“Oh my God, Nat,” I breathe, tears springing to my eyes as I stoop down and pick it up.
“She doesn’t have a name yet,” Natalie explains quickly. “I thought you could name her. I-”
I cut her off with a deep kiss, pressing my lips against hers and bringing her in close with my free hand. “I love you so damn much,” I smile against her lips as we break apart. “Here,” I hand the squirming puppy over to her and reach into my pocket. “I got you something for Christmas too.”
“For me?” she squeals happily, putting the puppy down and snatching the small wrapped box out of my hand.
Ripping the paper open, she lifts off the lid and lets out her breath in a loud rush. “Oh my God,” she exclaims, removing the necklace from the box and holding it up. “Keets, this is so beautiful.” Passing me the necklace, she turns her back to me and holds up her hair so that I can fasten it around her slim throat. “One day, I’ll tell you the story of how I got this necklace,” I whisper, pressing a kiss against the base of her neck.
“I love you so much,” she says softly, turning back around to face me once more.
“I love you more,” I grin, planting a soft kiss on the tip of her nose.
“Come on, you two,” Zeke appears at the doorway. “It’s time for presents.” He disappears again.
“Shouldn’t we go in?” she laughs when I make no move to let her go.
“Hmm,” I pretend to think it over carefully. “Fuck them, they can wait a few minutes more.”
“Best thing I’ve heard all day,” she grins as my mouth claims her.
BULLET
I step into the phone booth and lift the receiver. Inserting a few quarters, I listen to it ring.
“911, what is your emergency?” a woman answers.
“I killed a man,” I say, closing my eyes as what I’m doing sinks in.
“I’m sorry, sir, did you say-”
“I said I killed a man,” I repeat. “He’s in the trunk of my car. Find him if you can.” Hanging up the phone, I step out of the phone booth.
Turning the collar up on my jacket, I walk down the street and hail the first cab that I see. Climbing into the back, I don’t bother with my seat belt.
“Just get me as far away from here as possible,” I tell the driver. He nods and pulls the cab away from the curb. Leaning my head back against the head rest, I watch the scenery fly by in a blur of white snow.
Hearing the sirens, I sit up and watch out the window as three police cars speed by in the direction I just came from, and I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face.
I’m not a good guy, I’ve never claimed to be. Yeah, I fucked up years ago; I stabbed my Army brothers in the back and betrayed every single one of them. But somehow, some way, I am going to make up for it. Starting with this.
Taking responsibility for Troy’s death is the least I can do, after the sins of my own dark past. The smile slips from my face as I think about Tara, and I wonder if she’d be proud of me for trying to put things right, or if it’s too late for me to make amends.
Something tells me that I will never see Stone and Keets again, but hopefully now they can live in peace and move on with their lives. Shannon and Natalie are good women, they’ll look after my brothers well.
As for me, my story is far from over.
Wished: A Blaze of Glory Christmas Page 5