by Jen Talty
“That’s not me,” she said.
“Oh, but it is. Got to love technology,” Kirk said. “Let’s get on with this.”
“What’s going to happen to Delaney after you kill me?” Josh demanded.
“You really are a sucker,” Craypo said. “You’re going to kill her before you shoot yourself.”
She stared at Josh as her heart rate slowed to a crawl. A wave of nausea hit her stomach. “Liam, why the hell are you doing this?”
“This is beautiful,” Kirk said. “Sending you was Liam’s idea. He wanted you ruined just as much as we wanted to ruin Blondie, over there.”
“Why?” She looked at Liam, who stood two paces from her. Kirk still held a gun on Josh. “Tell me. I’m going to die anyway, so I think you owe it to me.”
“Dad always loved you more,” Liam said. “Daddy’s little princess. You had everything you ever wanted, and I had to work my ass off, and all he ever said to me was that I needed to learn to take care of myself and stop asking for handouts.”
“You always expected Mom and Dad to bail you out of trouble.”
“Why don’t you tell her what you know about their death.” Kirk stood next to her, looping his arm across her shoulders.
She shuddered in disgust as he licked her cheek. “Get the hell away from me.” She tried to shrug his bulky arm off her shoulders, but he held her tighter.
“I think you should tell her who really killed them,” Kirk said.
Either her adrenaline kicked in, or she’d lost her mind, but a crazy plan began to form in Delaney’s head. She eyed Kirk, who waltzed toward Josh, twenty-five paces away. “Tell me, Liam.”
“He had to prove his loyalty,” Craypo said.
Delaney’s vision blurred as she processed Craypo’s words.
“It’s all Dad’s fault,” Liam said. “Had he not pushed me away, none of this would have happened.”
“Did you kill our parents?”
Liam’s lips turned up in a menacing smile. “After Craypo’s man hit them, I raced in and strangled them.”
Delaney sucked in a deep breath, letting it ease out, but nothing could stop the hatred swarming in her gut, or the twitching need to feel gunmetal in her palm.
Kirk stood next to Josh, twisting his arm, trying to put the gun into Josh’s clenched fist.
“This is not happening,” she said sternly. Taking a few steps backward, keeping Josh in her peripheral vision, she pulled her weapon then pointed it at Craypo’s head.
“Jesus Christ,” Craypo yelled. “Put that thing down.”
“No.” The tremors in her hands had disappeared. “Kirk, get away from Josh, or I will shoot.” At that moment, she thought she heard the whistle Jake had made earlier. She prayed he and his buddies were about to swoop in, but she wasn’t going to let herself feel any sense of relief until Josh was safe.
“Give me the gun,” her brother said, holding out his hand, inching forward.
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” Josh said. “Trust me, she’ll shoot. Even if she doesn’t, you touch her, and I’ll kill you.”
“Scared, little pathetic Delaney isn’t going to shoot anyone,” Kirk said.
“Guess you don’t know her very well.” Josh kept his hands clenched.
“She shoots, and bullets start flying,” Kirk taunted. “We have men surrounding this shithole.”
A quick burst of heat rippled to her brain, her finger hovering over the trigger as she focused on the front window of the SUV.
Another whistle in the distance.
“Go ahead, babe. Show them what you’re made of,” Josh said.
Keeping the gun on Craypo, she cocked her head. “You made Liam kill my parents and turned him into a criminal.”
“Not exactly how that happened, little lady,” Craypo said. “Now put that gun down, and we can negotiate.”
Liam took two steps closer to her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kirk staring at her with an amused grin, but he pointed his gun at her.
Now or never. Adjusting her aim, she squeezed the trigger. A loud pop and the sound of shattering glass echoed through her ears.
“Fuck!” Craypo ducked, throwing his hands over his face. “You crazy fucking bitch.” He dropped to the ground, his face bleeding from tiny pieces of glass. A shard had lodged itself in his biceps, Blood trickled steadily down his clothes.
