Page 79 of Harmony

She grimaces. “The butcher will surely come for his prize.”

“I put a bullet into his head. Try again.”

Willow’s eyes widen at my admission as I feel Nate step closer to me.

“As you can see, your plan failed. If you let her go, I may be willing to let you walk away for now, but trust me, Celeste, you will die one day.”

Her eyes dart between us, finally settling on me. “You’re lying. There is no way you murdered the butcher.”

I let a smile cover my face as I shake my head. “I’m sure he thought the same thing. Maybe that’s why he didn’t even blink as I walked straight up to him and shot him point-blank.”

Nate’s hand shoots out, wrapping around my hip protectively.

“You have no other options, Celeste. What’s it going to be?”

She wavered for one moment. That was all it took.

Willow pulls her head forward, slamming it back into Celeste’s face. Celeste brings her hand up to her face, dropping the gun in the process.

Nate goes to step forward, but I hold a hand out.

I saw the look in Willow’s eye. This is her fight.

Nate frowns down at me, but I have a smile on my face as I watch my best friend handle her business.

Willow doesn’t wait for Celeste to recover. Her fist flies at the woman quickly, hitting her in the side of the head. As Celeste moves her hands up to protect her head, Willow uses her fists to land two punches in her midsection. Celeste cries out as she crumples forward.

Willow doesn’t hold back, bringing her knee up to smash against Celeste’s nose. The sickening crunch sound makes me gag, but I hold back.

For fuck’s sake, I shot a man tonight.

My body slowly starts to shiver and shake as the reality of the evening sets in.

Nate pulls me into his chest as we watch Willow kick Celeste’s lifeless form on the ground. When she finally stops to take a breath, she looks over at us.

The murderous rage in her eyes fades as she sees me. Grabbing the gun, she rushes over to me.

“Hails, are you okay? You’re shaking. Are you hurt? Any injuries?”

I shake my head, but the numbness that got me through the night is fading fast, letting in the anxiety and fear I forgot to feel.

“I’ve got you, babe. It’s okay. Let it all go,” Nate mutters into my hair.

Willow wraps her arms around me as well, cocooning me in between the two, offering me all the comfort.

“We love you, Hailee. You’re not in this alone,” Willow whispers to me.

“I know. Fuck, I’ve missed you,” I sob.

A bang from the front of the house startles us as Rocky rushes into the living room, his eyes darting around the room until they finally come to land on us.

In two strides, he is across the room, attempting to pull Willow away from me, but she only holds tighter, leaving us in a weird group hug.

“Willow baby—” he starts, but she cuts him off.

“Hailee needs me. I love you and I know you were worried, but she has been through more than any of us can imagine to help us. She gets me right now.”

He grumbles but presses a kiss to the top of her head before meeting my eyes.

---