Damn it, no service.
I tuck my phone back in my pocket.I need a weapon.Fuck me.I check Tawny’s glove box.Bingo.The gun her father gifted her last year for Christmas.Guess I should be thankful she didn’t shoot my ass.I check to see if it’s even loaded.
Thank God for small favors, she’s got a full clip.
I ease out of the car, but all their heads snap to me when I slam the door shut.“A party and I didn’t get an invite,” I call out.Tom points his gun at me, and his eyes are off Neva.Good.That’s what I wanted.
“Don’t come any closer,” he shouts.
“It’s cool, man.I just want to talk.”
I try to shoot a look at Neva.I need her to run.
As soon as she’s clear, I’m taking my shot.
She looks at me and nods, then makes her move.Everything happens fast.
Neva elbows Jenny Lynn in the gut.She doubles over and Neva runs.I fire a shot, and so does Tom.Mine strikes him in the left shoulder.His hits the windshield of Tawny’s car.I fire again and miss.The third time I get his gut.
Jenny Lynn goes for his gun, but I fire another round into the air, and she drops down to his side instead.
Neva stands on the porch, cuddling her damn cat, but the sight warms me.
“Go call Thad Stevens,” I tell Neva as I walk up on Jenny Lynn and Tom.I could burn them in their car at one of the old strip mines, but I’m not involving Neva in something like that.
Tawny comes rushing across the field between my house and Devil’s.
“I heard the shots.Are you okay?”
Jenny Lynn cries over her piece of shit pervert husband.
He’s breathing, but barely.
Tawny is throwing a tantrum about her car, but all I care about is Neva.
“Keep an eye on them.”I hand Tawny her gun and trust she’s not going to shoot me.Not yet anyway.
I walk into the house and find Neva sitting by the fireplace with Mr.Tinkles, staring at the flames.
I drop to my knees in front of her.“Fuck, Neva.Thought I’d lost you.”
I cradle her warm face between my chilly hands.
She tries to pull away from me.
“But you have.You’re having a baby with Tawny.I can’t get between that.I won’t.I won’t be the other woman.Not even for you.I love you, Justice, but it hurts too bad.I—”
Her pain crashes through me like thunder cracking across the sky in a storm.
“I won’t give you up, baby.I can’t.You’re in my veins.You could cut them open and bleed me dry, but you’d still be in my bones.You belong to me, Bean.I’m yours.All fucking yours.”
She shakes her head.Tears stream down her cheeks.“If you love me, you’ll let me go.”
“You’re my whole heart.My whole goddamned stupid fucking heart.I love you, Neva, with every fiber in me.We can’t be over.I just got you.You’re mine.”
“Please, just go.I can’t look at you.”She closes her eyes, and I kiss her sugary lips.“No.”She lets the cat go and shoves me on my ass.“Just go, please.”
“Bean…”
