Page 111 of Ruger's Rage

Her hand moves carefully toward her waistband where her gun must have fallen during the struggle.

"You're surrounded," Ruger says, voice deadly calm. "Let her go, and we talk about this."

"Talk? Like when you held church, when you turned my club against me?" Striker's laugh is harsh and bitter. "There's nothing to talk about."

I keep my gun trained on him, looking for a clear shot that won't risk hitting Kinsey.

"Mom was right about you," Kinsey chokes out, her voice strangled but audible. "Said you were... nothing but a... monster in a man's skin."

Striker's grip loosens slightly in surprise, giving Kinsey the opening she needs.

Her hand emerges from beneath her, not with a gun as I expected, but with a knife that glints in the moonlight.

She drives it upward like her life depends on it, burying it beneath Striker's chin.

Blood sprays as the blade severs arteries, coating Kinsey's face and chest in crimson.

Striker makes a horrible gurgling sound, his hands releasing her throat to clutch at the knife.

He rolls off her, body convulsing as blood pumps from the wound.

Kinsey scrambles away, gasping for air, her eyes wide with shock at what she's just done.

I reach her first, pulling her away from her dying father.

"I killed him," she whispers, staring at her blood-covered hands. "I actually killed him."

"You defended yourself," I correct her, grabbing her shoulders. "He was going to kill you, Kinsey."

Ruger approaches Striker, who lies motionless now, eyes staring off into the distance, but I already know he’s gone.

He checks for a pulse, then nods grimly. "He's gone."

Bloodhound appears from around the cabin. "Marco's secured. Place is clear." His eyes fall on Striker's body, then shift to Kinsey. "She did this?"

Ruger nods. "Self-defense. He was choking her."

Ounce joins us, taking in the scene with a low whistle. "That's one way to prove your loyalty to the club, kid."

Kinsey looks up, still trembling with adrenaline and shock. "I didn't do it for the club," she says quietly. "I did it because he deserved it."

"Fair enough." Ounce nods respectfully.

I hold Kinsey while she processes what's happened, her body shaking against mine.

She’s a tough woman, sure, but she’s barely an adult.

I know exactly how it feels to cross lines you never thought you would.

Ruger approaches, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah." I look up at him, remembering he was cut as blood drips down his arm. "You're hurt."

He shrugs, dismissing it. "Flesh wound. I’ve had worse."

His eyes shift to where Maddox brings a restrained Marco around the side of the cabin.

Marco's face contorts with rage when he sees me with Kinsey.

---