Page 98 of The Enforcer

“No,” Decker snapped at Mary who was kneeled before him. “You don’t get to say anything. He doesn’t get to hear your last words to him before he dies. Just like I didn’t get to say them to my brother.”

She didn’t have to say the words. Mary’s face had always been an open book. He’d known for some time now. Had hoped for it. To receive the greatest treasure in the world; Mary’s heart. It was a special kind of cruelty for Decker to deny him hearing those words from her lips. But it didn’t matter. Not when he could see her love for him.

Decker aimed his gun and cocked the hammer back. Hector knew his time was up.

“Tell Zoe and our baby that they are loved. That I had wanted to be there for them.”

If it wasn’t for Decker’s bullet, the pain in Mary’s eyes would probably have killed him.

His wife mouthed “I love you” to him and then made her move. She threw herself at Decker, nearly giving Hector a heart attack.

Just like everyone else, Decker had dismissed Mary after a first glance, deeming her harmless.

Big fucking mistake.

In the split second that his wife struggled for Decker’s gun, Hector launched himself at him. But not before Decker slapped Mary with the gun, dropping her onto the floor.

Hector roared and knocked Decker down. His gun slid across the ground, disappearing underneath a car.

What followed was a downright brawl. Hector had never fought so hard in his life before. Not on the streets, not in a war zone, and not in a cage. It was full throttle on when he pummeled Decker into the ground.

He grunted when Decker got a hit to his busted leg, but immediately retaliated with a hold on his arms, breaking both of them. Decker dropped to the floor, on his knees.

Hector did a kick back to his knees, splintering the bone. Decker face-planted, groaning in agony. He wasn’t going anywhere.

The second he’d eliminated the threat, Hector limped toward his wife. She lay on the ground, motionless. Fear lodged in his throat.

“No, no, no. Don’t do this to me.” He dropped next to her and cradled her head in his lap. She was as pale as a ghost. Her temple, where Decker had slammed his gun, was already turning purple.

Decker started laughing. It was a dark, eerie laugh. The guy was half-dead, and could barely move, but he laughed like there was no tomorrow.

“Feel”—he coughed—“my pain.”

“You sack of shit,” Hector snarled, as tears pricked his eyes. “You’re not worthy enough to breathe the same air as she does, let alone touch her. If your brother were alive, he’d be fucking ashamed of you.” He focused back on his wife. “Mary? Baby, please wake up. Open your pretty eyes.”

Suddenly, a door to his right creaked open, sounding like it hadn’t been opened in a long time.

Damon’s head peeked through the opening. “Shit.” He stepped past Decker, barely giving him a glance, and looked down at Mary.

“Where are the damn EMTs?” Hector growled.

“Ambulance is at the front. The entrance of the lot is wrecked, so it takes some time to get through that. They should be here any minute.” His head turned back to Decker, who was still laughing. “You know what’s going to happen when the cops get here. Want me to take him out?”

Hector knew what he was asking. Decker wouldn’t be tried. He was off his rocker, completelyloco. He’d most likely end up in some mental ward for the rest of his days. Or until he got out. A man with his skillswouldeventually get out. After all, in his warped mind, he hadn’t finished his mission.

He wanted to snap Decker’s neck, finish the job. But, for the life of him, he couldn’t let Mary go. She was unconscious, covered in scraps, and blood coated her leg. He feared that the second he stopped touching her, she would slip away, never to wake up.

“Take him away, but don’t kill him.” At Damon’s frown, he snarled, “If Mary doesn’t make it, he doesn’t get to die. I’ll make him die every day for as long as I have to live without her.”

He hadn’t even told Mary how much he loved her yet. And now, thanks to this piece of shit, he might never get the chance. He’d been pretending to drink all night, trying to appear a bit drunk, sluggish even. He was convinced Decker had eyes on him. No way the fucker wasn’t tracking him down somehow. He had the unfortunate luck of running into Heidi that night. Then Mary happened. God, the hurt in her eyes. Her last memory of him would be with another woman.

“You can’t die on me,” he whispered, holding her tight. “You’ve broken into my heart, smashed all my walls. I’m not letting you go. You don’t just get to leave me. I won’t let you.”

***

After spending six hours in the hospital, Hector was ready to climb the walls.

“Why isn’t she waking up?”

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