Page 87 of Guarded Secrets
She pushed the door open and stepped across the threshold.
And was yanked loose of Jaxon’s hold and shoved behind six foot plus of enraged Owen. The next few moments were a blur of motion.
One second Jaxon was behind her with a gun. The next he’d been slammed against the door frame and Owen had wrenched the gun from his hand. He shoved it at Keeley. “Take it and stay back. He does anything you don’t like, shoot him.”
He grabbed Jaxon by his shirt and dragged him outside.
She wasnotshooting anyone.
She dropped the blanket onto a stack of lumber and shoved the gun under it before rushing to the open doorway.
Thunder cracked overhead and rain began pelting out of the sky.
Owen hauled Jaxon onto the porch, and holding him one-handed, plowed a fist into his face. Crushing bone made a wet squishing sound and Jaxon’s head snapped back. Owen hit him again, a fist to the gut, then one to the jaw.
Jaxon gave an agonized groan, his eyes rolling back, and he went limp. When Owen drew his fist back again, Keeley grabbed his arm.
“Stop, Owen. Stop.” His arm felt like coiled steel. “He’s unconscious. You have to stop. You’ll kill him.”
Owen tried to shake her off, but she only tightened her grip. “Let him go. He’s no longer a threat.”
Owen turned to her, his eyes burning with rage. “He had a gun pointed at you. He wanted to kill you. He hurt you and scared you. He doesn’t deserve to live.”
“I’m safe, Owen. You saved me, and he’s done.”
With his gaze still locked on hers, Owen released Jaxon, who dropped to the floor, his head hitting with a thunk.
Owen’s fury abated, and in a flash he was pulling Keeley into a desperate embrace, clutching her to him like the world was chaos and only she was keeping him from spinning out of control.
They stayed locked together, her face buried in his neck, his in her hair. Sirens wailed in the distance. He didn’t loosen his hold until patrol cars were streaming up his driveway.
***
Keeley sat in a chair on the porch. She was losing count of how many times the police had responded to something involving her. She hoped with all her heart this was the last time. An ambulance crew had taken Jaxon away in restraints. Owen had glowered at her when he’d recovered the gun from where she’d hidden it under the blanket.
He’d been awakened by the shattering mug. Thank god, he’d figured out what was happening and things had turned out the way they had.
She watched him in the driveway talking with Sawyer, who was not on duty but had come when Owen had called.
Keeley took out her phone. Her mom picked up on the second ring.
“Hi, Mom. First thing, we’re okay. Owen’s safe. I’m safe.”
“Tell me what’s happened.”
“I’m at Owen’s. Jaxon showed up with a gun.” Keeley shared what happened while her mom peppered questions throughout the story.
“Oh my. I’m so glad Owen was there. I swear that man would throw himself in front of a moving train if he thought it would keep you safe.”
“He loves me.”
Her mom’s smile sounded in her voice. “I know he does. I see it every time he lays eyes on you.” She paused. “I don’t want to get ahead of anything, but I can’t help it. Are there wedding bells in the future?”
“I don’t know. It’s all new.” Keeley moved to the end of the porch where she wouldn’t be overheard. “He shared what happened to him, Mom. It was bad. Really bad. It’s up to him to tell you about it. But because of that trauma he never wants to get married or have children. He blames himself and doesn’t want to risk that kind of pain again. My heart breaks for him.”
“He’s strong, and now that he has you, he might reconsider.”
“I don’t know if he will.” Owen and Sawyer climbed the stairs to the porch. “I’ll talk with you more later. Give my love to Dad and Auntie Carla. Bye, Mom.”
