“How did you hurt your brother?He loves you.Kameron loves you.He is yourbrother.” And she hoped that beautiful, wonderful,kindman was still breathing.Still alive.“Where was he?”
“His place.I just went there to talk.But all he cared about was that stupid bitch of his.What does he even see in that Clary girl?She’s pretty, but that’s all.She never talks.Her sisters are hotter.”
“Quinn is my friend.She really cares about your brother.She’s just quiet.”
“Sure she does.Kameron hasmoney.That’s all women around here even think about.Think you’d be taking your clothes off for a guy like me?No, you just want Mr.Money here.TheGrady Group.Assholes got money from their dad, didn’t they?They didn’t have to scrimp and save and pick up other people’s trash just to buy beer and gas.”He was getting more and more agitated.But he wasn’t pointing the gun at Cal now.“I got to do this.I really don’t want to, not you.No real problem with you.Just your dad and those asshole cousins of yours.Think they are better than everyone else now.They are just trash, too.”
Auggie didn’t know what to do next.
She could hear sirens in the distance now.
65
Cal heard the sirens.He felt the weight of Auggie’s phone in his underwear.And he knew—she’d called for help.He just had to keep Jacob from doing something stupid in the meantime.He shifted again.His woman would not stay where she was supposed to.What was she trying to do here?
“Probably found Kameron.He was supposed to have a date with that girl.Maybe she found him.Maybe it will give her nightmares forever.Don’t have a problem with her, hate her twin, though.Evil bitch.”
“Kiya can be very protective of Quinn and Erin and Gwendolyn.She always has.Probably because she’s the oldest, even though they are twins.They are my friends.”Auggie was staying so calm.He knew she had to be as terrified as he was.“Go.Jacob.While you still can.”
Cal wasn’t lost to how this echoed the things he’d heard about what had happened with his father.How Maggie had tried to tell his father to leave.How his father had been the one who had considered Canada.
Jacob was wavering.
Getting more erratic.
Had he killed Kameron?Fear for his friend was strong, too.But Auggie and the girls—he had to do something.
Jacob stepped closer.“I guess I really am sorry about this, Grady.No hard feelings.”
He tightened his hand on the gun.Cal knew…exactly what was going to happen next.
He turned, shoved Auggie toward the heavy loveseat it had always taken him, Cadell, his dad,andKameron to move for his mother years ago.And then he lunged.
His hand wrapped around the man’s wrist.The gun discharged.
He felt the fire.He heardhercry out behind him.Heard her yelling his name.And then he had his hand on the gun.But Jacob wouldn’t let go.
They both went down.Fighting for possession.On the hardwood.
There was blood.He didn’t know whose blood it was.It was probably his own.He knew that.Registered it.But Auggie and two precious little girls were in this house.He’d die to protect them.No matter what he had to do, he was going to protect them.
Cal just kept fighting.
66
Auggie didn’t knowwhat todoto stop this.Cal was bleeding.She had seen the blood explode over his white shirt.It hadn’t even stopped him.She looked down.There was blood welling on her dress.On her.
She’d been shot.
She’d been shot.Again.
Well, now she was just beyond pissed off.Jacob Neilson didn’t get to dothis.He didn’t get to ruin her future, herhope.And he didn’t get to hurt the man Auggie knew she was starting tolove.He didn’t get to hurt them.
The gun went off again.She was screaming for help.She’d heard the sirens.Cal’s neighbors were close.Clancy hadseen.
There had to be help nearby.
The men were at her feet.Rolling.Fighting.There was so much blood.She slipped.She had on her brace, but it didn’t allow her tobendher knee that easily.Auggie fell.Her head, her shoulder bounced off the corner of the loveseat.But there…
