Page 44 of Darkest Retribution

It’s a twenty minute drive from the country club to Blaze’s house, but I’m able to shave off a couple minutes. When I pull into the driveway, Felix’s car is already parked, and some of the lights are on inside.

I jump out of the car, barreling into the house. “Felix?”

“Over here,” Willow calls from somewhere to my right.

I move through the entryway and into the living room. From there, I can just see into the kitchen. Willow is crouched on the floor next to Felix, who’s leaning against one of the cabinets. Blood trickles from the side of his head down his neck.

When Willow tries to press a towel to his head, he bats her hand away.

“What happened?”

“David was here with two of his men,” Willow says, grabbing Felix’s wrist and holding it away from his head. When she dabs at the wound near his hairline, he winces, and she rolls her eyes. “Don’t be such a baby.”

“They were on their way out when we showed up,” Felix says, nodding toward the other end of the kitchen. “Heading for the back door, I assume, which is where we came in.”

“They started shooting immediately,” Willow continues. “We were able to take cover and return fire, but we were only able to hit one of their guys.” She nods to the pool of blood in the middle of the kitchen floor. “That’s what that’s from.”

“And Felix ended up with a cut on his head how?” I try to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

If I’d been here sooner, maybe things would’ve turned out differently.

“Willow decided to take on all three of them at once as they passed through. Which was reallystupidof you, by the way. You would’ve gotten yourself killed if I hadn’t pulled you out of the way.”

With a frustrated noise, Willow throws her hands in the air. “I didn’t want David to get away again! I’m sick of chasing after him, okay? I should’ve killed him when I had the chance.”

“Still not sure why you didn’t,” Felix grouses. “You had access to him on a weekly basis.”

“Reasons,” Willow snaps, “that you wouldn’t understand.”

“At least you’re admitting that I’m right.” Felix gives me a satisfied look, but apparently my facial expression is more pissed than calm. He sighs. “We tried, Dom, I promise. But there were three of them.”

“I’ve seen you handle four men on your own.”

“Yes, exactly.On my own.When I don’t have to watch out for some reckless kid—”

“Not a kid.” Willow glares at him.

“—and when I can fight without having to watch out for another person’s wellbeing. They would’ve killed her if I hadn’t pulled her to safety. Three guns, Dom, all pointed at her. Allshootingat her.”

“I would’ve been fine,” Willow yells. “And I’m not your responsibility, anyway. You shouldn’t care about me.”

“I don’t,” Felix snaps back, glaring. “But that doesn’t mean I want to see you get shot.”

“So that’s from a bullet,” I say, pointing at Felix’s head.

He nods. “Grazed me. I’ll be fine.”

“Jesus fuckingChrist,Willow,” I grit out. “What were you thinking?”

“I didn’t ask him to help me.”

“No, because you didn’t communicate to meat all.And a ‘thank you’ would be nice, by the way. I saved your fucking life.”

“Why the hell would I thank you for being stupid? You should’ve stayed put!”

“You would’ve—”

“Enough,” I shout.

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