Page 58 of Unloaded
I thank my lucky stars Luke had insisted I install a panic room when I bought the home. I never thought I’d need it, but it has been a lifesaver today. I’d never have been able to focus during the attack if Rachel hadn’t been in a safe location.
Those first few minutes, before I’d gotten her secured, had been the longest, worst minutes of my life. Which is saying something, after all the shit I’ve lived through in my thirty-three years.
Dalton steps closer to take charge of Rachel when she grips my biceps. Looking down at her, she rises onto her tiptoes and kisses me. I indulge her, needing her as much as she seems to need me after the hell we just went through.
Memories of the laser light on her center mass mere seconds before the window had shattered, flashes through my mind. I’d reacted on instinct, knocking her to the floor preventing the sniper from taking her from me.
Pulling her closer, my hands drop to her ass. I devour her mouth, realizing how close I came to losing this. I pour all of my feelings into the kiss. My relief, my care for her, and my need to have her safe. I can feel her emotions, too, fear, relief, anger, and a bit of sadness. I ignore the fact we have an audience. Her arms come up around my neck, holding me to her.
A clearing throat ruins the moment. I move my hands from her ass to her waist. Rachel’s face is again flushed but not from anger or fear. There’s only desire in her eyes. Giving her another peck on the lips, I wrap my arm around her waist.
We walk into what is left of my living room. Glass crunches under our feet. The front windows are blown and bullet holes litter the walls and furniture. Including my favorite recliner where I’d held my angel for hours last night.
Luke is in the open front door, but he hasn’t attempted to navigate his wheelchair over the debris. Bo, Dalton, and the others follow us from the hallway. I catch Dalton’s eye and motion toward Rachel. He gives me a nod, moving closer to her. Det. Atwood appears at the door behind Luke, looking over my home in shock. I take stock once more, knowing there’s not much left to salvage.
“Go with Dalton, angel. I’ll be over when I finish with the authorities.” Despite her worried expression, Rachel nods and leans into me as I kiss her temple before passing her off to Dalton. I don’t want to let her out of my sight, but I won’t feel comfortable having her here while there are strangers around to investigate. Marley will make sure she’s comfortable until I can get there.
Rachel doesn’t lean on Dalton or let him help her over the debris strewn floor. With her head held high, she turns to him and says, “I need to get my things from Rosco’s room. I’ll be right back.”
She’s going to get her duffle bag and her 9mm that we left on the floor of my closet. Even though she’s been in the middle of a shoot-out and worried about her brothers and her own safety, she can still think clearly enough to know she needs to have her weapon handy.
Damn! I love that woman and her tenacity.What. The. Fuck!
Yeah, it’s official, boys. I’m royally fucking screwed, because I’m in love with Rachel Miller.
“Feels damn good, doesn’t it?” Bo sidles up to me, noticing how I’m staring after her retreating form down the hall and drags me from my thoughts. The sappy grin he’s worn since falling head over heels for Shelby is on his face. I want to agreeandpunch him at the same damn time.How is that possible?
Before I can deal with the shit in my head. Enos steps in to piss me off.
“Oh, how the mighty have fallen!” Enos chuckles, slapping me on the back. “Told you it was going to happen! You’re just as pussy-whipped as Bo and Luke.” I see red.
Enos has had an ass kicking coming for a while, and after the shit I’ve just went through, I need the release. No, the rounds Ifired off during the exchange didn’t do shit to calm me the fuck down. Again the red dot on Rachel’s chest comes to mind.
Without thought, I unload on him, not holding back. Enos’s head flies back when my first punch lands, busting his lip. Blood flies. The second one breaks his nose, causing blood pour down onto and stain his shirt.
Shock covers his face for a split second before he comes at me. Head down he barrels into my middle, knocking my ass to the floor and all the air from my lungs. I grapple to get a hold on him, deflecting a couple of his blows, but damn if my little brother can’t land a punch. I’m definitely going to have some marks from this shitshow.
With more effort than I’d like to admit, I finally manage to get the upper hand and pin him under me. I pull back to wail on his face, but strong hands grab my arms, halting my swing. I’m jerked back, Bo on one side, Dalton on the other. Det. Atwood and Kelvin are wrestling Enos under control.
“What the fuck’s wrong with you?” Enos bellows. “You broke my fucking nose, you bastard!”
“No, you’re the bastard!” The room falls deadly silent. I’ve crossed a line. One I shouldn’t have. Enos has always been sensitive about not knowing who his father is.
Honestly it could be any number of random men our mom fucked after our dad disappeared. Regret hits me the instant it leaves my mouth, but I can’t take it back.
Enos glares at me with hurt in his eyes before he hides it with anger. Bo slaps the back of my head hard, knocking me forward. Yeah, I deserved that and a whole lot more.
“Fuck! I’m sorry, Enos. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just pissed. It’s been a hellva couple of days, but that’s no excuse for being an asshole. Again I’m sorry.”
“You sure fucking are!” Enos seethes. “You don’t deserve that woman. She’s leagues above your sorry ass. The best thing youcan do is stay away from her, and you will if you care fuck at all about her.” With those parting words, shot straight into my chest, he stomps out what’s left of my front door.
A stunned Det. Atwood watches him go, while Luke catches my gaze from his chair at the door, disappointment clear in his eyes. Shaking his head, he turns his chair to wheel away.
“He doesn’t really mean that,” Bo murmurs next to me, putting his hand on my shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “You both said shit you shouldn’t have, and I know neither of you really meant it. It’s been a fucking bad day, and we’re all on edge. Give him some time. You both need to calm down, then you need to sit down and work out whatever’s been eating at you.
“We’ve all seen how you can’t stand being in the same room with each other. It’s been festering too long. I should have made you work this out before it got this bad, so that’s on me.” I roll my eyes. Bo is trying to take on the weight of my fuck up again. He’s been doing it since we were kids, but we aren’t kids anymore. We’re grown men. I own my shit, even when it hurts.
“This isn’t on you, Bo,” I argue. “It’s on me. I fucked up like I always do.” Movement in my peripheral vision catches my attention. Rachel adjusts her hold on her duffle bag nervously. Our eyes meet briefly and I know she heard every word of our fight. Looking back at Bo, I continue, “Enos is correct. I have to do the right thing and let her go. I’ll only hurt her in the long run.”
