Page 55 of Curvy Desire's Second Shot

I moved.

The knife arced through the air, catching Jared’s arm as I lunged forward. He let out a sharp cry, his grip loosening just enough for Naomi to twist free. She stumbled back, and I stepped between them, my body blocking her from his line of sight.

Blood dripped from Jared’s arm, staining his sleeve, but his expression was one of rage, not pain. He lunged at me, his movements wild and desperate, and I caught him with a solid punch to the jaw. He staggered back, his hand fumbling for the gun he’d dropped in the chaos.

“You think this changes anything?” he snarled, his voice shaking with fury. “You think this is over?”

“It’s over if you make it over,” I said, my voice low. “Walk away, Jared. Don’t make me finish this.”

He laughed, the sound cold and bitter. “You don’t have the guts.”

I tightened my grip on the knife, my jaw clenched. “Try me.”

Jared’s handdarted toward the gun, and I moved instinctively, kicking it out of his reach. He let out a growl of frustration, swinging wildly at me, but his movements were sloppy, fueled by anger rather than strategy. I sidestepped easily, driving my shoulder into his chest and sending him sprawling to the ground.

“Stay down,” I said, my voice cold and commanding.

But Jared didn’t stay down. He scrambled to his feet, blood dripping from his arm as he glared at me with unbridled hatred. “This isn’t over,” he spat, his voice shaking. “You’ll never be rid of me.”

I stepped closer, my knife still at the ready. “Walk away, Jared. This is your last chance.”

He hesitated, his eyes flicking between me and the door. For a moment, I thought he might listen. But then he smirked, his lips curling into something twisted and cruel.

“You think you’ve won?” he said, his voice low. “You haven’t won anything.”

And with that, he turned and bolted, disappearing into the shadows before I could stop him.

The room fell silent,save for the sound of my ragged breathing. I turned to Naomi, my chest tight with worry. She was standing near the wall, her arms wrapped around herself, her face pale but determined.

“Naomi,” I said, my voice soft.

“I’m okay,” she said quickly, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m fine.”

I crossed the room in two steps, pulling her into my arms. She held onto me tightly, her body shaking against mine as the adrenaline began to fade.

“He’s gone,” I said, my voice steady. “It’s over. For now.”

She pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting mine. “But it’s not really over, is it?”

I shook my head, my jaw tightening. “No. Not yet.”

Her gaze hardened, and I saw the same fire in her eyes that had kept her fighting all this time. “Then we finish it. For good.”

I nodded, my resolve solidifying. Jared wasn’t done, but neither were we. Next time, there wouldn’t be an escape.

Chapter Forty-One

Naomi

The morning light streamed through the window, casting soft shadows across the room. I stood by the kitchen table, my hands gripping the edge as I stared at the map spread out before me. Every red mark, every circle, every note felt like a reminder of how close we were to ending this. And how much we had to lose if we failed.

Hudson was leaning against the counter, his arms crossed, his gaze steady as he watched me. He hadn’t said much since last night—not since Jared escaped. But the tension radiating from him was palpable. It matched the fire burning in my chest.

“We have to do something,” I said finally, breaking the silence. My voice was steady, but the determination in it left no room for argument.

“We will,” Hudson said, his tone calm but firm. “But we can’t rush into this, Naomi. Jared’s dangerous. You saw that.”

“I’m not rushing,” I said, turning to face him. “I’m finishing this.”

---