Page 173 of Beautifully Shattered
I take off in their direction, desperate to reach my husband, to watch the moment he ends that fucker, once and for all.
I’ve barely covered a few metres when movement flickers at the edge of my vision. I try to pick up speed as the bulky form charges for me, but it’s too late. Their heavy footsteps thunder closer, and a second later, I’m tackled hard to the ground, my gun skittering across the pavement out of reach.
“You’re coming with me, bitch!” the man snarls against my ear, his weight crushing me into the pavement.
The moment he yanks me upright, I whip my knife around and slam it backwards into his hip with all the strength I can muster.
He howls in agony but refuses to let go, his fist slamming into the side of my head and rattling my brain.
Darkness rims my vision as stars burst past my eyes, and I grit my teeth, fighting the urge to collapse as I thrash in his grip.
“Let me go!” I screech, and he laughs like I said the funniest joke.
“No fucking way am I letting you go,” he growls, spittle hitting my cheek. “You know how many men have died trying to get the fucking bounty the cult freak put up for your capture? I’m gonna fucking claim it, bitch.”
I start laughing, loud and unhinged, feeling him stiffen like I hoped he would.
Men really can’t handle a crazy bitch.
“You idiot. He doesn’t have any money to pay you,” I lie, because hell if I know whether my grandfather does or not. “Once you hand me over, he’ll kill you. Why are you so dumb?”
“The fuck?!” He releases my hair and spins me to face him. “Did you just call me dumb?”
“If the shoe fits.”
“You fucking—”
Bloodsprays across my face in a thick and chunky shower as the echo of a gunshot fades away.
“Fuck! Abbey, are you okay?” Jols hurries up to me, her eyes tracking over all the blood covering me, her hand gripping the gun she just used.
“None of it’s my blood,” I say, tugging off my hoodie and using it to wipe off my face with shaky hands.
“Thank fuck.” Jols sighs, her shoulders slumping in relief.
“Where’s JD?” I ask, and she tenses again. “I don’t know. I lost him in all the smoke and shooting.”
Nodding, I turn to face the hangar that Ringo chased Ian Allen into.
“Ringo chased Allen in there.” I point to the hangar, and then it erupts in a deafening explosion.
The force throws us back, and we land a few feet from where we were standing as air gets trapped in my lungs.
I sit up, tears stinging my eyes as I stare in disbelief at the blazing wreckage before me.
“NOOOOOO!!!” I scream, scrambling to my feet and sprinting towards the mangled, flaming inferno.
I barely make it a few steps before hands wrap around me from behind, yanking me back.
“Abbey! No!” Jols cries, but I fight and struggle against her hold, tears searing my cheeks.
“RINGO!!!” I scream, my heart ripping from my chest so savagely that I know I’ll never survive this. “RINGO!!!!”
I wrench free of Jols’ grip, trying to bolt closer, but the searing heat lashes across my skin like whips of lava.
“Stop, Abbey!” Jols cries, and the agony in her voice only twists the invisible knife deeper in my chest.
Ringo went into that hangar.
