“What is going on here?” Chase asks, keeping his body in front of mine. He’s going to get himself killed.
“Moved on quickly, didn’t you?” Rio continues, “I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Rio,” I swallow thickly, “Please. Don’t do this.”
“You should have just given up, Elena. Why’d you run? You must have known it wasn’t over. Anton wants your body; I plan on delivering.”
“He has the city,” I try, “He doesn’t need my body.”
“If your father was good for anything, it was earning loyalty.”
Does that mean Anton hasn’t fully been accepted yet? Does he need to prove I’m dead to gain full control?
“You should’ve given me what I wanted, Elena.”
“Fuck you!” I hiss, grab hold of Chase and dart left, dragging him with me around the car and toward the house. Chase is on my heels, but a shot rings out, the sound echoing off the mountains. I hear a body hit the floor and my heart stops in mychest, but I can’t risk looking back; I have to run. I have to hide. Find a weapon to fight back with. I can’t die yet. My contact is coming tomorrow; we’re supposed to be making a plan.
I’m supposed to fix this place! Fix this for Knox.
Rio’s hand twists in my hair just as I get to the porch steps, and I go down hard, my head hitting off the top step with a hard thud. Stars burst behind my eyes, and I’m momentarily dazed, my body no longer responding as he drags me back down, spinning me until I’m on my back. He straddles me, hands going to my throat.
No!No!
His palms press into my windpipe, cutting off my air, his face twisted in hate, in rage. I claw at his wrists, trying to throw him off with my hips, but his strength outweighs mine.
A loud snarl sounds before a blur of grey fur lunges for him, teeth sinking into his shoulder. Judge attacks without thought, teeth snapping, his snarling growls violent. Rio has no choice but to let go of me to defend himself against the dog.
I reach for the gun he’s dropped beside us, but Rio manages to throw Judge off, sending him back, but it’s given me a chance. I don’t have a moment to aim; I just fire, the bullet hitting him in the knee.
He howls, falling away from me, and I scramble up, pressing the trigger again, but it simply clicks, out of ammo. Judge is dazed, Rio is groaning in pain, holding his leg as blood steadily pours fromthe wound in his knee. My breath heaves from me, my throat raw, eyes burning. Stumbling toward him, I lift the gun and bring the butt of the handle down, hitting him hard against his temple, knocking him out cold.
With the rope wrapped around the porch railing, I tie up his hands and his ankles, leaving him there to stumble toward Chase’s body. He’s lying face down in the dirt, a pool of blood blooming beneath him.
Turning him over, I see the hole in his chest, the open, lifeless eyes, the lack of color in his skin. Even his freckles look paler.
Dead. He’s dead.
Blood coats my hands, my legs, as I kneel in the pool, strength leaving me, heart hammering painfully.
And for the first time since my whole life went to shit,I truly cry.
CHAPTER 31
The only fucking thing I want right now is my woman. It’s been a long fucking day, the sun has set, and darkness blankets the ranch. My tires crunch over the gravel as I drive up the long dirt road, the lights of the ranch illuminating the darkness ahead of me.
An unfamiliar car is parked in front of the house, and I pull up beside it, cutting the engine and the lights before I get out. A prickling unease spreads through me, making me glance around, but only the heavy silence answers. Too quiet. Not even the animals are making a sound, the owls in the trees watching. I see their eyes reflecting the light, but their song is muted.
Swallowing thickly, I rush toward the houseonly to freeze at the porch when I see her sitting on the top step, Judge laying at her side.
“Elena?” I rasp.
She tilts her face toward me, toward the light shining out the window, and even though it’s dark, her features shadowed, I see the bruising, the cut on her head, the ring around her throat.
I’m at her side before I can take my next breath, gathering her to me.
“Who did this?” I growl, “Who hurt you, Elena!?”
“I’m sorry,” Is all she replies. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
