Page 29 of Breakaway

The door buckled in as he slammed his weight against the frame, the wood shrieking as it bent. My feet scrambled to find purchase, attempting to hold him off. Gareth didn’t stop, though, and I had a decision to make. Stay and be an easy target, or run and get a head start. Deciding to take my chance, I waited until he slammed into the door and moved back, and then took off while he recalibrated himself.

My feet slid on the hardwood as I bolted, turning around the corner as another bullet whizzed past my head. Blood pumped in my ears, my heart racing a mile a minute as I dodged furniture and debated where to go. Nearing the kitchen, I tossed chairs behind me and wrenched open the garage door, locking it behind me. I quickly hit the opener, scooting under it the second it was high enough.

I didn’t look back, my bare feet slapping against the concrete as I started down the drive. A body slammed into me from the side, knocking the wind out of me as we fell to the ground, my side colliding with rough pavement. A hard body pressed into me, their weight pinning me to the ground. I gasped, trying to pull in air as my head swam.

“Why are you always beating me up, man? I just got over my last injuries,” I wheezed in pain.

“Your face’s too pretty,” he cursed.

“Not you too,” I groaned. “Just leave my face alone, dude.”

Gareth didn’t answer, pulling himself up and rearing his fist back to punch me. Bucking up, I tried to dislodge his weight, moving as his fist slammed into the concrete.

“Shit, dude. That had to have hurt.”

Gareth sneered at me, his knuckles bloody as he lifted them to his face and licked. I scrunched up my nose, wondering if I’d fallen asleep watching some vampire movie or something. This couldn’t be real. His pupils were blown, and I knew he was on something. I just didn’t know what.

Taking the opportunity, I slammed my fists into his ribs and throat, then bucked up with my knees as I twisted his weight off me. I kicked the gun on the ground, and it skidded under a bush. I hoped it was enough to be out of sight for him. Common sense told me to pick it up, but that felt like a temptation I didn’t need. I wasn’t sure I could live knowing I’d shot someone, deserving or not.

The faint sound of sirens could be heard in the distance, giving me the energy to keep fighting back. I turned, my body going into a protective stance as I kept my back to the gun and him in front of me. Gareth was slower to get up, blood dripping down his hand onto the pavement.

“You were always such an asshole, thinking you were better than everyone else. Finally, I can put you in your place. These people will get to you. Will get to her. You can’t stop them. They’re too big.”

“Who?” I asked, wanting to have confirmation.

He rolled his eyes, clearly more aware than I’d given him credit for. “If you don’t know already, you’re even more screwed. But I’ll give you this tidbit since you won’t be able to tell anyone once I’m through with you.”

I kept my face blank, not wanting him to know the fear that coursed through me. There was no doubt he would kill me if he got the chance.

“Oh?” I asked, bouncing back and forth on the balls of my feet.

“The man who paid me to kill you is going to kidnap your bitch next. Seems she wasn’t nice to his son and wants to repay the favor.”

My head scrambled over the information as I tried to figure out who that could be. The sad part was it could be anyone. Though, with the information I’d learned earlier, I’d put money on it being Anders’ dad. He had threatened someone on the phone to do something. Maybe this was the something? The sirens grew closer, something Gareth appeared not to hear.

“What are you waiting for, then? Have the steroids affected your brain, Gareth? Do you have a pencil dick now? No balls to back up your words?” I taunted.

Gareth’s face turned purple, a vein bulging on his forehead as he charged me. I moved sideways so he would tackle me into the grass this time and away from the gun. Planting my feet, I dropped my elbow to ram into him as I prepared for him to make contact.

Just as he neared, his body went rigid, his muscles seizing before he fell, kicking and twitching. Breathing heavily, I watched him as I tried to understand what had just happened.

Three little wires protruded from his back, connecting to a black device held in the hand of a woman with dark hair and wearing black leather.

“Who are you?” I asked, bending down to rest my hands on my knees. Now that I wasn’t in danger, my body reminded me how much it hurt.

“Your Fairy Godmother,” she cackled. “But you can call me Macy.”

“You’re the PI?” I asked, remembering Henley talking about her.

“Ah, so you’ve heard of me?” she gasped, clutching her chest. “Henley missing me already? I knew that girl liked me.”

“Why are you here? Not that I’m not grateful.”

“I’ve been following him. Sorry I didn’t get here sooner. I’d been on a different stakeout when I’d gotten word he was spotted on campus.”

A police car and ambulance pulled onto the street, stopping in front of the house, their sirens blaring. Macy turned and pulled out a black leather case, flipping it open as the cops neared. I lifted my hands, hoping they wouldn’t think I was the aggressor.

“PI,” she said. “The perp is on the ground, and the victim requires medical attention.”

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