at Dan’s body, at the blood streaked across his face, it all became too much. I blacked out.

Cash must have caught me because I don’t recall hitting the ground. I had a vague awareness of being put in the car. When I came to, we were back at the Angels’ house.

I woke up on the couch. Slowly I sat up to find Cash standing over Daire who sat in the armchair. Using the tip of a knife, he worked on digging the bullet from Daire’s shoulder.

“Goddammit, that hurts.” Daire clutched a liquor bottle in one hand, chugging back the contents. “Hurry it up, would you?”

“Trying not to make things worse, dude. Don’t be a dick.” Cash glanced over as he noticed my movement. “How are you doing, Clover?”

Reaching up to grasp one of my stupid pigtails, I pulled the hair tie free and shook out my hair. Then I did the same to the other side. “I killed someone. I can’t believe I killed someone.”

“Congratulations. You made the world a slightly better place.” The intensity in Daire’s stare made me uncomfortable. “You did a good thing. Don’t feel bad about it. He didn’t feel bad about abusing young girls.”

Deep down I knew that I hadn’t done anything wrong. He’d been a bad man. He deserved it. Still, I couldn’t help but stare at my hands, seeing them differently now. I felt different now.

“I can’t believe that happened,” I murmured, lost in the replay of that moment.

Daire said something else that I didn’t hear. Lost inside my mind, I slipped into a catatonic state. Reliving the moment I pulled the trigger. It had happened so fast. I hadn’t thought, only acted.

Now it was too late. No going back. Although I knew Dan had deserved it, I hadn’t thought myself capable of such a thing.

I stared off into space, seeing and hearing nothing but the sound of the gun firing as Dan dropped to the ground. Over and over I saw the scene play out. I couldn’t escape.

CHAPTER TEN

CASH

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