Page 29 of Shadow

Only the need for this man’s blood on my hands remained.

And when I saw him put the knife to her throat, I acted.

Guns raised, I ran into the barn and shot the fucker in the thigh, dropping him to the ground as he cried like the little bitch he was. The detective jumped, reaching for his gun. I didn’t wait. As far as I was concerned, that motherfucker was complicit. Just as damn guilty as the rapist.

Shooting at him, I yelled, “JINX!” when I saw Kali fall to the floor.

The detective kept firing when I took out his kneecap, causing him to fall to the floor. He still got off a few more shots as the other fucker, the one I wanted dead, dropped the knife he was holding, got to his feet before running out of the barn.

The detective hobbled behind him.

Seeing Kali on the ground, I rushed to her. Dropping to my knees, I felt the pain. I knew the motherfucker got me. I just didn’t care. All I cared about was protecting Kali. Crawling over to her, I gathered her in my arms. “Stay awake, Jinx. Come on, sweetheart, stay awake.”

She opened her eyes and looked at me.

“You came for me,” she croaked.

Fuck me.

She had a nasty cut on the side of her neck. Placing my hand over the cut to stem the blood flow, she never winced. “I missed you. Is he dead?”

I sighed. “He got away, Kali. I’m sorry. I got him in his leg, but he ran out the side of the barn. The cop with him.”

“It’s okay,” she sighed, moving closer to me, reaching for my hand. “You’re here. That’s all that matters.”

Resting her head on my shoulder, she curled herself around me as she whispered, “Kole? Is Kansas coming?”

“Kali, I can guarantee that the entire club will come.”

“That’s good,” she barely whispered.

“Kali, I need to tell you something. It was me. I killed your brother. I didn’t mean to. I wasn’t in my right mind when it happened. I thought he was hurting a woman. By the time I realized it, I had already killed him. He wanted me to give you a message. He told me…tell Jinx I love her.”

She hugged me closer. “I love you too. Kole, I’m tired. Can we talk later? Like when I’m not bleeding all over the place?”

I kissed her forehead, then moaned, “Sure, Jinx.”

I didn’t know how long we laid there on the ground. It felt like an eternity when I heard the bikes pull up to the entrance. I wasn’t taking any chances. Raising my gun, I took aim at anyone coming near us.

She was mine to protect now and I would die before I allowed anyone else to hurt her.

“Shadow, it’s me. Kansas.”

My hand shook.

I wanted to believe him, but all I saw were the faces. They were everywhere now. Screaming at me, telling me to end it. To join them in hell. I had the gun. All I had to do was point it at my head and shoot, and my nightmare would be over.

Then Kali moaned, and the voices receded.

I blinked as Kansas’ face came into focus. He stood not far from me, his hands up protectively as he took a step forward.

“Shadow. It’s over. They’re gone. You saved her, brother.”

“Fuck,Kansas. They’re both hurt bad.”

“I saved her. Just like he asked,” I barely said.

“Yes, you did, brother. You saved her. Now let us help you.”

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