by Claire Adams
Chapter 34
Kylie
It had been a long week, but it was Friday, and I forced myself to feel good about it. I had been trudging through life lately and hated every minute of it, but it was what it was. Hunter’s words had left me a shell of who I thought I was, and I’d get over it, but not yet. It still hurt too damn much to try.
Right after I checked out the last customer in line, my mother moved to stand in front of me. Her hands were on her hips, her eyes narrowed.
“What’s going on, Kylie?” She posed the question again. It was the millionth time she asked, but I managed to escape her every time. I was running out of excuses and alibis to distract her. It was getting tougher and tougher for me to make things up.
I exhaled heavily, my heart so damn heavy. “I’m still not feeling well, Mom.” It was one of my rusty reasons, but I had nothing else.
She put the back of her hand over my forehead, then on my neck. After testing my temperature, she crossed her hands beneath her chest. Her eyes were starting to get tedious and peeved. “Stop fooling around, Kylie. You have been using that fever excuse since the other day, but you’re not even hot. What’s really going on, and where the hell has my Vince been? It’s been a whole week without his sweet little face in my store. Tell me now.”
“Mom, Hunter kicked me out of their lives.” I shrugged as tears filled my eyes.
Her expression changed in a split second. From the peevish, bored one, she turned into a surprised, pitying mood. It was a quick shift, but I understood why. I was still surprised by how things turned out so poorly.
“What happened? How the hell did things become like this?” She was staring at me with troubled eyes. Her tone was filled with anger and concern
“Remember the day when I rushed Vince to the hospital? Hunter showed up at the hospital that day furious at me. We talked about things, and he was angry at me for neglecting his son. He even told me how I acted like I was Vince’s mother, but I wasn’t his mother. I was no one’s mother.” A soft sob left me as I pulled the scab off the wound. “He said that I was a nobody who meddled too much with their affairs. He told me that we should part ways and take our time alone. It was the best thing to do at this point, anyway.” Everything flashed before me like it happened just yesterday. My heart raced as the room grew dim through my tears.
“How rude of him! That wasn’t your fault the day Vince passed out. You’re not a doctor.” My mother walked around the counter and pulled me into a warm hug, stroking my hair and pressing her cheek to the top of my head. “I think I’m in shock. I would never have expected Hunter to say such horrible things. I know I warned you about him before, but I thought I was wrong. I thought he was a man who loved you so much. Maybe my gut feeling was right, after all. He was a good for nothing, ignorant asshole.”
My eyes were hurting. I wanted to sink to the floor and weep, but I couldn’t cry anymore. The sadness had to stop. “I know, Momma.”
“I just can’t believe it, Kylie. Hunter can’t do these things.” She moved back, took my shoulders, and shook her head in disappointment. “I’m so sorry, baby. I should have known earlier.” The sound of her voice calmed me, her touch reminding me that I was someone. I was hers.
“Me either.” I shrugged and reached up to wipe my cheeks, my skin so tender from wiping at it too often as of late. “I just wish I could redo the day. I love Vince. I would never do anything to—”
“Well, of course, you wouldn’t. Don’t even think like that. Hunter should be slapped in the face for hurting you. Now, tell me what I can do for you.” She yielded a weak smile, hoping for me to cheer up.
“Just hug me, Mom. I’m going to be fine once I figure out how to get over all of this.” I moved back into her arms and let out a soft sigh, finding a little bit of peace.
“We’ll figure it out together, okay, angel?” She patted my face and smiled at me with love in her eyes.
“Thanks, Mom. I’d better get back to work,” I uttered, informing my mother that I was fine and ready for work again.
She looked at me with a worried glance, not trusting me. “Are you sure? You can rest for a while if you need time.”
“Yeah, I’m fine now. Thanks for loving me.”
“I will always love you.” She walked back to the pastry counter, and I forced myself to tuck away every shitty emotion racing through me and forget about Hunter and Vince for a little while.
