I honestly couldn’t wait to officially meet her brother. I wanted to know why he would do everything he’d done to her. Why he would risk her life when he robbed the store. What if she had been shot? What if she had died because of it? I was lucky that the bullet had hit me where it had. Six or so inches over, and it would have pierced my heart. Cassie told me that they said the guns weren’t supposed to be loaded and that her brother’s friend—the one who had answered the door when I picked her up for the wedding—changed his mind, and he was actually the one who shot me. I couldn’t wait to see him again, either. To tell him face to face that I knew it was him, and to watch as he went down in flames with her brother.
It was only a matter of time.
Mom set my salad in front of me. “Hey, Mom?” I called out before she could walk away.
“Yeah, honey?”
“You’re going to need a new waitress.”
“Why’s that?”
“We’re going back to Vegas.” I pierced a strawberry with my fork.
“She’s going back to Vegas with you?”
“Yes, but—” I caught myself before telling her that Vegas was actually where Cassie was from. I needed to wait until I was able to tell her the entire truth.
“Yes, but what?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. Just a heads up that she won’t be returning tomorrow.”
My mom’s brown eyes widened. “Tomorrow?”
“I know. We’re going to tell you everything when you get home.”
“Damnit, Bradley. This is killing me.”
“Just trust me.”
She smiled warmly. “I do.”
Mom walked away, and Cassie walked up a few moments later. “So I was thinking.”
“Yeah?”
“Keith picks me up after my shift. He’s going to be waiting in the parking lot for me.”
“Okay.”
“He already thinks you’re a cop. Once he sees me with you, he’ll get spooked.”
“Then we’ll leave early.”
“I can’t.”
“I’ll talk to Mom. She’ll cover for you.”
“I can’t let—”
“It’s fine, Cass. I already told her it was your last day.”
She arched a brow. “You did?”
“Yes. Shit is going to go down, and I need to know you’re safe.”
“I know, but I have to at least give her two weeks.”
“Trust me, it’s okay.” I took a bite of the chicken with a chunk of blue cheese.
“How?”
“They handled the diner before you arrived. I’m sure they can manage until they find someone else.”
“I don’t want to look bad in your mom’s eyes.”
“Once we tell her everything that’s happening, she will understand.”
“Right. Well, my shift is over in thirty minutes. Maybe we should leave now?”
I stood. “Mind boxing my salad up while I let my mom know?”
Cassie nodded. “Sure.”
Ten minutes later, Cassie was getting into the passenger seat of the rental car. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she said, buckling her seatbelt.
I grabbed her hand and laced our fingers together. “Everything will be okay.”
“I need to tell you something else before you start driving.”
“Okay?” I turned slightly to face her, our hands still locked together.
“The guy who shot you—Micky?” I nodded. “When you dropped me off from the wedding, he was pissed and thought you were a cop. That’s what triggered everything.”
“Okay?” I prompted again.
She swallowed. “He was so angry, thinking that I was going to turn him in, that he snapped and started choking me.”
“What?” I growled. My blood was instantly on fire as I envisioned the guy with his hands around her slender neck.
“My brother stopped him before he could do anything serious to me.”
“Choking you is serious. He should have never put his hands on you.”
“I know, and I think that is also why my brother chose to leave.”
“Cassie—”
“Look,” she sighed, “I’m just telling you because I want you to know everything.”
“And you’re going to tell the police this too?”
She nodded. “Yes, of course.”
I pulled her to me and wrapped my arms around her the best I could with the center console between us. “Everything is going to be okay.”
She nodded against my chest, and I held her for a few moments before turning and putting the car into reverse. Once out of the parking lot, I looked in the rearview mirror and saw a car that looked like the one her brother owned pull out of the parking lot behind me. It wasn’t there when we got into the rental—I’d made sure of it—so I didn’t know if he had driven up as we’d climbed in or what. I didn’t say anything to Cassie because I didn’t want to worry her. No matter what, I could handle her brother. I might not have officially met him, but I’d had him in a chokehold once, and I could have ended his life then if I’d wanted to—I was trained for it—but I wouldn’t do that to Cassie. Killing her brother, even if it were self-defense, would crush her, but that didn’t mean I didn’t know other means to diffuse situations if the need were to arise.
He followed me with each turn I made, and I was certain it was him. I kept my cool and pulled the car to a stop in front of my mom’s house.
“We’ll talk to Mom when she gets home in about two hours. After that, we’ll get you some clothes and everything you need.”
Cassie nodded and reached for the handle.
The car that was following us didn’t stop, and I was thankful, because if it had, I knew that there would be an altercation in the middle of the street. Not only could I not let that happen to Cassie, I also knew it would embarrass my mother. It might not have been smart to lead Cassie’s brother to my mother’s home, but I wasn’t scared of him, and who’s to say we weren’t at a friend’s place or something. We could be gone in five minutes for all he knew.