She opened her mouth, but someone sngagged her hair, whipping her around. “Let me go!” Struggling to break free, gripping the gun, she stomped on her brother’s foot.
Liam pushed her to the ground.
“Fucking asshole.” She rolled, aiming the gun at her brother’s shoulder.
Bang!
“Bitch!” Her brother dropped to the ground. “You shot me!”
“That’s my girl,” Josh said. “Aim for Kirk. He’s coming for you.”
Turning, she pointed the weapon at Kirk’s chest, but he didn’t stop. She aimed for the ground next to his shoe and pulled the trigger.
Kirk jumped. “You’re fucking nuts. I’m going to enjoy squeezing the life out of you with my bare hands.”
Behind Kirk, she saw Jake coming around the corner of the house with two men, their hands tied behind their backs.
“Drop the weapon,” Jake yelled. He shoved the two men to their knees before taking a knife from his pocket and freeing one of Josh’s hands.
“Pull the trigger if you have to,” Josh said as he shook out his hands.
Kirk raised his gun at Delaney, smiling.
She held hers steady on his chest, fear creeping back into her.
“Don’t do it, Kirk,” Josh said as he cut the tape off his last leg, taking the gun his buddy offered. He raised the gun, two-handed. “You’re surrounded, and we have your men. Put the fucking gun down. Last chance.”
“I don’t care. I want her dead.”
“Not today,” she whispered, pulling the trigger.
Bang!
Her body jerked as she watched the bullet rip through Kirk’s thigh. He screamed and twisted as he dropped to the ground.
“Asshole,” she muttered as she got to her feet and walked to Kirk. “You’re a pathetic excuse for a man.” She spat in his face before pressing her heel over his hands, which clutched his bleeding wound.
“Fucking bitch, get off me.”
“That’s enough,” Josh said, tugging at her arm.
Her chest heaved as she stared into Josh’s eyes.
“Step away,” Josh whispered. “It’s over.”
She nodded, swallowing her breath.
“It’s far from over,” Craypo said. “None of this will stick, and then I’ll hunt you down. No games. No bullshit. Just a bullet between the eyes.”
Josh hoisted Kirk up against the SUV, securing his wrists, then turned his attention to Delaney. He held her by the shoulders. “You gonna be okay?”
“I’m not dead,” she said, letting the words fall out in a big whoosh.
“That’s my girl.” He cupped her face, fanning his thumbs under her eyes. “That’s going to be a nasty bruise.”
“I’m going to bleed to death,” Liam whined.
“I shot you in the shoulder,” she said as she stood over him, her skin hot with rage. “And just barely.” As she looked down at her brother, any positive emotion she’d ever had for him left in one beat of her heart. “You’re a heartless bastard. I hope you rot in prison.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Craypo said.
“I’ve got you on conspiracy to commit murder, not to mention your past transgressions,” Josh said, pulling the wiretap out of his pocket. He knelt. “I recorded everything, and I did it legally, so you’re going away for a very long time.”
Sirens blared in the background
“Hear that?” Reese asked as he and Jake attended to everyone’s wounds. “And that’s not just the State Police.”
The fog lifted and the sun tried to punch through the clouds.
Delaney bit back a sob. No way was she
going to lose it in front of her brother and Kirk now. She leaned against a large tree, struggling for air. She’d shot someone. Two people.
But she was alive.
Josh had been right, that if someone threatened the people she loved, she’d be able to pull the trigger.
Craypo laughed, a high pitch like fingernails screeched across a chalkboard. “Doesn’t matter if you brought down every alphabet agency on me. I will still bring you down.” He pointed up to Josh while he applied pressure to his wounds.
“Not happening
“Did you know I met your father once?” Craypo smiled. Blood squirted from his cheek where a larger piece of glass stuck out.
“What are you babbling about?” Josh asked as he tied his belt around Craypo’s arm.
“Your father died in the line of duty, three months and two days before you were born.” Craypo craned his neck, looking over his shoulder.
“Shut up,” Josh said as he pulled the belt tight. Maybe a little too tight, by the look on Craypo’s face.
