Page 136 of Done Waiting

“It’s okay, baby girl.” He shifts his position and I know he’s ensuring he can keep an eye on Ben. “I’m here. You’re safe.”

Safe.Jagger has always made me feel safe, even when my entire world turned upside down, my equilibrium unbalanced. He’s my lifeboat in turbulent waters. My life vest when the sea is too rough, trying to drown me.

He started out as my stalker. Now he’s the one I can’t live without.

Myhome.

I feel so damn foolish for ever doubting Jagger’s love for me. It pours from him, feeling every facet of my being, healing my broken pieces.

Ben moans and I immediately lift my head, fear running up and down my spine. I slide down Jagger’s body, my gaze locked on Ben as he stirs. My head turns to Jagger, watching as hisnostrils flare as he stares at my mom with hatred and bitterness before his gaze locks on Ben.

Jagger gently pushes me toward Jason, who grabs me, pulling me away. I watch in horrified fascination as a different side of Jagger emerges. He’s animalistic, monstrous, as he pounces on Ben, his fists slamming into his face. “You fucking hurt my woman.” His hand slams against Ben’s face again.Slam. “You stole her from me.” A sickening crack fills the room and Ben screams, blood gushing from somewhere. I can’t tell where because Jagger is blocking my view.

“Told you he’d kill anyone who touched you,” Jason says into my ear, making me smile.

I glance up at him. “Did he burn down Falls Creek to find me?”

Jason chuckled. “Surprisingly, no. But if you were gone any longer, that’s more than possible.”

I giggle, grateful Jason is here. I need his crazy sense of humor right now.

My attention returns to Jagger, who is still beating the hell out of Ben. Neither Jason nor I make a move to stop him as his fists fly. “Your first fucking mistake wastouching my woman.” Jagger’s voice shakes from rage as his fist slams into Ben’s stomach. “Your next fucking mistake was hurting her.”

What happens next seems to occur in slow motion. My mom finally worked for her hands free of the ropes and I watched as she grabbed Jagger’s gun from the waistband of his pants. Horror fills me, my chest thudding so hard inside my chest from my increased heartbeat.

Without a second thought, I take off running toward Jagger. My mom has the gun pointed at him. Her face is twisted from rage and disgust as she says, “Jagger Williams.” A cold smile pulls her lips up. “You’re made a fucking mess for me.”

He turns his head, staring at her and the barrel of the gun as I leap, my body hitting him as I hear the click, and then she fires.

56

THE STALKER

“Jagger!” Maddie screams seconds before the Ice Queen fires my gun, the bullet intended for me. Her small body slams against my back before she bounces off. I spin around, seeing her lying motionless on the floor.

“Nooooooo,” I scream, terror coursing through me. My heartbeat thrashes in my ears, my pulse racing like a horse galloping inside my ears.

Gunfire erupts around me, but I pay no attention to it, singularly focused on her. Crawling to her motionless body, I grab her, flipping her over so I can see her face and examine her wound. Tears stream down my face, agony and anguish washing over me. “Baby girl. Oh, fuck.” Her shirt is crimson, the metallic scent of copper in the air. I’m tugging at her shirt, trying to find where she was hit, tears streaming down my face.

“Jagger,” Her voice is weak, her face contorted from pain. “I love you.”

“No, baby girl.” I gather her in my arms, my tears dripping onto her face. “Don’t say goodbye to me.Stay with me, dammit.”

Her eyelashes flutter, her face so pale. “I’m sorry.”

“Dammit, baby birl. Don’t be sorry. Stay with me.” Leaning down, I kiss her face. “You and me. We’re forever. You can’t fucking leave me.” My voice cracks and breaks, just like the pieces of my heart.

“Tell me…” she rasps. “You… love… me.”

I’m sobbing so hard that my entire body shakes as I press my lips to her face, the coldness of her skin chilling my lips. “I love you so fucking much, baby girl. I’ve loved you since I was nine fucking years old. You’re it for me. The only one I’ve ever loved. Don’t fucking leave me. Please… don’t fucking leave me.”

“I’ll… always… be… with… you.” Then her eyes closed. “Please, stay strong.Live.”

I scream, howling as the pain engulfs me, splintering my soul. “No…” I bury my face in her hair. “Please, Maddie. Don’t leave me.” Tears pour down my face like a gushing river. Soaking my skin. Falling into her hair. “I can’t let you go. I can’t live without you.”

My monster howls with me as I rock her back and forth, sobbing fifteen years worth of tears as the image of a five-year-old pumpkin, her bright honey eyes looking at me with adoration, her tiny voice reverently calling me her dark hero at the Falls Creek Park. She breathed life and hope into me that day.

I’ve always been the villain, but to her, I am her hero.

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