I looked over my shoulder to make sure he didn’t come back as Cassie and I walked up to the front door. After unlocking it, I motioned for her to enter. “Make yourself at home. Do you want to shower or anything? I have a T-shirt and basketball shorts you can wear. They will be big on you, but they’ll work.”
“Sure.”
I shut the door and locked it, and Cassie followed me down the hall to the bathroom after I’d placed my salad on the kitchen counter. “Get the water how you like it, and I’ll get you the clothes and a towel.”
She reached out and grabbed my arm before I could walk away. “Thank you for this. It means a lot finally to have someone take care of me.”
I swear my heart skipped a beat, and I pulled her into my arms, hugging her and not saying anything because there were no words. She’d had a shit life, and I was determined to make it better for her now that I was in it. “You’re welcome, princess.”
After I got her the clothes and towel, Cassie went into the bathroom and showered. I went to the front window and looked out, checking for her brother’s car. Not only did I see it, but the fucker was parked across the street.
I waited to see what he would do. To my surprise, he got out of the car and walked toward the house. The water was still running in the bathroom, and without hesitation, I unlocked the front door and opened it. “Can I help you with something?”
“Where’s Cassie?”
I crossed my arms over my broad chest. “Where she wants to be.”
“Don’t fuck with me, dude. Cassie needs to get in the car now,” he barked as he walked up the stairs of the porch.
“She doesn’t want to be around you anymore.” I blocked him from entering the house.
“That is my sister. You have no idea—”
“No idea that you drugged and kidnapped your own sister?” I growled, getting in his face. “I know more than you think, and unless you want
to get the cops involved, I suggest you leave now.”
He glared at me, and I narrowed my gaze back at him until our attention moved to another car pulling in front of the house with a screeching halt. When the person got out, I recognized that it was the guy who had opened the door when I’d picked Cassie up for Vin’s wedding. The one who had shot me. The one who had put his hands on my woman.
“What are you doing here?” Cassie’s brother asked as he turned around to speak to his friend.
Without a word, the guy pulled a gun from his back and aimed it at her brother. “You think you can run and take all the money and not share it with me?”
“Dude!” Her brother held up his hands in surrender. My body went taut as I waited to see what was going to happen. “Put the gun down before you shoot me again.”
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do!” Micky yelled. He looked at me and chuckled. “I see you ran to the cops.”
I didn’t clarify that I wasn’t a police officer.
“I didn’t do shit. I came to get Cass. She’s inside, and he’s not a pig.”
“I’m tired of the bullshit, Keith,” Micky stated. “I know you’ve turned on me, and I can’t let that happen. Same with your cunt sister.”
Red clouded my vision when he spoke about Cassie that way, but before I could do anything, the door opened behind me. As I looked over my shoulder to see Cassie stepping outside, the gun went off. I turned my head back to see that the gun was aimed at me. I didn’t feel anything as I quickly assessed if I had been shot again. My gaze moved to Cassie’s; she stared up at me, a look of terror in her eyes.
Pop!
Another shot sounded, and I moved to block Cassie from the line of fire. I felt a warm wet feeling between us. Looking down, I saw red soak my T-shirt.
“Brad,” she whispered.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
“It burns,” she said weakly, and then it hit me. She had been shot.
Pop!
I heard a bullet ricochet off of the house, and I knew what I needed to do. I didn’t want to get up, but I had to. I had to stop this guy from killing all of us. Getting to my feet, I rushed toward Micky. His eyes widened as he pointed the gun at me again, but before he could fire off another round, I tackled him, my hand on the gun.
In that split second, I made a decision.
I was trained for combat.
I was trained to protect.
And I was trained to kill.
I tilted the gun back and slipped my finger against the trigger as we crashed to the ground. With the vision of his hands around Cassie’s throat, calling her a cunt, I pulled the trigger. Blood splattered across my face, and I knew what the outcome was.
I rose off of Micky’s lifeless body. The bullet had penetrated through his chin and into his skull, killing him instantly and neutralizing the threat.
Slipping the magazine out of the gun, I threw it onto the ground as I made my way back to Cassie, passing Keith in the process. He was shot too, explaining the second shot I’d heard when I was covering her body with mine.
“Cassie!” I cried and knelt by her side. I could hear sirens in the background, but my focus was on her. “Talk to me, please.”
Her sapphire blue eyes fluttered opened. “It hurts.”
“Yeah, princess, I know.” Blood was seeping from her abdomen, and I tore off my T-shirt and used it to put pressure on her wound. “It’s going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay.”
I looked over my shoulder toward the street, seeing Holly standing on the other side. She held up her cell phone, indicating she had called 9-1-1. I nodded and looked back at Cassie. “Keep your eyes open, baby.”
“It hurts,” she groaned again, not opening her eyes.
“I know,” I repeated. “Tell me what your favorite flower is.”
Cassie’s eyes barely opened. “What?”
“What’s your favorite flower, Cass?” I asked again, needing to keep her talking.
“Sun … flowers,” she replied slowly.
“And your favorite color?”
“Pink.”
“What about your favorite kind of pizza?”
“Pineapple … and … pepperoni.”
