People across the street looked around. The younger guys at the corner scattered. I heard an alarm sound behind me in the apartment complex.
Keith’s dark eyes locked on me as he lifted his weapon. I saw such hate in his gaze. I could imagine the fear his wife must have felt when he lost his temper. Men like him offered little mercy to anyone else.
My dad’s training left me calm and ready. Without hesitation, I aimed for Keith’s wide chest and fired. Staggering back, he fired once and hit the ground.
As I pulled the trigger again, people on the street scattered at the sound of the pop, pop, pop from my gun. Behind me, Kristine screamed. My gaze remained locked on Keith as he dropped to the concrete and gasped for air. Despite the chaos, I heard the clicking of Kristine’s heels as she ran for me.
I turned just in time for her to slam my body into the car. My face cracked against the side mirror, stunning me for only a moment. I saw a blur of movement coming for my face. Flipping my pistol, I slammed the handle into her mouth. Shattered teeth dropped from the bloody mess left behind. Kristine staggered backward, clawing at her face.
I heard motorcycles in the distance. My mind flashed to Sutter at breakfast. He and Ford had been goofing around. My life had felt so perfect, even if I missed Zodiac.
When the sound of motorcycles filled the air, Kristine ran toward the dead man in the road. Stumbling, she lost her heels and nearly face planted. I watched her change directions and run away from the approaching motorcycles.
My head ached from making contact with the side mirror. My phone vibrated wildly in my purse. People wanted to know I was okay, but I was afraid to take my eyes off Kristine.
Even with the noise in the air, I heard her screaming as she ran into the intersection. She dodged the first few honking vehicles. But her banshee cry was silenced once an SUV collided with her. I stared shocked as her body flipped over the top of the large black vehicle and skidded across the concrete.
Witnessing the chunks of her flesh left behind on the road sent me into a panic. I felt like the world had gone insane. Crying now, I wanted to go home. I needed to feel Sutter in my arms. I also wished I had told Zodiac that I loved him.
Motorcycles rolled onto the sidewalk, creating a wall around me. Sabrina was off her ride first and dropped next to me.
“Are you hurt?” she asked, sounding afraid in the same way she did when Lula went missing, and our friends were hurt. “You’re bleeding.”
“I hit my head on the car.”
“Ambulances are on the way,” Rock said, squatting next to me and checking my bloody temple. “Do we know who the asshole and bitch are?”
“They wanted someone staying here.”
Rock lifted my chin, so I would look into his pretty seafoam-colored eyes. “You did well. Did the guy get off any shots?”
“He fired once into the ground. I fired six times. I don’t know if they hit anything behind him.”
Rock grinned at how I remembered my training. “We’re going to get you checked at the hospital.”
“That woman ran into traffic. She’s all fucked up.”
“Fuck that bitch,” Sabrina snarled.
Goldie took Rock’s spot next to me and put on a soft smile. “How’s little Zodiac?”
I rubbed my belly, feeling the flutters of my son’s tiny movements. “He wishes his father was here,” I mumbled before starting to cry again. “Or maybe I’m the one who wishes that.”
Goldie and Sabrina cuddled against me while more members of the club arrived. I heard Rock taking charge of the arriving police. Boone and Rowdy appeared in front of me.
“She looks okay,” Boone said to someone on the phone and snapped a photo of me. He squatted down and asked, “Your mom said Nova was with you. Is she here or did you drop her off somewhere?”
“She’s in my car up the block,” I said and grabbed his shirt sleeve. “Be gentle with her. She thinks you’re big and strong.”
Boone gave me a funny look, stuck between a smile and a frown. After he left, I looked at Sabrina and stared into her eyes. She looked so much like her mom, but she was a tough fucker like her dad.
“I usually love hurting abusive men and their enablers,” I said, crying again. “Why am I so sad and scared?”
“You’re just hormonal. It’s not personal. You’re still a badass.”
“Don’t tell my dad that I cried,” I whispered to Sabrina. “I don’t want him to worry about me.”
Sabrina kissed my head while Goldie hugged me. The ambulances soon arrived. I caught sight of the paramedics in the intersection with what remained of Kristine. Another group of EMTs tried to do something with Keith.
