Page 100 of Witness Protection

“I agree.”

They got cleaned up and dressed. She puttered around the small apartment, looking for more clues into Cayden’s life. There were no photos, trophies, trinkets. His life had been so empty, and she wanted to change all that.

She heard the jingle of keys. “Time to go, Sophia. We need to beat the worst of the morning rush hour.”

They walked up the concrete steps from the basement apartment. The sky was a crisp blue, massive numbers of seagulls swarming high in the distance. She pointed to them.

“There’s a dump over there. On a bad day, it can get real ripe around here,” he said.

Even though the neighborhood was in a sketchy area, she didn’t care. She’d been so sheltered growing up that the new people, sights, and sounds intrigued her.

“That’s far enough.”

A man stepped out from behind the brick wall of the building, a gun discreetly trained on Cayden, partially hidden by his jacket. She turned her head and recognized the other man from Antonio Jr.’s house. She grabbed onto Cayden’s arm.

“Damn, Antonio can’t take a fucking hint, can he?” said Cayden. “I’m kind of embarrassed for him right now.”

“Both of you get in the car.” There was a black sedan with heavily tinted windows parked on the street. A sense of dread weighed heavily in her gut. She was going to be sick.

Antonio Jr. had no reason to keep Cayden alive. He’d kill him for stealing her away and force her to marry him. Then he’d murder her, too, and make it look like an accident.

This wasn’t good.

“You going to shoot us in broad daylight?” Cayden asked, still refusing to budge.

“I doubt anyone would notice around here,” said the man in front of them. “I bet they won’t even call the cops.”

The man behind them rammed the butt of his gun down on Cayden’s shoulder, bringing him to one knee. He cursed under his breath.

“Leave him out of this!” said Sophia. “I’ll go with you quietly, but only if you forget about him. I’m the one you want.” She couldn’t live with herself if they killed Cayden. At least she knew they wanted her alive.

“Not happening,” said Cayden. He reached for the gun in the back of his jeans as he stood back up, whipping it out to aim at the man in front of him. The other man pointed a gun at him in response.

The first man chuckled. “Just drop it. You’re outnumbered. Kill me and you’ll both join me within seconds. You know how this works. Even you’re not that fast, Mr. Walsh.”

She held Cayden’s outstretched arm, but he was too focused, his arm rock hard and unwavering. He had nerves and balls of steel.

“Antonio Jr. would never approve of you killing Sophia. You go home and tell him she’s dead, that asshole will skin you both alive for ruining his wedding plans. No, this is what happens—I shoot you in the fucking face and your friend will do me the same favor. Sophia walks away.”

“Cayden, no, stop it!” she said. Her nerves were frayed, her heart jackhammering in her chest.

“Sophia, go back to the apartment. Just walk down the stairs and lock yourself inside. Call Hawk and tell him where you are. No one will hurt you.” He used his free hand to pass her the keys, his blue eyes never leaving his intended target. Once she was out of sight, he’d kill both men, not caring if he was killed in return. How could this be happening?

“I’m not leaving you!”

“Neither am I.”

Everyone turned to the new voice. The second gunman collapsed to his knees, then fell to the ground, his neck at an unnatural angle. Hawk stood in his place, a gun aimed at Antonio’s other man.

“Hawk!” she blurted. It was hard to contain her excitement. Both men were ready to die for her. She loved them more than she could ever express.

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