Page 81 of Guarded from Danger

Xavier’s good. I’ve seen him spar. I learned self-defense from him. But if Peter gets a shot off before Xavier reaches him…

I thought I knew fear. I didn’t.

This is it. Watching the man I love risk his life to stop a monster.

Oh.

Please.

With the door partially open, Peter is illuminated in the doorway, dark against the light.

Then he starts to turn.

Do I try to warn Xavier? But heknows. He has to.

I’ve never felt more helpless. More afraid.

Xavier leaps at Peter. Crashes into him.

The force of impact sends them both flying.

Peter shouts, “No!”

Then Xavier, his voice full of rage. “You fucking bastard!”

Flesh hits flesh.

A silhouette of two men moves further away from the doorway. Away from the barn. Away from me.

There’s more shouting.

Xavier roars, “You’ll regret touching her!”

There’s a yelp filled with pain.

A grunt.

Something snaps. A stick? Abone?

Oh, Xavier. Please.

I know he’s good. Not just good. Great. But he doesn’t have a gun like Peter does.

And Xavier was drugged. If he’s feeling anything like me, he’s dizzy. His head hurts. Everything’s fuzzy.

The gun goes off.

No.

Oh, God, no.

Everything shrivels inside me.

My heart.

My lungs.

My soul.

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