Page 86 of Unexpected Love
“Who?” Maybe I can distract him long enough to get the gun away from him.
He keeps it trained on me and begins inspecting my shop, walking over to the gas fireplace. “The bitch you were expecting me to be.”
Shit.
A thousand thoughts go through my mind in the seconds it takes him to cross the floor, and they all come back to one. I need to keep him away from Dani and Charlie.
Slowly, I extend my hands, palms out. “Dani’s not here. Why don’t you put the gun away, and we can find a different solution.”
“I know she’s fucking here. I watched her crossthe street.”
Yeah, but thank god this dumbass didn’t see her go out the back door and up to the apartment. He’s not here to talk. He’s here to hurt.
“Okay, let’s calm down…”
Absolutely wrong thing to say. Everything happens in slow motion. He whirls about, cursing me, Dani, everything and everyone, and upends the nearest table. As my pretty display crashes to the floor, I stand and round the table.
“Wait, just please wait. Let’s talk about whatever it is that has you upset.”
“That bitch stole my kid.” His wild eyes dart around the shop, searching and not finding her. “She thought I’d never know. Thought she could have a kid in secret and never tell me.” He swipes his forearm under his nose, his chest heaving with the force of his anger. The gun hangs forgotten in his hand.
I just need to get it away from him.
From the front window, there’s a smallwhoosh. Over his shoulder, an orange glow illuminates the window.
He’s still ranting about Dani, flipping another table.
Time’s up for this asshole. I have no weapons, nothing to defend myself with. But I’m not going to stand by and let him trash my dream, and I am not letting him get to Dani or Charlie. Not going to let him hurt Cal by hurting those two. Having Cal and Charlie in my life has brought me back to myself. He’s helped me realize a dream merely because it was important to me. And Charlie… I didn’t want kids of my own, but this little girl has helped me find myself again. Helped me honor the little girl in myself that I pushed aside and quelled growing up, trying to fit other people’s mold of who they thought I should be.
No. I’m not letting him take that away from us.
I charge, crashing into him while his back is turned. Thegun fires as we trash yet another table. We hit the floor and roll. The small candle jar stops just out of reach of my fingertips. Maybe if I can get a hold of it, I can use it…
He flips us over, trapping my arms with his knees. Too late, I realize that perhaps I underestimated him.
I squirm, bucking and kicking, trying to get him off me.
Blinding white-hot pain explodes across the side of my face. I cry out as another blow glances off my cheek. This motherfucker thinks he’s going to pistol-whip me.
I slump as if I’m passed out. Around me, heat grows, flames flickering brightly behind my closed eyelids. He relaxes ever so slightly, and I wait.
A weight lands on my chest, pushing me into the floor. It takes everything in me not to grunt from the pain. But the pressure on my arms releases. He’s pushing up off me.
I open my eyes the tiniest slit. He’s standing, walking away like he’s going to leave me here in this burning building.
I roll and stand in a move years of play fighting with my brothers taught me, swiping the remains of a chair leg as I stand.
He’s not even two steps away, but he turns and raises the gun. My wild swing connects with his head as the gun fires.
Chapter 34
Cal
“Maybe we’ll finally get to stop for lu—” Jackson’s comment is cut off by the annoying sound of tones dropping for the umpteenth million time. We’ve barely gotten back to the station from the last call. Kate and Leo have also been on the road all day; we’ve only seen each other in passing.
“I guess we’re paying for that quiet shift.”
I bark a laugh as I climb back into the driver’s seat and start the engine. I’ve missed the address, but 911 will repeat the call out as soon as we go en route. I hit the horn and pull out of the bay. Jackson’s phone rings as he hits the button that closes the bay door behind us.
