Page 5 of Her Remarkable Protector

“You said it was only the old man, Stone!” Junior fires back.

“Jesus, what a mess!” the guy—Stone—grumbles as he explores the room, heavy boots thudding across the floor.

“Yeah, well, the bitch tried to pop me,” Junior growls. “Bomber got to her first. Took care of both of ‘em. But mama was feisty. She got him too.”

“Wait—” Stone pauses. “That jerk had a kid?”

Footsteps move closer. I squeeze my eyes shut tighter, my breath hitching as someone looms over me.

“You’re fuckin’ kidding me,” Stone snarls.

Then Junior’s voice cuts through, and he does something to pull Stone away from me. “She was just a kid, you asshole! I didn’t sign up for this!”

There’s a scuffle. Something heavy—Stone, probably—shuffles backward as Junior’s voice rises. “I’m done, man! I’m out!”

“No, you ain’t!” Stone growls, his tone like iron. “You think you can just walk? We don’t leave witnesses.”

“There’s no fuckin’ witness!” Junior spits.

I sense Stone leaning in, his shadow swallowing me. “Don’t forget what you owe me.” The click of a gun cocking follows. “Now quit whining and search the damn house.”

Footsteps echo away. Stone stomps toward what must be my parents’ bedroom, and another set heads in the opposite direction—Junior’s, moving toward my room. I hear cabinets and doors being slammed open, furniture overturned, their voices blending with the sound of destruction as they tear through the place.

Junior knew what Stone would do. Knew he’d look everywhere. And as disgusting as it is, keeping me here—lying still beneath my mother’s body—was the only way to keep me alive.

I can’t tell if that’s mercy or cruelty.

“See?” Junior’s voice echoes back, louder now. “Ain’t nobody here!”

His boots move toward the end of the hallway, the sound fading with each step.

I hear Stone’s laugh above me, his boots tapping around the room like he’s pacing for fun. My breath catches as he kicks my mother’s body aside, leaving me exposed.

I clamp my eyes shut, holding my breath, every muscle locking into place. Only my hair masks me now.

“Shit, he’s still alive!” Junior suddenly shouts from a distance.

What? Dad is still alive?

Stone forgets me instantly. His footsteps rush toward where Junior is.

Should I get up and go to Dad? I lift my head a fraction but stop. The men on the landing would spot me long before I reached him.

Then a gunshot rings out.

“No shit! The jerk actually moved?” Stone growls.

“He did,” Junior smirks. “Ain’t moving now.”

I cry, my chest hurting so bad it feels like I can’t breathe.No! Dad! Why?

I can’t stop the sobs. If the men find me, so be it. It’s not fair! It’s so cruel!

Someone is rushing downstairs. It’s Stone. His voice carries up the stairwell. “You hit bullseye from up there? Damn, you’re a talent, lil’ brother!” He laughs. “Now quit the showboating and get down here. We’ve got to haul this motherload back to HQ—the old man’s been nagging me nonstop. Ah, hell, speak of the devil!” His words overlap with the ringtone. He must be stepping outside, his voice trailing into a grumble.

The room falls quiet again. I think they’ve left. But then I hear the creak of the floorboards. Junior, crouching next to me.

“I’m sorry,” he quavers. “Once we’re gone, you run. Do you hear me? Run until you can’t anymore.”

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