Page 174 of Beautifully Shattered
It blew up… with him inside.
My knees buckle, sending me and Jols to the pavement as a wailing scream explodes from the pit of my soul as the truth of what’s happened starts to sink in.
Colour starts to seep from my world. Nothing but greys and blacks closing in as ice creeps into my veins. Through the blur of tears, I stare at the rolling smoke, every breath ragged as I completely shatter.
My cruel mind plays tricks on me, imagining a figure striding through the flames, plumes of smoke billowing around him as he moves with unyielding power and purpose, like an immortal being.
“Abbey…” Jols whispers at my ear, her arms loosening around me. “It’s him.”
No, this is too cruel. Why would my mind play tricks on me like this?
“Angel!”
I jerk at the sound of his voice, swiping furiously at my eyes as Jols helps me to stand. A gust of wind whips between us, blowing aside the thick smoke revealing my husband, his clothes torn, his skin streaked with soot, but his steps moving with the same unstoppable purpose that first made me fall for him.
“Cameron?!” I cry out, my voice breaking, and the moment he starts sprinting towards me, I take off for him. “Cameron!”
“Abbey!” he roars, like it’s him who feared I was the one who died, and we charge towards each other, sobs ripping from meright as we slam together like two magnets that were never made to be apart.
I wrap myself around him as our lips clash in a fierce, desperate kiss, the taste of my tears mixing with it as we grapple at each other.
“Fuck, Angel,” Ringo gasps, pulling back just enough to press his forehead to mine.
“I t-thought y-you w-were d-dead,” I sob, and he swipes at my tears with his gentle thumbs.
“Gotta be honest. I thought I was too for a second there,” he admits, and I kiss him again, clawing at his beard to bring him closer.
“You’re not allowed to leave me.” I sob, pulling back and slapping his shoulder, and his smile makes the agony in my chest start to ease.
“It’ll take more than bullets, knives and explosions to keep me away from you, Angel. That I fucking guarantee.”
A giggle bursts from me, and I hug him so tight I feel his heartbeat slamming against mine.
“Did you get Ian Allen?” I ask, and Ringo’s smile fades.
“The fucker got away. There was a four-wheeler parked behind the hangar. But his time will come, Angel. Don’t you worry.”
Nodding, I smile, excited to tell Ringo the news. “I killed Donny.”
His brows shoot up. “Really?”
“Choked him with the barrel of the gun first, and then I blew his head apart. Literally.”
A savage grin spreads across Ringo’s face. “Fuck, there’s my little demon.”
“Ahh, guys…” Jols steps up, her eyes focused on something to our side, and we turn to see JD dragging someone across the gravel by their hair.
“Oh sweet Abbey,” JD sings, his eyes gleaming. “I got you a pressie!”
Ringo lets me go as I push back from him, my boots hitting the ground just as JD shoves the whimpering man at our feet.
“Thought you might want to do the honours.” JD grins wolfishly, gesturing to the pathetic, sobbing form on the ground.
A sickening chill ripples up my spine at the sight of my ex-boyfriend, Daniel, who is actually my cousin, and I have to fight the urge to throw up.
“Abbey. Please,” he pleads, blood-streaked snot running from his nose.
I shake my head slowly as disgust curls my lip. “It’s funny how you are all sooo sorry when it gets to this part.” I roll my eyes, extending my hand with my palm open, and Ringo places his gun in it without hesitation.