“Your dad was involved in a stand-down with a couple of idiots who robbed a gas station, only it was all staged so I could carry out a hit, which was my loyalty—”
“You’re lying,” Josh said.
Craypo shook his head. “It was a hot day. One of the hottest days on record. Your father was parked in a lot across the street. I know because I tailed him for two days before I could get the plan right. I wanted to shoot him before it even started, but even back then, I was a patient man. Did it just like I was instructed.”
“You’re just fucking with me.”
Delaney inched closer as Josh continued to tug at the belt.
“Your dad had been doing paperwork when my buddies ran out of the gas station. My first bullet tore into his bulletproof vest, and it was enough to drop him to the pavement. I walked over to him, knelt, and shot him right here.” Craypo tapped Josh’s temple. “His brain—”
“Shut the fuck up.” Josh grabbed Craypo by his neck.
“Delaney, stop him,” Reese shouted.
“Don’t you ever say anything about my father.” Josh held Craypo’s neck, his face turned red, but he smiled like it was exactly what he wanted.
Delaney dropped to her knees next to Josh and tugged on his thick, hard biceps. “No! Josh. Don’t do this.” Josh didn’t seem to hear her. His eyes narrowed to tiny slits until she was barely able to able to see the green of his eyes. His lips drew into a tight line. “Josh! He’s messing with you, trying to get inside your head.”
“You’re wrong, little lady,” Craypo said in a snide tone. His voice strained under the pressure. “I kept something from that day.” Craypo gasped for air. “A picture of a beautiful pregnant woman wearing jeans, and a white shirt with a big Easter egg on the front.”
“You’re a dead man,” Josh said. He squeezed Craypo’s neck tighter. The man’s face turned blueish red.
Delaney twisted, doing her best to push Josh away, but his grip around Craypo was too tight. “Stop it, Josh. He’s not worth ruining your career. Look at me.” She touched Josh’s face. Fire poured out of every inch of his body. He blinked a few times, then nodded as he released his grip.
“Imagine my surprise when I found out you were his kid. Oh, my God. I nearly creamed my pants with the anticipation of putting you down, too.”
“You fucking bastard.” Josh punched him, the strike landing on Craypo’s nose with a loud crackle.
“Police brutality.” Craypo laughed, holding his bloody face.
Delaney quickly positioned herself between Josh and Craypo.
“You need to stop,” she whispered.
“He didn’t kill your fath—”
“No, he didn’t. He had my brother do it,” she said as Jake and Reese grabbed Josh’s arms, hoisting him to his feet.
“Go to the porch,” Reese said over the blaring sounds of sirens screaming down the road. “Let us handle the rest of this mess.”
Josh uttered a few curses as he stomped away, grabbing the chair he’d been tied to and hurling it at the house.
She took a couple of steps before Jake grabbed her arm. “I’ve never seen him that angry in the year I’ve known him.”
“Could Craypo have killed his father?” she asked.
Jake closed his eyes for a brief moment before blinking them open. “Josh has a picture of his mother in that outfit.”
A snapping noise drew her attention toward the cabin. Josh had kicked a post in the railing, breaking it, and he held half in his hand.
“Do you think you can calm him down before he destroys my cabin?”
“I’ll do my best,” she said, looking Jake in the eye. “I didn’t think you and Reese were coming.”
“We had some problems making sure Craypo’s men didn’t ambush you.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” Jake asked.
“Having my back and saving us.”
“You’re the one who saved yourself and Josh. I should be thanking you.” He smiled as the first police car rolled into the clearing. “We’re going to have a lot of company, so talk him down before any cops see him like that.” An ambulance and more police cars pulled in. Paramedics and people in uniform walked around, talking to Craypo and his men. They waved Jake over. “I need to go,” he said.
“I’ll take care of Josh.”
“Thanks,” Jake said.
Squaring her shoulders, she walked to the cabin. “Josh.”
He glared at her, the wooden spindle gripped in his hand, poised to do more damage.