While I waited for someone to check out their groceries, the chime rang. I looked at the door to see the new customer walking in. I froze as the pale guy who I was almost positive had broken into my house walked in.
It was him. No doubt. Why did he wear the same clothes today that he wore that night? Did he want me to recognize him? He was the same one who made my mom uncomfortable all the time. Why did I have to always give people the benefit of the doubt?
He looked around, searching for something. Upon staring at my direction, his pallid face drew a sinister, sly smile. It was a creepy to watch, bringing goosebumps all over my body.
“Hello there, Kylie. Long time no see,” the man said, his lips crooked in a smirk. He looked terrifying, and I could no longer move a muscle. He stood before me, observing the surroundings behind the counter. “You got some mints back there with you?
How did he know my name? I couldn’t get my tongue loose to ask. I managed to nod instead. I put the mint drops down on the counter.
He pulled his wallet out and stared me dead in the face. “So, where is your boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend? No clue what you’re talking about. I’m single.” I shrugged and took his money while forcing a smile on my face.
“Don’t play dumb. You know who I’m talking about.” He took the mints from the counter, as well as the coins he had for change. “If you don’t know, it’s fine. I’ll find him myself.” Before the man walked out of our convenience store, he stopped and faced me with a devilish look on his face. “Bye, Kylie. I hope I will still see you again. Keep safe.” He walked out whistling something.
Fear raced through me as I turned to look at my mother. She was silently reading her book. Her attention was focused on the novelette she had just started yesterday. I needed to know who that man was.
“Mom,” I called. “Who the hell is that man?”
She looked at me with skeptic eyes. “Who?”
“The man with a creepy look and pallid face. The man you don’t speak to and can’t stand when he comes in.” I watched as her expression turned sullen.
“That man is dangerous. People have always talked about him behind his back. I’m not sure if the rumors are true, but supposedly he killed Hunter’s father a few years back. Although he was the prime suspect, no evidence was found to accuse him as the killer.” She looked at me with remorseful eyes. “Sorry for making you attend to that man. I don’t know, Kylie. But something in the way he looked at me, there was something off. Like he wanted to harm me or something. I just could not talk to him.”
He was the key suspect in Hunter’s father’s death? How horrible.
I thought of the way he spoke and looked at me like he wanted to grab me and shake me. I shivered and turned from my mom, pretty sure that I should do something about him, but what?
*
The last hours at the convenience store were jammed pack. People came for last-minute purchasing. I drove home at around eleven, my head dizzy and my body tired from all the work we had done.
Arriving home was a relief. Soon enough I would finally collapse on my bed, or so I hoped. After I had parked my car, I dragged my feet like a lazy dog to the front door feeling so far beyond exhausted. I searched for my key to the house when I heard footsteps behind me.
Goosebumps raised on my skin as found the key and poked it in the lock. I was just hearing things. Everything was fine.
As soon as I stepped into the house, a familiar voice rose up behind me. “Kylie. You finally made it home. I don’t think I realized it was you who lived here.
” Lies. He laughed, and I jerked around, my heart almost stopping in my chest. The pale-faced guy from the store. “Guess fate brought us together again, hmm, pretty lady?”
“What do you want?” I whispered as I realized he had a gun.
He was holding a long gun, one I recalled Hunter saying was illegal. It was pointed right at my head, and his finger was pressed on the trigger from what I could tell.
“Hunter’s a nuisance to my black-market business. I needed to wipe out the competition, just like what I did with his dad. But I decided, why not play a game to make things fun? Ruin his property, get him to love somebody, kill the ones he loves, and make him devastated. That’s a better suffering for him, right?” The last few weeks raced through my mind. This asshole knew good and damn well that I lived here.
“How dare you.” I felt all of my sorrow and loss turn into hate and fury, leaving me willing to do anything to watch him suffer instead of Hunter.
