Page 116 of Under an Endless Moon

My footsteps echoed through the night, mixing with his as he pushed himself as hard as he could.

“One last chance, asshole. On the ground.”

He didn’t give, so I popped off a warning shot, aiming off to his left. Expected him to scream and drop to his knees.

Not the barrage of bullets that came from out of nowhere. Pings rang through the trees, dust flying all around and making it impossible to see.

And it was me who was suddenly on his knees.

Not even sure what had brought me to the ground.

A second later, I could hear the telltale sounds of a dirt bike being kicked over in the distance, the beelike screech piercing the air as the bastard raced away.

A roar burst out of me when a shock of pain bloomed on my thigh. Disoriented, I shined my light on the spot.

Blood poured out of a wound.

The motherfucker had shot me. I wobbled and swayed, before I fully dropped face down onto the ground.

THIRTY-ONE

OTTO

I choked,trying to catch my breath. To see through the disorder. To make sense of what had happened and to find the right course of action.

I realized I’d only been out for a blip since I could still hear the high-pitched engine far in the distance, fucker long on his way to getting away.

I slumped forward when I realized there was no immediate danger, and I rolled onto my back as I gulped through the rage that had taken me hostage.

Raven.

She was in the house.

Safe.

It was the only thing that mattered.

Finally, I got my shit together enough and forced myself onto unsteady feet. I lumbered back up the hill, ignoring the pain radiating down my leg.

Chaos whirled through my spirit as I caught sight of my house. The bedroom window glowed on the second floor. No doubt, Raven had flipped it on. Was in there. Pacing. Worried forme.

I didn’t even know what to do with the feeling that swept over me. This possession and fury that took me over.

Couldn’t stand the thought of putting her in danger. Of someone coming for me and Raven getting in the line of fire.

Old grief threatened to consume. I’d already endangered her enough, hadn’t I? And here I’d touched her just hours ago, in a way I’d promised I’d never do.

My stomach toiled, torn between duty and the fact that I couldn’t handle the thought of letting her out of my sight.

Everything was so twisted and convoluted I didn’t know how to process it.

This…need.

This purpose.

Was supposed to cut her loose a long, long time ago, and the only thing I’d done was put a façade around my feelings. Treated her like a sister…a friend…when I’d never been able to staunch the desire for this woman. This thing that I’d kept like a dirty secret since she was eighteen years old.

I trudged up the drive as the faintest gray emerged at the horizon. Day getting ready to break.

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