Page 47 of Secret Admirer

I start to sink to the floor with the news of Dwayne killing my parents, but he stops me once again with his one hand on my throat, heaving me up until we’re face to face.

He killed my parents.

Inwardly I sob and crumble to the ground. I’ll break down once this is all over.

After I kill him.

His fingers tighten and his nails start to dig into my neck causing me to take in choked breaths.

Is this really the end?

I haven’t even told Bodhi I love him yet.

We haven’t made love under the stars.

We’ve only just begun.

I look toward Bodhi hoping to convey everything I want to say with only a look, but he’s gone from his spot across the island. I can’t look for him in case I give Dwayne any indication he’s moved.

Leaning down until his rank breath infiltrates my senses, Dwayne laughs in my face. “Don’t you wish you’d talked to me now?”

“Never,” I strangle out as spots start to cloud my vision.

“You’re such a stupid bitch,” he half cackles, half growls.

“Who’s the bitch now?” Bodhi punches him in the side of the head sending Dwayne reeling off to the side. He grabs me by the shoulders, keeping me upright and looking me over. “Are you okay?”

Taking a deep breath, I nod. “I will be. We need—” Dwayne starts to stand with the gun still in his hand.

“Run, Coco. Call the police and don’t look back.” Bodhi commands, turning toward Dwayne.

“No.” Tears well up making it difficult to see. “Come with me,” I beg, grabbing onto his hand that has already started to swell.

“I can’t,” his eyes plead with me to understand. “I have to make sure you’re safe and you’ll never be safe if he gets away. Now, run!” Bodhi pushes me away as Dwayne gains his footing and trains the gun on us.

I do as he says and run. I run with everything in me to my bedroom not looking back. Once I get inside, I close and lock the door, not that it will help me with one wall being made completely of glass. One gunshot and I’m sure it will shatter. If I make it out alive, I need to find out. Making my way over to my bed, I hit the silent panic button with shaking hands. I want to slump to the ground and wait for the cops to show up, but I know I can’t do that. There’s nowhere to hide in here. One step in front of the other, I make my way to the slider doors and look out to see if I can see Bodhi or Dwayne. When I see no one, I slip outside and close the door behind me as quietly as possible.

Not sure what to do while I wait for the police to show up, I slink into the darkness of the property. I try to keep my breathing calm, but it’s hard knowing Bodhi’s inside with a demented Dwayne. Each breath feels like a dragon is breathing down my throat, but I push it aside.

A loud crash has me turning around to see Dwayne and Bodhi locked together fighting over Dwayne’s gun. My breath catches. What if Bodhi doesn’t get it away from him? I’m not sure what I can do, but I can’t let Dwayne hurt him.

Taking off in a jog, I stumble up onto the concrete when I see they’re not dueling for the gun, but a knife. It’s a nasty knife too. It looks like something someone in the Military would have. The blade has a slight curve in it, but the tip is deadly. Where the hell did it come from?

Dwayne must see me out of the corner of his eye, his face transforms with a sinister smile plastered to it. “Good, I thought I’d have to chase you down. Now I can kill you easily after I gut your boyfriend.”

The distraction is all Bodhi needs. He wrenches the knife until it’s pointed at Dwayne and impales him in the stomach in one smooth motion. Dwayne collapses to the ground, blood slowly staining his shirtfront.

“Bodhi,” I cry out. Tears streaming down my cheeks like rivers in the aftermath of everything. I blink and he’s in front of me with bruises starting to form and a split lip. He’s never looked better than he does in this moment. I throw myself at him, sobbing into his chest. My hands wander over every inch they can reach, making sure my eyes aren’t deceiving me.

Resting his head on top of mine, Bodhi holds me tight, squeezing me as if to make sure I’m really standing in front of him. When my sobs start to ebb, he pulls back, looking down at me and juts his chin out toward the city. “The cops will be here soon.” His voice is rough with emotion.

The night has taken its toll on the both of us and I can’t wait to take a nice hot shower and climb into bed with Bodhi for at least a week.

A gurgling sound to the left has us turning in each other’s arms. Dwayne’s prone form has his gun pointed straight at my heart. Before I have a chance to blink, breathe, or flee, Bodhi turns, shielding me as the gun goes off.

Everything happens all at once.

The cops charge around the side of the house guns drawn.

---