Page 88 of Enforcing the Rules

I burst into tears and scrambled into his arms, clutching at him like I was drowning.

He stroked the back of my head. “It’s over. I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you. Thank God you’re okay.”

“I was so scared,” I whispered against his shoulder.

“You’re safe now.” He pushed me back to look in my eyes. “He didn’t hurt you?”

I shook my head.

“Okay. I know you need to be held right now, but we’ve got to get out of here. Do you understand?”

I nodded, and scooted out of his arms.

“Baja and I are going to take care of the body and car. Stay here.”

They stuffed the body into the trunk and drove the car into the drive next to the house. I watched in a kind of stupor as their shadows moved around. It looked like they carried another body out of the house and shoved it in the trunk as well.

Ruiz and his brother would eventually start to stink, but the house was out in the middle of nowhere, and it may be a long time before anyone came looking for them.

I’d killed a man. His was the first dead body I’d ever seen. I think I was in shock. It had all happened so fast. All I kept seeing was the look on his face as he stared at me, a hole blown in his chest.

That thought had me glancing down to find I was covered with blood splatter. I yanked the rearview mirror down and saw it was on my face as well. I tried to scrub it away with my sleeve, my motions frantic.

That’s how Utah found me when he returned to the truck. He slid in the driver’s seat, reached across and popped open the glove compartment, coming up with a pack of wet wipes.

His touch was gentle as he took my chin and began to clean my face.

I sat there, unmoving, letting him tend to me. Finally, his eyes met mine. “You did what you had to do, Kate. He gave you no choice.”

Utah didn’t know that. He wasn’t here. But even so, I latched onto his words, and nodded. I needed to believe them.

Baja spun his vehicle in a U-turn and stopped at the driver’s window. “Let’s go. We need to get the hell out of here.”

Utah held my face. “You’ve got to shake this off, sweetheart. I need you to be strong.”

I nodded and shifted into my seat.

Utah fired the truck up, jammed it in gear and followed Baja down the gravel drive.

I couldn’t help looking back. I’m sure we left a pool of blood behind near where Utah’s truck had been parked.

“Don’t look back, Kate. It’s done. It’s over.”

I stared at him until he looked over.

“What happened in the house?” I asked softly.

“Now’s not the time. We’ll talk it all out if you want when we get back to the clubhouse. Okay? Ruiz will never threaten you again. That’s all you need to know.”

As we made a turn and headed out onto the highway, I heard dogs barking.

I looked over at Utah again. I knew he’d just killed for me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

He didn’t take his eyes off the road. “They deserved what they got, Kate. And not just talkin’ about what they did to you, though that would be enough. They’ve been pushing some horrific drug. It’s killin’ people. You don’t want to know what it does to them first.” His eyes flicked between the highway and me. “If you’re with me, stuff like this might happen. I’m not gonna explain like this every time. You sign up for me, you sign up for this life. But know this. I will never allow anyone to hurt you or someone you love. I will do what’s necessary to protect you. Always.”

I scooted over and lay my head on his shoulder, knowing tonight I was crossing a line—the one between law and order and the gray side of justice that Utah spoke about.

He squeezed my leg. “You okay, babe?”

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