“Luckily, I controlled the game completely. You should congratulate me for a job well done, no?”
I pulled my gun out of my purse and lifted it as quickly as I could, taking a risk that he would put a bullet in my head while I did. I had failed to protect myself so many times. I couldn’t let this be another time.
“Stay there, or I’ll shoot you in your head.” My voice was full of strength, but fuck me if I didn’t have the safety on. How was I going to get it off without him seeing me? I couldn’t. Once again…I’d failed at life.
He laughed. “Brave effort, Kylie. I admire you for finally pulling that up. I’m sorry to say this though, but it’s time to go.”
In a blink of an eye, I lost track of everything. A light flashed behind him, and he screamed as the sound of a gun going off filled my ears.
Chapter 35
Hunter
I’d been sitting on the back porch when Kylie drove up, and I got to my feet knowing that I needed to talk with her about Vince. I’d apologize for being such a dick myself too, but my deepest desire was to make things right for my boy. I deserved to be alone. Obviously.
As she walked to the house, a guy moved out of the shadows with a gun in his hand. I almost swallowed my tongue. Grabbing my gun, I jogged over there as quietly as I could and lifted my gun.
His words shocked me.
Without another thought, I lifted my weapon and fired, putting a hole in his arm as Kylie screamed and ran into the house.
That creep fell to the ground and bled profusely. He was cringing in pain, his gun lying near the open doorway as I ran over. I picked up his gun before he could get it and pointed my down at him.
“Kylie. It’s Hunter. Call the cops, baby.” I narrowed my eyes at the guy as he blinked rapidly and passed out. “Bastard.”
I could hear her talking to the cops, her voice broken as she cried and shook. The minute she finished the call, I called out to her. “Kylie. Everything is okay. Come out here so I can see you.”
She walked out and moved into my arms without hesitation. I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close, kissing the side of her face. “Shhh…I’m right here. It’s okay. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” I had her back, and I would protect her no matter what, just like I promised Vince I would. I was grateful to be able to keep that promise after fucking up so many other ones.
Upon hearing my voice, she seemed to gain back her consciousness. She looked up at me, tears rolling down her face. “Thank you for the help.”
“I got you, okay? Just rest against me.” The softness of her body pressed against my side coupled with her sweet scent had my heart doing flip-flops, my body aching. What had I done with her? I’d fucked up everything to protect myself. Shame rolled over me in great waves.
She buried her face against my neck and panted softly. “Thank you, Hunter. Thank you for saving me.” Her hands clung to my shirt as her lips touched the side of my neck.
I stifled a groan and tightened my arm around her thin frame. “No problem.”
I held her until I heard the siren of the cops, coming to the rescue. The lights of their patrol cars were blinding us. In a few more minutes, the ambulance came to the scene of the crime too.
Several police officers surrounded the creep together with a few EMS guys. We moved into the yard to get out of their way.
“What happened, Mr. Yonnie?” one of the police officers asked as he walked up.
“I was coming to check on her and saw someone dart out from the trees with a gun. I grabbed my gun and put a bullet in his arm to stop him. It’s the same asshole who has been burglarizing her place and stopping by my shop,” I explained.
“Thank goodness, Mr. Yonnie. I hope these horrible things stop for both of you. You’ve both been through so much.” The police officer was turning his back and walked off as I tried to locate Kylie in the dark. Another officer pulled her off to get her statement.
I found her standing by the EMS truck, her hair a mess, her face stained with tears. My heart overflowed with love for the pretty girl. I walked over and slid my hand into hers before pulling her close to my side.
Kylie wrapped her arms around me tightly and pressed her cheek to my chest.
“Kylie, you can’t stay here anymore. It’s too late, and I can’t let you go anywhere now. You’re coming to stay with me tonight. We can talk about things.” I kissed the top of her head as she nodded.
She glanced up and stole my breath with the deep sadness in her gaze, her blue eyes filled with far too many emotions. She had endured so much pain, and I couldn’t hurt her or me anymore. Not even to protect myself.
