Page 117 of Saddled in Secrets
“That’s what I said.” His eyes have a crazed gleam and I can tell that he’s on something.
“Let’s agree to go our separate ways.”
“Not good enough.” And then Walker pulls out a gun, aiming it directly at me. “Need you out of the picture. Permanently.”
Imust be hallucinating. It’s this awful fire crawling up my esophagus that’s causing me to see things. That’s the only explanation for why this guy—Walker—is pointing a gun at Colton. Spud’s growl snaps me from the ignorant illusion, revealing this is actually happening.
Colton lifts his open palms. “Put the gun down, Walker.”
The guy huffs a laugh. “Nice try, but you don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“Are you going to shoot me?”
Walker nods. “If I kill you, I’ll get promoted. You’re in my way and it’s up to me to remove you from the equation. Simple as that. It’s nothing personal.”
This can’t be real. My eyes are burning, but I’m too afraid to blink. A lone tear leaks out as I listen to Colton try to reason with his cousin. He lowered his guard after his father died. The threat was eliminated. We’ve been driving across state lines without a care, feeling secure in our safety. That’s why he’s unarmed and a defenseless target. Even if he had a weapon, it’s three against one.
“Colton,” I whimper.
“It’s okay.” His voice is soft but firm. “Get away from here. Go to the trailer.”
“And leave you alone? No way.”
Walker’s menacing glare pins onto me. “That’s right, sweetheart. Stay where I can see you.”
“Don’t talk to her,” Colton snaps.
His cousin chuckles, but the tone is mean. “You’re not in the position to be giving orders, Colt. I’d shut the fuck up before I aim a little higher. That rich bitch behind you will be splattered in your brain matter.”
“You’re high and not thinking straight. Put the gun down. Let’s talk about this.”
“Quit telling me what to do.” Walker stabs the space between them with his pistol. “It’s time for me to take charge. Maybe I’ll earn myself a slice of expensive pussy pie.”
Nausea curdles in my belly. “Should I scream?”
“No,” Colton clips. “Just get to the trailer.”
“I’m not leaving you,” I reiterate.
“Dammit, Princess. Please.”
Walker tips his head back and howls. “The great Colton Keller is begging a woman to listen. How the mighty have fallen.”
“You don’t want to do this, cousin. We’re family.”
A disbelieving snort spits from him. “Is that why you left us all behind? It only got worse in your absence. Uncle Jamesblamed us after you cut ties. You were playing house with Bianca Benson while we were getting tortured.”
“Nobody forced you to stay,” Colton tries.
“Nah, fuck that. I’d never abandon my family.” His hand holding the weapon shakes slightly. “That’s the worst part. The crew would welcome you back without hesitation.”
Walker does something to the gun that makes it click. Somebody must’ve heard that. I lick my dry lips and glance around. There are people nearby, but not close enough. Why did we park so far in the back? Fuck privacy. I need someone to walk past us.
That’s when a twig snaps. Spud lunges forward with animal instincts, barking loudly into the darkness. In the next instant, a shot is fired. It’s loud and startling, filling the air with gunpowder. The ringing in my ears doesn’t drown out Colton’s grunt. I stare through watery eyes as he crumples to his knees.
My boots skid on the grass as I leap into action. The rawness hacking at my throat tells me that I’m screaming, but I can’t hear over the devastation of him collapsing. I’m there just in time to catch him folding onto the ground.
A feminine screech stabs into the carnage. “What the hell, Walker? You weren’t really supposed to shoot him!”