“Beating down a building isn’t going to change things.”
“I know that,” he said. “But I want to hurt him… No, I want to kill him.”
“No, you don’t,” she said, inching closer, watching his fiery green eyes . “You’re hurting and grieving.”
“Don’t go there.” He raised the spindle. “You have no idea what I’m going through.”
“Are you serious?” She stepped closer. “My own brother killed our parents. Kirk used me to hurt you. I wanted to kill them both, and I had that power in my hands, but that wouldn’t make me any better than they are, and I damn well know you’re better than that.”
Josh stared at her, his mouth tight.
“What I did was terrifying. I’m not a mean person, nor do I like violence,” she said, choking on the words. “I’m doing a lot of things I had no idea I was capable of. But seeing you like this is far worse. This isn’t the man I lo- I’ve come to know. Don’t let Craypo get the best of you.” She looked over her shoulder at all the men, either bleeding or in handcuffs. Craypo smiled like they were best friends, then blew her a kiss.
Josh stopped forward, looking over her head, but she pressed both hands on his chest.
“Get out of my way,” he barked.
“No.” She cupped his face. “Look at me.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him, so move, or I’ll move you.”
“Damn it, Josh. Look at me.” She rose up on tiptoe, forcing him to see her. His green eyes snapped to her. “You’re giving him what he wants. He’s getting off on this right now. Is that what you want?”
“It felt so good to have my fingers around his neck.”
“That’s rage, and it’s not who you are. You can’t kill him.”
“I could have.” He dropped the wooden stick. “I wanted to.”
“I know,” she whispered, sliding her hands down his shoulders. His muscles relaxed a little. “I keep thinking how easy it would have been to hit Kirk in the chest, but that would change me in ways I don’t think I could have recovered from.”
“I’ve killed men.” Josh rested his hands on her hips, looking deep into her eyes.
“Not because you wanted to, but because you had to. There is big difference.”
He dropped his forehead to hers, his body still vibrating with anger.
“Breathe,” she said.
She continued to stare into his eyes, taking big, calming b
reaths with him, conveying to him with every fiber of her being that it was all going to be okay. “Come on, Josh, let it go.”
“This isn’t over!” Craypo yelled from across the yard.
Josh’s muscles tightened.
“Don’t. If you act on this rage, you’ll be going to prison for murder.”
“I don’t like it when you’re logical,” he said, stepping back and shaking out his arms. “Come on.” He took her by the hand, pulling her around the side of the porch.
“Where are we going?”
“Just around the side of the cabin. Out of the way, so we can have a moment alone.”
“Don’t we need to talk to all those people or something?”
“Eventually.” He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight, dropping his head to her shoulder. “I’m sorry about your parents, and that you had to find out about your brother this way.”
“It’s not your fault,” she whispered, reaching under his arms. His muscles twitched as she rested her hands on the small of his back. “I feel like a fool, though.”
“You’re trusting, but not a fool,” he said, kissing her neck. “You’re trembling.”
“I’m having a hard time believing all this happened. The moment I saw Kirk, it was like I was having an out-of-body experience. The part of me that wasn’t really here is coming back.”
“That’s a good way to describe it.” He kissed her cheek.
“You’ve felt like that?”
“Many times. Otherwise, I might not be able to do what’s necessary.”
An ambulance blipped, causing her to jerk back.
“The next few days are going to be rough.”
“I think it will be longer than that.” She let him draw her back into his arms. Saying goodbye to him would be damn near impossible. “How did all these people get here so fast?”
“Once the wiretap became legal, backup headed this way, placing themselves at a safe distance. I’m glad Craypo’s people didn’t see them. Things might have ended differently.”
She shivered at the thought. Rising up on tiptoe, she kissed his cheek, even though she would rather have felt their mouths come together one last time.
“That’s all I get?” He circled his arms tightly around her waist. “You can do better than that.”
Her body warmed with a mix of fear and pure love. She dropped her hands to her sides. “I don’t think we could ever—”