That’s when I hear it—the unmistakable sound of a hammer being cocked.
“You gonna shoot me in the back, you cocksucker?” I turn around slowly.
Eddie’s holding a small revolver, pointed right at my chest. His hand is shaking, but at this distance, it hardly matters.
“You think you can just take my family?” he snarls, his voice wavering. “Honey’s never going to see those boys again. I swear to God, I’ll?—”
The gun goes off, but the shot goes wide.
“Fuck!” My hands go up to cover my head, and my eyes fly to the splintered wood beside me.
Without thinking, I draw the pistol at my back and fire.
The bullet catches Eddie right between the eyes, a perfect shot.
He crumples to the floor with a loud thump, the gun falling from his lifeless hand.
For a moment, the cabin is silent except for the ringing in my ears. Suddenly, the door bursts open, and my brothers rush in, weapons drawn.
They all stop short when they see Eddie’s body on the floor, a pool of blood spreading beneath his head.
“So much for letting the fucker live.” Reign chuckles.
Killer steps around him and smirks. “Good riddance,” he says, turning to me. “Get out of here, brother. Take your boys back to their momma. I’ll handle this.”
I nod, relief washing over me. “Thanks, brother.”
Killer grunts.
Holstering my weapon, I head outside. I took Eddie’s life—the father of Honey’s boys.
Fuck!
But as I approach my truck where Tommy and Jackson are stirring in the backseat, looking drowsy but alive, I can’t bring myself to regret it.
I’ll live with what I’ve done.
Tommy and Jackson are my boys now.
And I’ve got to get my boys home to their momma.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
HONEY
I stareat the wooden table, tracing the wood grain patterns with my finger. The same table I sat at just a day ago, laughing with Cora and the other women. Now I’m sitting here alone, praying to whatever gods might be listening to bring my babies back to me.
Every time the door opens, my head snaps up. And every time, my heart sinks when it’s not Dread with my boys.
The door swings open again, and I look up, hope rising in my chest, only to be crushed when I see it’s Cora and Memphis.
They rush over, concern etched on their faces.
“Oh, honey,” Memphis says, sliding into the booth and pulling me into a tight hug. The warmth of her embrace nearly breaks me.
Cora slides into the booth across from us. “Chief told me what happened. How are you holding up, sweetie?”
That’s all it takes. The dam breaks, and tears pour down my cheeks.
