Page 77 of Lexi, Property of Rhyder

“Lexi, it’s me, Rhyder. I’ve come for you, baby.”

“Rhyder? Is it really you?”

I smile at her. “Yeah, baby, it’s me.”

“Oh my God,” she cries out and runs into my arms.

I let Gail go in the process, and she falls to her knees while gasping for air. I cradle Lexi with one arm kissing her on her head as I continue to watch Lawrence with my gun pointed at his fucking head.

He has the audacity to glare at me with his eyes full of rage. “You’re never going to get away with this. Do you hear me?”

I give him a snickering smile. “Think you’ve misunderstood. I’m the one with the gun, and all those fuckers securin’ your land… they’re either dead or are currently headin’ for the hills. You really should employ better fighters.”

The bastard inhales, and his eyes turn to Lexi. They soften, and I don’t like the way he’s looking at her. I get my gun ready and flick the safety.

Lexi’s eyes turn to mine. “Rhyder, please don’t. You can’t kill him.”

Stunned and confused, I narrow my eyes on her. “It’s okay, baby, you’re free now. You won’t need to see this man again.”

Lexi turns to the fucker, and her eyes meet his.

I am caught in their intimate stare, and I watch Lawrence smile at her.

I’m going to kill this fucker.

“Give me one fuckin’ reason why I shouldn’t be killin’ him… right this minute?”

She places her hand on mine, putting pressure there, hoping I’ll put my gun away—there’s not a chance in hell.

And that’s when she says it, the words she needs to know the answer to. “He may know where my sister is.”

My eyes move from Lawrence to her.

“She’s safe, baby, and she’s home. I took her there myself.”

Lexi’s eyes widen, and tears fall down her beautiful cheeks. “She is? She really is safe?”

I run my hand through her hair, more in frustration for Lexi than myself, and answer, “Yeah, she’s with your parents. We found her.” I lean in and rest my forehead against hers. “She’s safe, I promise. Now, let’s get you out of here.” Lexi looks up at me and nods. “Take me home, please.”

I wipe away her tears, and I’m so caught up in her angelic face that I don’t see Lawrence pulling out a gun. Before I can shoot him, he fires, and within seconds, I’m down on the ground bleeding out. The pain in my chest causes my vision to blur. Everything moves in slow motion.

I hear Lexi’s scream.

But it’s far in the distance.

Then she’s down on the ground hovering over me.

She’s speaking words, but they are words I can’t understand.

More commotion is happening around me, and I make out men surrounding us, and then there is more yelling. It’s my brothers.

Lexi grabs my face in her hands. She’s crying and begging me for something, but I’m fading.

She’s fading.

No, this can’t be how it ends.

I fought too hard to find her.

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