Page 110 of Reclaimed

Fear surges within me, overtaking my rational thought. I want to stay. I want to wait to see if anyone heard the pop of gunfire. Any second, someone is going to run out the back door.

Any second now.

Any second.

His finger twitches on the trigger.

Adrenaline dumps, flooding my body with urgency. The white envelope falls from my fingertips, but I don’t watch where it lands. I dart around the back of the building.

Footsteps pound behind me. A fist in my hair jerks my head back. Sparks of pain erupt across my scalp. I stumble nearly to my knees on the concrete sidewalk, saved only by my hand thrown out against the brick wall. The rough exterior tears into my skin.

The thin cylindrical barrel stabs against my stomach. It doesn’t move as he drags my struggling body back. Self-preservation kicks in, quieting the screaming in my head. I thrash, clawing at his exposed cheeks and neck, but he overpowers me.

With my heart racing, he shoves me into the passenger seat and slams the door with a crack of finality. I yank the weathered handle with both hands, but the latch doesn’t budge. He’s somehow disabled the door from opening from the inside. A sting burns my palm that I slap frantically against the window.

“Isla,” Benjamin gasps. “I’m sorry.”

My eyes clench tight at the sound of another harshbang. When I glance into the side mirror, Benjamin’s lying motionless on the ground.

This morning, I finally heard Aiden confess his love for me. We shared those three tender words for the first time.

Now, I’m going to die.

29

Aiden

Floating.

That’s the only way to describe how I move through my morning after Isla and I returned from walking Remy. I feel more relaxed than I have in months and my heart feels like it beats a steadier rhythm. Hearing those three beautiful words fall from her delectable lips changed the course of the rest of my life. There’s no doubt we’ve turned down a different path. One I couldn’t have imaged just a short time ago.

She left to go pick up her final check, and I was needed at Corjan’s before we head over to Mom’s to tell everyone the truth. The anticipation for what’s to come is like cresting a roller coaster. I’m excited, and I can’t wait to see what’s waiting on the other side.

The thought of hurting my family with my lies stings, but I have no doubt they’ll understand.

“You ready?” Corjan’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

“Yep, sorry.” I ready myself to help him guide the fridge out of the kitchen.

Moving appliances wasn’t exactly on my Sunday agenda when I woke up this morning, but when Corjan called for help, I had no desire to turn him down. Not like a few months ago when I’d run in the other direction. As soon as Isla left to get her check, I drove across town.

Once the refrigerator hits the curb, we return to grab the old stove and repeat the process.

“They really wouldn’t take it from inside the house?” I dust my hands off on the side of my jeans.

“They would for an extra hundred bucks. I said nah. I got four brothers to help me with that.” Corjan crosses his arms. “So then they screwed me on the delivery window.”

“How so?”

“Said they’d be here between ten in the morning and two.”

I glance at my watch. “It’s three-fifteen.”

“Exactly.”

I adjust the bill of my hat. “It’ll be worth it. I’m sure Bree will be happy.”

“She’ll be ecstatic. These have been backordered so long, instead of a push present, they’re going to be here in time for Weston’s birthday.”

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