Page 21 of Sofa King Safe

There's a safety on that gun, and it’s tricky to turn off.I’m kicking myself because I didn’t show it to Quinn beforehand.Could he know how to use it?

“Simon, please, don’t do this.Please don’t hurt Rhodes.”She’s begging for my life, and I want to scream for her to beg for her own!

She’s the most important thing in the world, and I never got the chance to tell her I love her.Hell will put in an ice-skating rink before I let him take her from me.

My footsteps are silent as I creep down the hall, my eyes locked on the back of Simon the whole time.When I’m close enough, I start to raise my hatchet, but the floorboard creaks under my boot.Simon whips around, and I throw the hatchet, but I wasn’t set in my stance, and it goes wide.The hatchet sinks into the wall next to him, and Simon grins.

“No!”Quinn screams as Simon raises the gun.

My heart stops as Simon pulls the trigger, but nothing happens.Then out of nowhere, Boss comes charging in front of me and leaps on Simon’s face.Simon drops the gun as Boss sinks his claws into his cheeks with both paws.While Simon screams in pain, I dive for the gun.

“Boss, no!”Quinn is having trouble moving her arms and legs, but I don’t have time to concentrate on that right now.

Simon manages to grab Boss and throw him off before the cat can get his eyes.He’s a bloody mess as I walk over to him, the gun pointed right at his face.I wait, making sure he sees me as I flip the safety on the side and cock the hammer.

Sirens blare in the distance, and I know Macy has called in the cavalry.Simon sags against the floor, obviously knowing that the police are on the way.

“It’s cute you think you’re going to jail,” I tell him, and his face pales.

“Quinn, take Boss into the other room.I don’t want either of you to see what’s about to happen.”

“Rhodes,” she says softly, but I don’t take my eyes off Simon.

“Now,” I order.“Before the cops get here.”Out of the corner of my eye, I see her scoop up Boss and stumble out of the bedroom.

“Wait, wait, wait.You don't have to kill me.Maybe we?—”

The pop of the single shot is loud in the room, but the hole between his eyes silences whatever he was going to say.There’s no reasoning with someone like him.He would have spent the rest of his life finding a way to make Quinn suffer.She would have never known a moment’s peace for as long as he lived, and I’d never allow that to happen.

She’s mine to love, mine to protect, and any man that tries to take her from me will find himself in an early grave.

ChapterThirteen

QUINN

He killed a man for me.That thought is on a loop in my mind even while the forensic team takes pictures of my wrists and any other marks they can find.Thankfully I came out relatively unharmed, but I’m almost glad Simon put the bands on me.They were evidence of what he’d done and how Rhodes saved me.

“What happens now?”I ask Sheriff Georgia Dawson.We’re in her office downtown, and I’m waiting to see what else they need from me.

She had to call in the state police, since it's a small town.We only have a little office building for a police station and the one sheriff.This is the most action it’s ever seen.

“I’m not really sure,” Georgia answers while fiddling with her phone.She’s the sparkling new sheriff who was elected a few months ago.

"Are you googling it?"I glance down at her screen, and her eyes widen.Busted.

"Oh gosh, Quinn.I ran for sheriff as a joke, but then the Stitch ladies loved the idea of a female sheriff, so they took over the election.Now here I am, and I don’t know how to do any of this," Georgia blurts out in a rush."I mean, look at this."

Georgia picks up the cowboy hat that has a badge on the center front of it.When she drops it on her head, the hat falls all the way down, covering her eyes.I burst into laughter.

A few of the state police glance our way.It's not exactly the right moment to laugh, but it felt good.Georgia quickly takes the hat off, and her cheeks flush pink as she notices the cops staring at us.

"Don't you boys have things to do?”She stands up, puts her hands on her hips, and squares her shoulders.“I'd like to have my station back."

"We're almost done.Detective Marks is wrapping things up now with Rhodes."

Georgia gives a stiff nod before sitting back down in her chair."Did I sound legit?"she whispers so that only I can hear her.

"Totally."I give her a secret thumbs up."And I bet if you tell the Stitch ladies about the hat issue, they’ll get a new one worked up for you."Those ladies can clearly do anything they put their minds to.

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