A huge breath that has been lodged in my chest rushes out, and I crawl to him. “Jax, he’s one of the drug guys, he told me so. He tried to shoot me.”
He shines the light low on my face and looks at the blood all over the side of my head. I can’t see his eyes, but his jaw turns to stone and his muscle ticks. “Mason.” He doesn’t yell, but the anger in his voice travels over the sound of the light rain.
“Did you find her?”
“Yes, he grazed her. Keep him subdued.” Jax holds out his hands, and I take them so he can help me stand.
“Kinley! Tell me you’re alright.” Rhys bellows, anger and fear laced into his tone.
“I’m okay.” Jax wraps his arm around my waist and helps me hop to the end of the row of beans. Dunn is standing across from me with his hands up. Mason is in front of him with his flashlight and gun pointed at him, and Rhys is on his backside with his gun pointed at him.
The next few seconds are a blur. Dunn turns, and Jax’s arm becomes a vice around my ribs as he is turning me to put himself between us. Almost immediately, I hear a gunshot and a body slumps to the ground.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
RHYS
FEAR ANDrage rush through me as I see Dunn lower his hands and turn toward Kinley and Jax with the gun in his hand. The metal flashes in the beam of Mason’s flashlight, and I don’t think, I just shoot.
My only thought is to ensure Kinley’s safety.
As soon as he goes down, Mason takes three large steps toward him and kicks the gun away from him, his gun aimed at Dunn’s head, as I turn to look for Kinley. Jax is shielding her body with his, his arm over her head, and I run toward them.
“Kinley!” Her name bursts from my lips. I don’t consciously say her name, it just flows out on a rush of panic combined with relief as I plow over plants and wires to get to her.
“Rhys.” She turns in Jax’s arms, and he holds her up as she falls toward me.
I’ve never been so scared in my life. When I heard the gunshot and then her scream, my heart jumped into my throat, and I just knew I’d lost her.
Pulling her against me, holding her tight like my life depends on it, I duck my head to her neck, and her arms go around me, her fingers digging into the skin on my shoulder blades.
“Fuck, baby, I thought I lost you. You fucking scared me.” I kiss her neck and put my lips next to her ear. “I love you, babydoll.”
The rain has turned into a drizzle, and I can taste blood on my lips. “Let me see.” I grab her shoulders and hold her away from me. “Flashlight.” I say in Jax’s direction.
He turns his light on her, and I see blood all over the side of her head and down her neck. The fucker almost killed her, the bullet grazed her head over her ear, but just half an inch could have taken her from me.
She’s looking up at my face, watching me, as I inspect the bloody gash on her head. Jax is standing next to me with the light, looking at it, too.
He shrugs his shoulder. “I’ve had worse.”
Grasping my chin, she makes me look at her as she slides her thumb over my lips. For seconds her eyes volley between mine before she whispers, “I love you, too.”
“I’m going to help Mason.” Jax mutters as he turns away, taking his light with him.
Snaking my arm around her waist, I pull her to me again and softly press my lips to hers.
“Do I call the cops or are we taking care of it?” I hear Mr. Harlow’s deep, gravely voice walking up behind Mason.
My first thought is, I wonder if they’ve ‘taken care of it’ before. My second thought is whether I would help them ‘take care of’ this if Ididn’t need it for my case.
Would I cross lines I’ve never even considered crossing for her?
Yes, I fucking would.
Touching my forehead to hers, I smile and answer him, “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. Call the cops, I need this for my case.” Lowering my voice, I say so Kinley can hear. “And to keep my job.”
“Is she okay?” Her dad asks, his voice getting closer.
