Page 42 of Strider's Misstep

The cards fall, and he indeed does raise his hands, but one has a gun in it. He shoots, but Helo’s a moment too fast, or a moment too slow, depending on how you look at it. He doesn’t make the chest shot he was aiming for, but the bullet catches her as she throws herself to one side.

I don’t hesitate. The gunshot freed something inside me. In a split second, I’ve taken the stance Buzz drilled into my mind and fire three quick shots in succession. One in his head, two in his chest.

Then, I scream as twin thoughts slam into my mind.I’ve killed a man, and Helo’s been shot.

“Helo!” I throw myself across the room to where she’s landed flat on the ground. There’s so much blood coming out of her. I’m not sure from where. I think she’s breathing, but, oh, hell. “Helo, I’m so damn sorry.”

She breathes in a breath, lets it out, and relief floods through me when I see her chest move. She opens her mouth. “Good shooting there, hon.”

What?

“I’m sorry, so sorry,” I start babbling, my hands reaching out to search where all the blood is coming from, but she puts out her hands to stop me.

“Jasmine,” she says sharply. “Most of the blood is his.” She points to the man who’s throat she had cut. “The bullet only scratched my side. I’ll live.”

“You shouldn’t have been shot at all. If I’d done what you asked…”

Reaching up, she cups her bloody hands around my cheeks. “Jasmine, breathe, honey. I’m just pleased that you shot him before he could finish the job. This is my world, not yours.”

“It was your fuckin’ world. It’s not anymore.”

Helo rolls, placing me under her at the unknown voice, an instinctive reaction I’m sure while smoothly taking the gun I’m holding from my hand into hers.

I stop breathing.So close, yet so far.

And then Helo starts laughing. “You wanna bet, man of mine? This is more fun than I’d had in years.”

“I’ll take that bet, my queen. ‘Cause this is the last time I’m letting you out of my sight. And, damn it. You’re bleeding, woman.”

She’s gently pulled off me by the man I belatedly recognise as Chaz, her old man and prez of the Arizona Soulz. And there, behind him, is another I recognise. I gulp when I see him.

My heart leaps, but I immediately ground myself.Strider’s not my future. He’s my past.I try to drown the embryonic hope that what Helo told me was true and that he really does want me.

It’s hard to read the expression on his face, especially when his first words to me are spoken gruffly. “You hurt?”

I realise I, too, am covered with blood. “No. Helo’s the only one who got injured.” I don’t add it’s thanks to her I’m alive. That’s a debt I’ll probably be repaying all my life.

At my proclamation, he reaches down his hand, grabs mine, and pulls me to my feet.

But before he has a chance to say anything, Helo interrupts. “Boys,” she starts casually, raising her chin first to Chaz, then to Strider. “We left one alive in the basement. Barclay Aster is dead, but one of his henchmen is there. Might have a fractured skull, but I’m sure you could get something from him.” She winces, puts her hand to her injured side, then somehow summons up a grin for me. “Jasmine may be entitled to any legacy her ex-husband might have left.”

“I want nothing from him,” I spit out. His world’s not mine. “I don’t want any part of a criminal enterprise.”

But Chaz and Strider share a glance with each other, and then Strider grins. “Your place or mine?”

Chaz chuckles. “Yours is nearer, but Helo needs sorting out.”

“Got that handled.” Shotgun comes back into sight. “Just called Rufus. He’s got a medic on speed dial. I suggest you take Helo, get her looked at, while we take the package back to Austin. Rufus can also let us borrow a truck. We’ll just get a prospect to return it to him.” He pauses and grins at the blood splattered around. “After he’s cleaned it properly, of course.”

“We’re just racking up favours to repay to Rufus,” Chaz complains, but it’s half-heartedly. Then, he cheers up. “But that’s your problem, Strider.”

The man he’s addressing only seems to be half paying attention to the conversation. Instead, he’s staring at me. He waves his hand which Chaz seems to take as agreement, then steps closer. Now I’m getting one hundred percent of his focus.

“I’m not married now.” His voice is deadly serious.

It wasn’t what I expected to come out of his mouth, but sympathy rushes through me. “I’m so sorry to hear about Anna. Helo told me.” I can feel myself blush at the way the words tumble out. I hope they convey I’m genuinely sorry for him.

He shrugs. “I lost Anna years ago. I’ve been told it was guilt that made me stay with her. Maybe they’re right. There’s a hole in my heart, but it wasn’t there when she finally left me. It appeared the day you walked away.”

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