Page 90 of The Scars of Us

“He has a gun!” I warned.

The impact caused Kaleb to lose his grip on me, but also made me lose my balance, sending me stumbling back into the opposite wall. Ryker slammed into Kaleb, tackling him to the ground. They rolled on the floor several times before Ryker finally pinned him, and started elbowing him in the face.

The gun flew backwards from Kaleb’s hand and went off as it hit the floor. Ryker stilled, then snapped his eyes to me, making sure I hadn’t been shot, which gave Kaleb the opportunity to punch him square in the jaw.

Stunned, Ryker wobbled slightly before Kaleb hit him twice more, causing him to fall to the floor. Kaleb darted for the gun on the ground a few feet away from me, but Ryker grabbed his leg, making him stumble and crash to the floor. Kaleb used his other foot to kick Ryker in the face several times. Blood streamed down his face as he let go and lay dazed against the floor.No.

Kaleb rushed for the gun again, and I knew I couldn’t let him get a hold of it. I couldn’t let him shoot Ryker. I threw myself at the weapon, causing it to skid away from me when I hit it. Frantically crawling, I stretched my arm out to grab the handle, but Kaleb’s foot came stomping down, crushing my hand beneath his boot.

Yelping, I pulled my hand back, clutching it to my chest as I watched Kaleb reach the gun.Shit.I scooted back, desperate to get to Ryker, to protect him.

Ryker groaned when my hand brushed against him. Tugging on his bicep, I helped him sit up as Kaleb picked up the gun. I draped his arm around my shoulder before struggling to pull him to his feet.

Kaleb pointed the gun at Ryker, so I stepped in front of him, blocking as much of Ryker’s bulky body with my much smaller one. All I cared about was him—Kaleb could do whatever he wanted to me if it meant that Ryker would be safe.

Kaleb’s eyes blazed in anger at my action, obviously pissed that I was protecting Ryker. “Move, Kaiya,” he growled.

I silently shook my head, fearing my voice would waver if I spoke. Kaleb cursed and threatened, “Don’t make me do this.”

I didn’t respond—inside I was screaming, the frail, weak part of me begging me to move out of the way. But, something else was keeping me there, something stronger than fear—love.

Tears burned my eyes—we were probably going to die and Ryker didn’t know how I felt, that I loved him.Oh my God, I love him.There was no doubt or question anymore. The reality of it had finally sunk in. I knew with every fiber of my being that I was in love with Ryker.

The click of the gun snapped me from my thoughts. Everything happened so fast after that—Ryker pushed me out of the way as Kamden stumbled out of his bedroom and threw himself at Kaleb.

The gun was pointed straight at me when it went off from my brothers fighting over it. My body froze at the sound, the only movement being my eyes shutting tight in fear.

I expected excruciating agony, but the burning that I felt in my chest was not what I anticipated. My eyes snapped open to Ryker’s bloody face; his eyes were scrunched in pain as sweat trailed down his skin. His arms were tightly wrapped around me, his chest pressed against mine.

Looking down, I was utterly unprepared for what I saw. A bullet was sticking out of my blood-splattered chest, right over my heart. But that wasn’t even the worst part.

My breath caught in my throat as I focused on the bloody bullet hole in Ryker’s chest in front of me. Realization clicked at what just occurred. “You saved me,” I whispered in shock.

Wincing, he forced a smile. The pained expression didn’t look right on his beautiful face. “I told you that I always would,” he croaked.

Tears trickled down my cheeks as he slumped against me, forcing me to bear his weight. My legs gave out, unable to hold the both of us up as I fell to my knees.

Shifting Ryker to cradle him in my lap, I pulled off my ripped shirt, balling it up and pressing it against Ryker’s wound. He clenched his eyes shut as he hissed in pain.

“I’m sorry, baby. I have to stop the bleeding,” I choked, my tears now falling like a torrential downpour.

Sounds of a scuffle reached my ears, causing my head to jerk up. Kamden and Kaleb still wrestled over the gun about ten feet away from me. Then, Kamden finally ripped it from Kaleb’s hands before pointing it at him.

Sirens sounded in the distance, probably from a neighbor calling to report the yelling and gunshots.I hope an ambulance is coming with them.

Kaleb stepped closer to Kamden, who threatened, “Don’t come any closer.”

Kaleb curled his lip up before spitting blood on the floor. “We both know you won’t shoot me, brother. You’re too weak, just like you were too weak to protect Kaiya from me all those years.”

Then, Kaleb threw himself at Kamden. Struggling over the gun once again, it fired, the sound making my stomach clench. Both my brothers fell to the floor, and I couldn’t tell who had been shot.Please don’t be Kamden. Please don’t be Kamden.

Neither one moved as my heart pounded wildly in my chest, my adrenaline lacing my veins and making me feel like a charged up live wire. Kamden finally groaned before starting to get up, and I exhaled a huge sigh of relief.He’s alive. He’s okay.

Kaleb didn’t move. Even though he had tormented me for so long, a little piece of my heart still hurt at the thought of him being dead—he was my twin, after all. Even after everything he did to me, I still felt a small part of that special bond that only twins have, which had made all his abuse so emotionally damaging.

Ryker moaned softly, drawing my attention back to him. His hand clutched mine, which was still holding my shirt against his chest. Tears fell from my face onto him as he stared up at me through half-lidded eyes.

His hand reached up to swipe the tears from my face before he rested it there, cupping my cheek. I leaned into his palm as I brought my free hand to rest atop his.Tell him.

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