We walked hand in hand to my house right after the police officer consented that we go home and rest. She was silent the whole time, her expressive eyes speaking on her behalf. I felt so damn guilty, but despite that, I felt fulfilled. She was with me again, and I could at least try and fix things.
We got into the house and sat on the couch together. Her arms were clinging tightly to my body, and I held her for a few minutes, just reveling in the feeling of her once against in my arms. All I wanted was to have her in my life again, to know that she loved me and forgave me for being such a fucking idiot.
“Kylie, I’m sorry.” I stroked her gentle face. She looked so beautiful despite her vulnerability. My heart ached to see her sad, but I deserved to suffer. I deserved this pain. “I did all of those stupid things that night because I was frightened that I would fall in love with you, and you’d pick up and leave me eventually. I couldn’t bear the thought of suffering that same pain again. Vince loves you so much, and I can’t afford to see him be crushed into pieces.”
She turned to meet my eyes, her eyes crowded with tears. “I’m not going to do that to you and Vince. You are the most important people in my life, and I would never do anything to hurt Vince.”
“Baby, I know that. I overreacted.” I leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m a coward. I should have fought for you like the way you fought for us. I don’t deserve you, but here I am today begging you to forgive me. I don’t want you to go, Kylie. Please, I’ll do everything just to have you stay.” I knelt before her, pleading for her forgiveness. “Please, Kylie. I’m sorry for everything. I realized I can’t live without you. Give me another chance. Just one more.”
Tears fell from her cheeks, but the look on her face told me that she’d already forgiven me. She loved me, and like a good woman did, she made sure I knew it. “Okay, just one more chance though. If you mess up this time, I’ll be forced to shoot you with my new gun.”
We laughed together, and I moved back onto the couch, pulling her back into my arms. “You couldn’t hurt a flea if you had to.”
“What?” She laughed. “I’ve killed a hog. Remember?”
“I do remember.” I brushed my nose by hers and kissed her softly. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby.”
“Me too.” She snuggled against me. “Don’t hurt me again though, Hunter. My intentions are pure, and I’m not going anywhere. I love you too much
to leave, ever.”
As she released her hold on me, I touched her cheeks and caressed her face. The remnants of tears served as scars of the bitter yesterday, but her smile signified the beauty of tomorrow we would be facing together. My heart was beating fast as I whispered these words in her ear. “I will never hurt you again, baby. I love you too. So fucking much.”
“Can we go to bed now? I’m still freaked out and so damn tired from all of this.” She looked hopefully at me.
“Hell yeah.” I got up and took her hand in mine, walking up the stairs in front of her. We’d almost had a tragedy that would have scarred me and Vince forever, but it all turned around because I kept my promise to little man. Kylie was behind me, having already forgiven me, and wanting to spend the night in my arms.
Everything was good. Fuck, better than good.
We climbed the stairs together, our hands holding each other. Upon reaching my room, I let her lay on my bed and rest. I laid beside her, assuring her that she was not alone. She’d had a rough night, and I wanted her to feel safe and loved.
“Thank you for protecting me.” She cuddled against me.
“I’ll never go far away from you. I’ll just stay beside you no matter what. I promise, and I’ll always be here to protect what’s mine.” I tucked her golden blonde locks away from her face.
“Good, because I am…yours.” She closed her eyes and fell asleep in my arms, making me the happiest man in the world.
Chapter 36
Kylie
I woke up next to Hunter, finding solace with him lying next to me. I lifted his arm, careful so as not to wake him up from his deep sleep. I sat up and took my time to stare at his face. He was good looking and charming, even when he was sleeping. I kissed his cheek and stood up, readying myself for the new day.
Staying there overnight had me wanting to rekindle my usual routine. I jogged downstairs and walked into the kitchen, just like I had before everything went to hell in a hand basket. It was my task to prepare breakfast.