I smiled because I didn’t expect that answer. “I’m going to have to try that combination.”
A firetruck grew closer and stopped in front of the house, followed by an ambulance. “Help is here, princess. I told you everything is going to be okay.”
I stepped back to let one of the first responders tend to her. Even though I told her that everything was going to be okay, I wasn’t sure. I’d tended to multiple soldiers who were shot in the field—some lived and some didn’t—and the amount of blood that Cassie was losing was worrisome. If, after all of this, she died, I didn’t know what I would do.
“Brad.”
I looked up to see a buddy of mine from high school, who was now a police officer, walking toward me. I stuck out my blood-covered hand, and then drew it back and gave him a nod of greeting instead. “Daryl.”
“Step over here for a minute.” He motioned to step off the porch and onto the lawn. I followed Daryl. “What happened?”
“Can we wait to do this? My girl’s been shot.”
“She’s in good hands, and there’s nothing you can do.”
He was right, but I hated having to recount everything while she lay on my mother’s front porch bleeding out. As I was telling him about Keith and Micky, I noticed Mom across the street with Mary and Holly. I fucking hated that this had happened at her house—on her porch—but I was thankful she hadn’t been home when it did. I wasn’t sure how she got home so fast. Maybe someone had called and told her shit was going down at her house.
Fuck, I hoped all of this was over.
Just as I was telling Daryl about the connection to the robbery in Vegas, another ambulance showed up. I continued to tell Daryl everything I knew as multiple paramedics tended to both Cassie and Keith.
A sheet was draped over Micky as Daryl asked, “You were wrestling the gun away, and it went off?”
I nodded because that was half the truth. I knew what I was doing. Maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do, and maybe I wouldn’t have had the same reaction if it wasn’t right after Cassie had told me that the motherfucker had his hands around her neck, but I did do it.
I killed him.
Another gurney was brought in, and I watched as they lifted Cassie and put her on it. “Can I go with her?”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you. You killed a guy, Brad.”
“I’m being arrested?”
“I didn’t say that, either. I just need to get some more information before I can let you leave.”
“I’m all she has.” My heart ached.
“What about your mom?” He pointed to where she stood, watching us.
“Yes. That will be fine as long as someone goes with Cassie.”
“Stay here, and I’ll ask her to hop into the ambulance.”
“Thanks.” The paramedics wheeled Cassie past me, and I grabbed her hand, walking with them. “Mom is going to go with you to the hospital.”
“What about you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’ll be there shortly. I just have to talk to the officer some more before I can leave.”
“And Keith?”
“I’m not sure, princess. I’m more worried about you, but I’ll find out and let you know.” I wasn’t going to tell her that he was shot too because I didn’t want her to panic more than she already was. The paramedics lifted her and placed her into the back of the ambulance.
Mom rushed over with Daryl not far behind her. “I want answers.” She pointed at me.
I nodded. “You’ll get them as soon as I get to the hospital.”
She climbed into the ambulance, and they shut the doors before driving away. Not long after, Keith was put in the other ambulance.
“The witness who called it in
recounts your same story,” Daryl stated. “Said she saw the entire thing, and your actions were done in self-defense.”
“Exactly.” I made a mental note to thank Holly.
“I just have a few more questions, then you can grab a clean shirt, and I’ll let you get to the hospital.”
“Of course.”
I was scared as we rode to the hospital, Shannon gripping my hand the entire way.
I never thought Micky would show up with a gun. How did he find us? Had Keith told him where we were? Jeff, maybe? They’d all gone to school together in Vegas.
As I’d lain on the porch, my stomach burning with fire, I’d thought it was the end, that I was going to see my parents again. I didn’t want that to happen, even though I missed them because, at that moment, I knew I was in love with Brad. I had thought it was just a crush, but when I hugged him at the diner, I never wanted to leave his arms, and I knew it was more than a crush.
“Cassie, we’re almost to the hospital. Just hang in there,” one of the paramedics said.
Shannon looked at the paramedic and then looked at me. I met her eyes and clarified, even though my brain was fuzzy, “My real name is Cassie.”
She gave a small smile. “It’s okay, honey. I trust my son that everything is for a good reason.”
“I love him,” I admitted. Why was my mouth saying that to his mother?
She patted my hand. “You don’t know how happy that makes me.”
“Hey, Cassie, I’m your recovery nurse. How are you feeling?”
“I …” I tried to speak, but my throat burned. I tried again. “My throat hurts.”
“Let me get you some water. Your throat might be a little sore because of the breathing tube they inserted during the surgery.”
I nodded and waited for her to pour me some water. Once she did, she helped me sit up so I could have a small sip out of the straw. It felt good going down my throat, almost soothing.
“You’re just going to stay here for about an hour to see how well you do as the anesthesia wears off. Once that happens, we’ll move you to a room.”
“Okay.” I took another sip of water but felt nauseated, so I stopped. “When can I see my …” I hesitated because I wasn’t sure what to call Brad and Shannon, and I had no idea what had happened to Keith.
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