“Get moving,” he ordered.
My gaze zeroed in on the vase.It was within grasp.Rightthere.My heart rate seemed to slow.Everything slowed down actually.
“Goddammit.”He balled his fist in my hair and yanked myhead back sharply.Pain tore down my neck, shooting into my back.“Get your fatass fu—”
My brain clicked off as I grabbed the vase and spun around.The man cursed and he leveled the gun again, but I was fast when it counted.The gun went off just as I slammed the bottom of the vase into the side of hishead.There was a sickening crunch and something warm and wet sprayed into theair and across my face.The gun went off again, just as wood splintered on theback door.It flew open just as the shooter crumbled to the floor.
Colton barreled in, dressed as he was at the bar, in jeansand a worn shirt.He had a gun aimed and his bright blue gaze took in thesituation.Behind him, uniformed cops streamed in.
He took a step forward, keeping his gun on the shooter.“Abby?”
I was still holding the bloodied vase as I croaked out, “I’mnot a coward.”
Chapter 13
“You’re becoming a repeat customer,” Lenny, therepairman who’d previously replaced my broken window, said with a wry grin.He’d just finished fixing the broken back door, which ended up being anentirely new back door.Placing the bill on the TV, he started past me with histoolbox in hand.“I’m glad to see you’re okay, though.I heard about it on thelate evening news last night.This town is getting crazy.All the violencecoming in from the city.”
I smiled faintly as I followed him to the front door.“Thankyou for coming out on such short notice.I really appreciate it.”
“No problem,” he replied, stepping outside.“If you needanything else, you know to call me.”
“Thanks.”I closed the door, sighing.
Turning around, I eyed the freshly plastered wall behind thedining room table.Lenny had also covered the two bullet holes.All I needed todo was match up the paint and then it would be like nothing had ever happened.
Last night felt like forever ago.
I’d spent the bulk of the night sitting in the ER, gettingchecked out and then answering a thousand and one police questions.Come tofind out, the shooter had a name—Charles Bakerton.Didn’t sound like ahomicidal maniac’s name, but Charles was still alive.I hadn’t killed him withthe well-placed vase of death swing.I was relieved to hear that.I didn’t wantto know what it felt like to kill someone.
Through the endless hours that had crept into early morning,Colton had remained beside me, mostly silent and very pissed-off looking.Thoseblue eyes were practically on fire.We didn’t get a chance to talk, nothingother than the basics before he was called out.Surprisingly, Roxy and Reecehad showed up at the hospital and had driven me home.That was…weird.
I was so lucky.Everyone kept telling me that.I had lookeda lot worse than I was.Not even a concussion, and the crack upside the headhadn’t even required stitches.A fistful of ibuprofen had taken care of thatache and the rest of the minor pains.
I could’ve died last night, so yeah, I was really lucky.
Moving to the couch, I started to pick up the remote whenthere was a knock on my front door.My stomach dropped.Placing the remotedown, I went to the front window first.Totally learned my lesson last night.Ipeered out the front window.
It was Colton.
“Oh my, wow,” Imurmured, settling back on my bare feet.I didn’t let my head race into fantasyland.Him showing up after what went down last night wasn’t a surprise.In adaze, I slowly walked to the door and opened it.
His hands were planted on each side of the doorframe and he wasleaning in.Blue eyes met mine.“Abby.”
Somehow I plastered a smile on my face, and I had a feelingit was a crazy looking smile.“Hi, Colton!”The enthusiasm was a bit much, butI couldn’t tone it down.“How are you—?”
“Don’t do that,” he cut in, and I felt my creeper smilewobble and then fade.“After what happened yesterday, don’t pretend with me.”
Well then.
He lowered his hands.“We need to talk.”
We did.I stepped aside, pressing my lips together.“Comein.”
Colton closed the door behind him, but instead of walking tothe couch, he stopped in front of me.My breath caught as he clasped the sidesof my face in a gentle grasp.His intense gaze swept over me.“How are youfeeling?”
“I’m okay.Really.”I forced a less weird smile.“Thanks forasking.”
The skin around his eyes tensed.“I wanted to get over hereearlier.”
