Page 111 of Unspoken Promises

My gut wrenches, knowing what the hell he wants to do with that ax. The woman I love is pressed viciously against the stump. I squeeze the trigger. If I shoot, I could risk hitting Ava. Fuck. It’s not a clear shot.

Each word he speaks through gritted teeth, the volume gets louder and louder. “I lost everything because of you. My home. My career. My reputation. My motherfucking hand!” Veins pop out of his neck. He’s pent up with years’ worth of revenge and rage. “And now, I’m going to show you what it feels like to lose everything, one piece at a time…”

At that, he raises the ax as if to strike. Ava instinctively kicks at him with one of her heavy Doc Martens and makes contact.

“Puta!”

Everything slows as if life before me becomes a freeze frame, one right after the other. Ava kicks again. The ax risesabove Sánchez, and my mind tells me if I don’t shoot, all is lost.

My finger is tight on the trigger; I aim but don’t feel confident… what if I hit her?

But then, the frames become one messy scene. Anton pushes Ava aside to the floor and she falls into a heap. The burly man throws a shoulder into Sánchez, and with Ava on the ground, two shots ring from outside the barn.

SWAT takes them down.

Ava is free, and two devils slump into a heap on the floor.

34

I stand over two bodies,the gunshots, the ax… shock paralyzes me. My lungs don’t work. My heart is still.

But then, two strong arms wrap around me.

“You’re safe now. It’s over.”

My body trembles with shock while Enzo comforts me. I want to be strong, but my lip quivers. I peek over Enzo’s shoulder at Anton, still not understanding what just happened. Did Anton save me? Did he push me out of the way to give SWAT a clear shot?

I’m sick in the head. I know not even years of therapy can explain it, but seeing him slumped over Father’s body makes me weep. Whether it was rightor wrong, based on truth or delusion, I loved that man for giving me what he did. If it wasn’t for him, there would have been no light. No joy. No laughter. I wouldn’t have had a single moment of happiness in fourteen years.

A sob breaks free from my throat. I snuffle into Enzo’s chest. My tears are a bittersweet rainstorm. My heart breaks, and yet out of this moment, I’m somehow reincarnated. How can I feel so sorrowful and grateful at the same time? I’ll never make sense of this.

I cradle my arms around Enzo and hold on to him tightly. I need him now. I need his steady way, his unshakeable resolve. He’s an anchor in this hurricane of emotions that threaten to shatter me. I love him more than ever for it. He doesn’t control me, but he sure as hell knows how to lead me, and I want to give him the reins because I’m blinded by tears and confusion.

Enzo kisses the top of my head. His voice is quiet and broken. “You’re free now.”

“I know.” I doubt he barely heard my weak words, muffled by his shirt. Tears trickle down my cheeks, and I wrap my arms around him, scared to let go.

“Don’t try and figure this all out right now, Scottie.”

“It hurts…”

“I know. Just breathe.” He keeps me safe against his chest. “Be here with me.”

With his palm on my head, his heartbeat strong and steady in my ear, his own rhythmic breath rising and falling against my cheek, eventually, my heart stops racing. Finally, I’m able to draw back and gaze at this beautiful man.

“You came,” I whisper.

He holds my face in his hands. “I’ll always come. I want you, Scottie. I want you so bad I’m never letting you go.”

“You want me, even though…” My words trail off, they’re too hard to say.Even though I nearly led to your ruin.

His dark eyes burn with passion. “I love you. I love you for all you are and with everything I am.”

I’m awestruck. This can’t be true. It’s too good… “Enzo, say it again.”

His features soften, but his gaze is intense. “I love you.”

Heavy emotion swirls between us. He brings my head against his chest as if enveloping me in a prayer. I will never forget this moment. I wish it would last a lifetime, but it doesn’t.

---